There is no doubt pregnancy is a unique and special time in every women’s life.  No matter if it’s your first pregnancy or you have been on this journey before, every pregnancy is a new, exciting and sometimes scary experience.

With the extra demands on our bodies to grow and protect the precious little person developing inside of you, it’s normal to experience tiredness and some aches and pains, but there are some pregnancy symptoms you should never ignore.

Bleeding

While it’s common to have light bleeding and spotting during early pregnancy (some women will continue to bleed on and off during their entire pregnancy), it’s a good idea to call your Doctor or Midwife anytime you do experience bleeding as it could indicate:

• Low Lying Placenta (Placenta Previa)
• Placenta Abruption
• Premature Labour

Pain

It’s common to experience aches and pains during pregnancy, after all there is sure a lot of growing and stretching going on in there! If you experience pain in the middle or lower parts of your belly which gives you concern, increases in intensity, becomes regular or doesn’t ease when your rest, contact your Doctor or Midwife immediately.

Leaking Fluid

If you suspect your amniotic fluid may be leaking and you are less than 37 weeks pregnant – you need to contact your medical provider and get checked out immediately.  Your carer will check on the health of your baby as well as determine whether you are going into premature labour.  If it’s confirmed your amniotic fluid is leaking, you will be prescribed antibiotics to prevent any infection and may be admitted to hospital for monitoring until your baby arrives.

Headaches/Vision Disturbances

If you are experiencing headaches which won’t go away with pain relief, rest and fluids or visual disturbances such as flashing spots or blurred vision – contact your medical team immediately as these are possible signs of Pre-Eclampsia.

Swelling

Some swelling in the hands, feet and face towards the end of pregnancy is normal. However if you experience a sudden onset of swelling, or it’s accompanied by headaches or visual disturbances it could be a sign of Pre-Eclampsia and you need to contact your Doctor or Midwife immediately.

Feeling Faint or Dizzy

Low blood pressure is another common symptom of early pregnancy.  Resting and drinking plenty of fluids will help, however if your symptoms worsen or you faint, please contact your Doctor or Midwife immediately.

Itching

It’s normal to experience some itchiness during pregnancy as your skin stretches to accommodate your growing baby.  However if you are have extreme itchiness all over your body and that worsens at night, you may have Obstetric Cholestasis – a condition of the liver so seek medical advice quickly.

Your Baby is moving less

If your baby is moving much less than what they have been, or you’ve tried your usual ‘techniques’ to coax a kick from them to no avail, contact your Doctor or Midwife immediately.

Remember, you know your body better than anyone.  If you are ever concerned about any symptoms, your baby or if you just don’t feel right, contact your Doctor or Midwife and get checked out. Even if it turns out to be a false alarm (which happily in most cases it will be) it will give you the peace of mind you need to continue to enjoy your pregnancy.