Discovering that you are expecting is emotional and exciting. Especially if it's your first baby, you may have a lot of questions about what's normal, what's not, and when you should call your doctor.
Most women will have healthy pregnancies. Taking care of yourself and heeding any changes in your health will probably go a long way towards easing your mind. Many of the changes your body will go through while pregnant are perfectly normal. Still, some deserve swift attention.
Here are seven symptoms, what they may mean, and what you should do about them. Of course, you should feel free to raise questions with your doctor at any point during your pregnancy, even if it's not on this list.
1. Vaginal Bleeding
What it may mean: "Some spotting is normal, but heavy bleeding could be a sign of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy," says Natali Aziz, MD, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif. "The brighter red the bleeding, the more significant it is," she says.
"If you have bleeding and bad cramping similar to period cramps, this can be a sign of threatened miscarriage," says maternal-fetal medicine specialist Manju Monga, MD, of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. "If this is coupled with sharp lower abdominal pain, it may be a sign of ectopic pregnancy," a serious complication that occurs when the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tubes.
What to do: "Call your doctor," Monga says. "Your doctor will likely do anultrasound, an exam, and some blood work based on your symptoms." Though most spotting or light bleeding may not be a serious problem, "you don’t want to ignore it if it is associated with cramping, heavy bleeding, or abdominal pain."
2. Excessive Nausea and Vomiting.
It's normal to have some nausea and vomiting during your first trimester. Most pregnant women go through that.
But if it's severe or makes you dehydrated, that's something to heed.
What it may mean: “Vomiting that interferes with your day-to-day activities can lead to weight loss, dizziness, dehydration, and an imbalance of electrolytes,” Aziz says.
What to do: Tell your doctor. “You may need hospitalization to treat the dehydration, and many medications are available to control nausea," Aziz says.
Bottom line: "Nausea and vomiting are normal occurrences during pregnancy, but the extremes can cause problems," says ob-gyn Stanley M. Berry, MD, of William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. "The majority of women who have nausea and vomiting in their first trimester will go on to have normal, healthy pregnancies."
3. High Fever
What it may mean: It could be a sign of infection, which could affect the baby.\
Fevers during pregnancy that are accompanied with rash and joint pain may be a sign of infection such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), toxoplasma, and parvovirus. "CMV is the most common cause of congenital deafness, and it is not as uncommon as we think," Aziz says.
What to do: "Report any fever plus upper respiratory symptoms, body ache, andflu-like symptoms or rashes and joint pain to your doctor," Aziz says. And get your yearly flu vaccine.
4. Vaginal Discharge and Itching
Some vaginal discharge is normal. But in some cases, "These may be be signs of treatable infections or sexually transmitted diseases that can have important consequences in pregnancy," Aziz says.
What this may mean: If it's an infection, it could harm the baby.
What to do: Don't be shy. Let your ob-gyn know what is going on down there because if there's a problem, treating it could make a difference to your baby.
5. Pain or Burning During Urination
What this may mean: "These can be signs of bladder or urinary tract infections, and if left untreated, they can lead to more serious illness, infection, pre-term labor, and pre-term birth," Aziz says.
What to do: If it's an infection, treating it can relieve your pain, and help assure a healthy pregnancy.
6. Leg or Calf Pain or Swelling on One Side/ Severe Headache
This won't happen in most pregnancies. But pregnancy does mean a greater chance of developing a blood clot.
A blood clot in the calf may result in pain or swelling and can result in a blood clot that travels to the lung, which could be fatal.
A blood clot in the brain may be heralded by a severe headache. There are other possible causes of bad headaches during pregnancy.
What to do: If you have a history of blood clots, or if you get a severe headache, consult your doctor.
7. Flare-Ups of Chronic Diseases.
Women who have certain preexisting medical conditions -- such as thyroid disease,diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, and/or lupus -- should note any changes in their condition during pregnancy.
What it may mean: If your underlying disease is flaring up or not well-controlled, it can have serious consequences for your health -- and your baby's.
For example, "if your thyroid hormone is too high or low, you can be at an increased risk of miscarriage," says Gayle Olson, MD, a maternal-fetal specialist at the University of Texas Medical Brach in Galveston. Or, "if your blood sugar levels are not tightly controlled, you may be at increased risk of miscarriage or fetal abnormalities," she says.
The bottom line: "Any flare in an underlying condition is a red flag and should be followed up," Olson says.
Still, most women will have healthy pregnancies, Berry says, so try to enjoy your pregnancy.
