Every day, women ask us if certain signs and symptoms are normal when they are pregnant.
But unfortunately, sometimes, the answer is: no, you should see a doctor! Right So,
we decided that we need to record a video in which we help you understand which signs
in pregnancy are not normal and when to see a doctor. I am Nathalie, a pregnancy
and birth consultant and TCM therapist, and I am Mathias a researcher and science geek and
our mission is to help mommies and their babies naturally and science-based! So,
let’s get started!
Of course, a certain degree of nausea and vomiting which is referred to as “morning
sickness” is not uncommon when you are pregnant. And normally, morning sickness does not put your
baby at any increased risk. Yes. However, if you do suffer from severe nausea and vomiting
so that you cannot even keep water or other fluids in your stomach OR if you haven’t been able to
keep food down for 24 hours, then you should let your doctor know straight away! That said, there
can be many different reasons that cause severe vomiting, for example, an infection, or food poisoning.
Right! But it could be what is called “hyperemesis gravidarum” which is the medical term for severe
nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Whatever the cause though, severe vomiting is always risky for
the baby because of the mother’s dehydration and possibly weight loss. Therefore, you should not
hesitate to call your provider! Right!
While headaches can be normal during pregnancy,
severe, persistent headache is not. Right! So, headache that suddenly starts
with severe pain, headache that persists despite the intake of fluids or medications
and / or headache that is accompanied by dizziness or blurred vision is a warning side which is why
it is recommended to consult a doctor. Right! This can be a sign of gestational hypertension
which is a condition which involves high blood pressure during pregnancy. And in more severe
cases, it also could be a sign of pre-eclampsia which involves high blood pressure too, but in a
more severe form. Yes. Both can lead to severe problems for both, the baby and the mother which is why it
is very important to diagnose it as early as possible. Right!
Vaginal bleeding, even when it’s only just a small amount can point to all kinds of problems, but it
depends a bit on the trimester. Right! During the first trimester, generally speaking, vaginal bleeding
is not uncommon. However, in very rare cases, it could also be a sign of miscarriage particularly if you
also suffer from abdominal pain at the same time. Right! Or it could be that the egg implants outside
the uterus, for example, in the fallopian tube, where the embryo cannot develop unfortunately.
And finally, vaginal bleeding can also be caused when the placenta lies very low in the uterus,
covering part or even all of the cervix. That said, providers are often more worried about bleeding
in the second and third trimester because then, it could be caused by an abruption of the placenta
or it can be a sign of pre-term labor. So, whatever the trimester, you should always call
your doctor when you experience vaginal bleeding. Right!
Now, first of all, please note that very often abdominal pain is the result of very harmless
causes, like for example, it could just be the result of a growing womb or ligaments stretching.
But in some cases, it can point to more severe problems. Yes. So,
whenever you experience cramp-like, or a stabbing or a sharp pain or when it starts suddenly and
is severe or gets worse over time, then you should not hesitate to call your provider.
Similar to vaginal bleeding, the possible causes of abdominal pain can be related to your pregnsncy
which means that they too depend on the trimester. But it could also be a sign of problems which
are unrelated to your pregnancy, for example, appendicitis or gallbladder disease. But you won’t
know until the doctor had a closer look! Right.
Mild itchiness is not uncommon during a pregnancy and thus normally not a reason to worry, okay?
But if you suffer from severe itchiness which occurs all over your body,
particularly your hands and feet, even when there is no rash, then it can be a
sign of pregnancy cholestasis. Yes. This is a liver condition and it is a particular concern in
the third trimester because it can cause all kinds of complications for the baby, in particular,
a preterm birth. And just that you know: the itchiness does not necessarily only start in
the third trimester. It can also start earlier. So please do consult a doctor if you do suffer from
itchiness in your pregnancy. Right!
So, if your vision is blurry, if there are blind spots, or if you see spots or flashes
or if you see double, then please call your doctor immediately. That’s particularly important if
it happens at or after week 16 of your pregnancy. Yes. These can be signs of pre-eclampsia which we have
already mentioned earlier which is why it is very important to diagnose it as early as possible.
Okay.
Most mommies experience swelling, particularly in the last trimester of their pregnancy. However,
what we are talking about here is a more extreme form of swelling, one that makes it difficult for you to
bend your fingers and / or which makes your eyes look very puffy, right? This too can be a sign
of pre-eclampsia which is why it is very important to talk with your doctor about it! Right!
Now, first of all, please note that pregnant women in general
have a much higher risk of deep vein thrombosis.
That’s quite obvious given the fact that the growing uterus puts more pressure on veins which
obviously is bad for blood circulation, right? Yes. But the main problem here is that it is very
difficult to identify the signs of a deep vein thrombosis. However, swelling and pain in your
leg can be an important warning sign, particularly if the swelling only just occurs in one leg and if
the area is warm to the touch. What’s more is that sometimes, that swelling is not restricted
to your leg only. It could affect one side of your body which would then appear to be redder and
warmer than the other side.
When that’s the case, please immediately call your doctor because a deep
vein thrombosis is basically a blood clot which may travel to other parts of your body,
where it can cause severe problems, right? Right!
Feeling your baby in your womb is really a sign that your baby is well. And so logically,
if your baby is suddenly less active then it could be a sign of fetal distress. However, it is
important to note that babies are not active at all times, okay? They have a certain pattern. And that
pattern varies from baby to baby. Yes. In general, babies like to be more active after you had some
food or drink or when you rest because then your baby no longer feels those nice rocking sensations
from when you walk around. And so, rather than just randomly observing your baby’s activity,
it is important to look out for a change of pattern in your baby's movements. Yes. Because of that,
providers recommend counting your baby’s kicks during a time when the baby is normally
very active. And they also recommend doing that regularly from week 28 of your pregnancy onwards.
So if you wanna know how to correctly count your baby’s kicks, check out the
description below this video! Yes!
Trouble breathing can manifest itself in many ways. For example, it could mean shortness of
breath that suddenly appears or develops over time, or a feeling as if you cannot breathe
deeply enough to get enough air into your lungs. Or maybe you find it hard to breathe when you
lie down flat. Right! What’s also good to know is that trouble breathing can be particularly worrisome
if you suffer from high blood pressure, or swelling or when you have chest, head or
back pain, a blurred vision or dizziness. All those signs can be warning signs which
can point to pregnancy-related problems like pre-eclampsia, but also to problems
which are unrelated to your pregnancy, such as an infection in the lungs or a heart problem, for instance.
Therefore, the only right thing to do in such a case is to call your doctor. Right! So, again,
the signs that we have mentioned in this video do not necessarily mean that something is not right, okay?
However, we wholeheartedly recommend that you speak to your provider when you observe one or
even several of them because the safety of your baby, and of course, your own safety is always the
top priority. Right! If you have found this video helpful, we would be super grateful if you could
leave us a like or even a comment in the comment section below! Yes! And for more useful tips and
tools on pregnancy and baby-related topics, make sure to subscribe to our channel and hit the bell!