How do you know whether that sudden ache is normal or warrants a 2 am call to your doctor? Here are a few symptoms that should set off your warning bells. Note that some of these symptoms may be more or less urgent depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy and on your particular situation or health history.
Ask your practitioner to review with you which signs warrant an urgent call or immediate emergency medical care as your pregnancy progresses:
- Severe or persistent abdominal pain or tenderness.
- Pelvic pressure (a feeling that your baby is pushing down), lower back pain (especially if it’s a new problem for you), menstrual-like cramping or abdominal pain, or more than four contractions in an hour (even if they don’t hurt) before 37 weeks.
- Painful or burning urination, or little or no urination.
- Severe or persistent vomiting, or any vomiting accompanied by pain or fever.
- Visual disturbances such as double vision, blurring, dimming, flashing lights, or “floaters” (spots in your field of vision).
- Persistent or severe headache, or any headache accompanied by blurred vision, slurred speech, or numbness.
- Any swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, anything more than a little swelling in your hands, severe and sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, or a rapid weight gain (more than 2 kilos in a week).
- Fainting, frequent dizziness, a rapid heartbeat, or heart palpitations.
- Difficulty breathing, coughing up blood, or chest pain.
- Severe constipation accompanied by abdominal pain or severe diarrhoea that lasts for more than 24 hours.
- Flu exposure or symptoms. Both flu and H1N1 (swine) flu are very risky for pregnant women.
- Vaginal bleeding or spotting.
So let your doctor know right away if you’ve been in close contact with someone who has the flu or if you have any flu symptoms, which may include fever, sore throat, cough, runny or stuffy nose, fatigue, and body aches and chills.
Symptoms may occasionally include vomiting or diarrhea. Finally, if you are near your due date, know the signs of labor so you’ll know what to look for and when to call.
This article has been approved by Sisters Helena Basson, Marli Coetzer and Elizabeth Venter from Life Rosepark Hospital and Little Life baby clinic.