What Are The Warning Signs Of Pregnancy

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The warning signs of an Ectopic Pregnancy

It is important to share information with women and their families about the early detection and recognition of danger signs and complications as part of birth and emergency planning. You need to discuss with them what the danger signs are and help them to think about and decide where they will go if they experience one or any of these.

Baby Moving Less Often

Feeling baby kick? Make a mental note so you can start to develop a sense of babys habits and patterns. Babies have sleep and wake cycles, says Gordon. If youre concerned that the baby is moving less than usual, try drinking something cold or having a sweet snack and then lay on your side. That may help entice them to get moving again. While youre relaxed, start doing fetal kick counts every time baby moves. During a two-hour period, you should be able to track at least 10 movements, says Gordon. If you dont, call your doctor for a professional check-in on baby.

Warning Signs Of An Ectopic Pregnancy

With an ectopic pregnancy, you can expect the same first trimester symptoms as any other pregnancy: a missed period, nausea, fatigue, and breast tenderness. You can also expect a positive home pregnancy test.

However, an ectopic pregnancy isnt a normal pregnancy. Its a potentially life-threatening gynecologic condition that requires immediate medical care.

At Speck Hopkins, MD in Harlingen, Texas, our highly experienced and skilled gynecologist, Dr. Lena Speck Hopkins, wants you to know the warning signs of an ectopic pregnancy so you can quickly get the care you need.

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What Did I Learn

You have considered how to communicate danger signs to a woman and her family, as well as the larger community. This has helped you to decide what format can be used to convey issues relating to danger signs. Furthermore, it is important to link discussions of danger signs with a concrete plan in order to ensure that women and their families know where to go during an obstetric emergency, and how to get there urgently.

Do you feel confident about communicating danger signs to women and their families? What else could you do to improve the way you communicate danger signs? What kinds of support materials can you develop? Who else can you work with in the community to raise awareness of emergency signs and the importance of seeking appropriate care when they occur?

The next time you counsel a woman about danger signs, write up what happened and what you did in your notebook. You could then share this with a colleague and ask for feedback on what could have been improved or done differently, as well as what you did well.

A Molar Pregnancy Or Hydatiform Mole

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This is a rare condition where the placenta is not normal and the pregnancy does not develop as it should. Abnormal cells develop in your womb.

A molar pregnancy is usually treated by a simple procedure. This removes the abnormal cells from your womb. You may have appointments afterwards with your obstetrician for blood tests and/or ultrasound scans. These are to make sure all the cells have been removed.

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Cramping And Spotting During Early Pregnancy

From weeks 1 to 4, everything is still happening on a cellular level. The fertilized egg creates a blastocyst that will develop into the fetuss organs and body parts.

About 10 to 14 days after conception, the blastocyst will implant in the endometrium, which is the lining of the uterus. This can cause implantation bleeding, which may be mistaken for a light period. It does not occur for everyone. If it does occur, it will usually happen around the time you expect your period.

Here are some signs of implantation bleeding:

  • Color. The color of each episode may be pink, red, or brown.
  • Bleeding. Implantation bleeding is usually much less than your usual period. Its often described as light bleeding that never turns into a flow or enough to need a tampon.
  • Pain. Pain is usually milder than your usual menstrual pain. It may involve some cramping. It can be moderate or severe, but its most often mild.
  • Episodes. Implantation bleeding is likely to last less than 3 days and does not require treatment. It can sometimes last only a few hours.

Knowledge Of Danger Signs During Pregnancy

A total of 335 women reported that they had heard about danger signs during pregnancy. The source of information about the danger signs during pregnancy was from the RCHC for 274 women , social gatherings for 58 women , and the radio for three women .

When asked to spontaneously mention the danger signs, more than half of the participants were able to mention only one to three danger signs. Only 104 had correct knowledge of at least four danger signs and nine were not able to mention any item. The mean score for knowledge of danger signs was 3.0 . Figure shows the danger signs in ascending frequency. The most commonly known danger signs were vaginal bleeding , edema , and headache .

Fig. 1

The rest of the participants were not able to spontaneously mention the danger signs. These participants were thus provided with a list of danger signs to help them recall the signs. The most commonly known danger signs in this group were vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain .

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Bad Or Warning Signs Of Pregnancy

There are many symptoms or signs that occur during pregnancy. Some of these symptoms can be severe and calls for urgent attention, while some are signs of healthy pregnancy. This article explores the bad or warning signs of pregnancy any woman should be worried about. If you have any knowledge of danger signs during pregnancy, please consult your doctor. Getting to your doctor early will help in the easy management of danger signs in pregnancy.

Smell Sensitivity And Food Aversions During Early Pregnancy

Warning Signs During Pregnancy – Childbirth Education

Smell sensitivity is a symptom of early pregnancy thats mostly self-reported. Theres little scientific evidence about smell sensitivity during the first trimester. However, it might be important, since smell sensitivity may trigger nausea and vomiting. It may also cause strong distaste for certain foods.

You may experience either a heightened or lessened sense of smell during pregnancy, according to 2017 research. This is especially common during the first and third trimesters. Heightened smell is more common than lessened smell. Some smells that never bothered you before may become less pleasing or even trigger nausea.

The good news is that your sense of smell usually returns to normal after delivery, or within 6 to 12 weeks postpartum.

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Signs Of Preterm Labor

Watch for these in weeks 13 and beyond. The symptoms listed below may signal the start of an early labor. If you notice any of these, first go to the bathroom and urinate, then drink several glasses of water and lie down on your left side and rest. If you still have these symptoms after an hour of rest, call your doctor or midwife:

  • Contractions that come every 15 minutes or more often
  • Cramping thats either constant or on-and-off, and may come with diarrhea
  • Low, dull backache thats constant or that comes and goes
  • Pressure in your pelvis, groin, or thighs
  • Bleeding or spotting
  • A change in vaginal discharge
  • A gush or a slow leak of fluid from your vagina
  • A feeling that your uterus is knotting up or tightening, or that the baby is balling up inside
  • A feeling that something just isnt right

What Are The Warning Signs Of Gestational Diabetes

Pregnant women have heard tales or experienced it themselves of the orange drink they have to take around 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy. Its a story thats passed from woman to woman about the overly sweet, syrupy taste of the drink and having to sit in the doctors office for blood tests.

But this important screening is worth the inconvenience. It detects and diagnoses gestational diabetes in pregnant women. Gestational diabetes affects nearly 10 percent of pregnant women, according to the American Diabetes Association.

Gestational diabetes, left untreated and unmanaged, can pose serious health risks to your baby, including:

  • Excessive birth weight
  • Preterm birth and respiratory distress syndrome
  • Low blood sugar at birth
  • Increased risk of type 2 diabetes later in life

Fortunately, gestational diabetes is easy to diagnose and manage, says Barbara E. Simpson, M.D., a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist. The fasting blood sugar test can make sure mom and baby stay healthy and happy.

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Gestational Diabetes Risk Factors

More important than looking for the signs and symptoms of gestational diabetes is knowing if youre at risk. Certain women may be more likely to develop the condition, including:

  • Women older than 25 years old
  • Family history of type 2 diabetes
  • Personal history of prediabetes
  • Gestational diabetes in previous pregnancies
  • Overweight or obese
  • Non-white race

Communicating Danger Signs Without Fear

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Research has shown that using fear-based messages about danger signs is not effective unless used correctly.

It will be hard to communicate danger signs without creating fear. When discussing danger signs with women and their families, provide a realistic description that would help them to identify the signs in an emergency. Avoid frightening the woman with the worst-case scenario of what might happen. While complications such as bleeding, obstructed labour or infection are relatively rare, the focus should be on recognition of the signs and awareness of what to do if they occur. While as a health worker you are used to seeing complications, remember for the woman it can be very frightening. Reassure her that you will do everything you can to help her, try to alleviate her fears, and support her, but remember to answer her questions and concerns truthfully. It will not be helpful to make false promises or reassurances about pregnancy outcomes.

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Is Depression During Pregnancy Harmful

If left untreated, depression during pregnancy can cause harm to the mother and the baby. Untreated depression can cause an expectant mother to not care for herself properly. She may drink, smoke, make poor nutritional choices, and even exhibit suicidal behavior. These habits can in turn cause the baby to be born prematurely, have low birth weight, and problems developing. Babies of depressed mothers may also be less active and attentive and more irritable than other babies. A mother may not be able to connect emotionally with the baby growing inside her and not look forward to its arrival. She is also at risk of developing a type of high blood pressure called preeclampsia, which occurs during pregnancy. Depression while pregnant also increases the risk of postpartum depression.

A Persistent Severe Headache Abdominal Pain Visual Disturbances And Swelling During Your Third Trimester

These symptoms could be a sign of preeclampsia. Thatâs a serious condition that develops during pregnancy and is potentially fatal. The disorder is marked by high blood pressure and excess protein in your urine that typically occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy.

âCall your doctor right away and get your blood pressure tested,â Bernstein says. âGood prenatal care can help catch preeclampsia early.â

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Pregnancy Glow And Acne During Early Pregnancy

Many people may begin saying you have the pregnancy glow. The combination of increased blood volume and higher hormone levels pushes more blood through your vessels. This causes the bodys oil glands to work overtime.

The increased activity of your bodys oil glands gives your skin a flushed, glossy appearance. On the other hand, you may also develop acne.

in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says that taking a home pregnancy test at this point will give a more accurate result.

Home pregnancy tests are inexpensive and widely available without a prescription in pharmacies and other stores.

You can take a test earlier than this if you want, but you run the risk of getting a false negative result. This means the test may say youre not pregnant, but in fact you are.

If you take a home pregnancy test too early, there may not be enough hCG in your urine yet for the test to detect it. Home pregnancy tests work by testing the amount of hCG in your urine. This is a hormone thats only present in the blood and urine of pregnant people.

Also, every persons body chemistry is a bit different. One person may get a positive result as early as a day after their period, while another persons positive results may not show up for another week. So, early test results may not be the most accurate.

Unlike at-home urine tests, blood tests are usually done in a clinical setting. Contact your doctor if you want this type of test.

What Are The Warning Signs Of Pregnancy

WARNING SIGNS OF LATE PREGNANCY

You can expect to feel the effects of pregnancy as growing a baby inside your belly is no easy task. However, sometimes, a woman may experience bad pregnancy symptoms. These symptoms should not be mistaken for ordinary body changes.

You should proactively monitor your health and stay alert of the following warning signs during pregnancy:

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Dangerous Symptoms To Watch For

If you experience any of the following symptoms, it is important to . They can advise you as to what further steps may be necessary and rule out more serious complications such as preterm labor.

While it’s important not to panic, keep in mind that delaying care can make the situation more serious than if your doctor had been alerted at the first sign of symptoms.

The following signs and their possible causes are from the Council on Patient Safety in Women’s Health Care.

Danger Signs in Pregnancy
Fetal distress, infection, low amniotic fluid volume Slowed movements, anterior placenta

Remember that while there may be other causes for your symptoms, you should not neglect to get professional advice. There can be subtle differences between minor problems and major complications in pregnancy.

When you call your practitioner, be sure to give them enough information to help them determine when and where to see you. Sometimes it can wait until your next appointment.

In other cases, your doctor may want to see you in their office on the same day, ask you to go to the emergency room, or head to labor and delivery, depending on how far along you are and what symptoms you are experiencing.

Don’t let worries about bothering your doctor or midwife keep you from calling about any symptoms you feel unsure of. Your provider and their staff are used to answering questions from pregnant patients every day. After all, their entire focus is ensuring a healthy pregnancy for you and your baby.

Any Time During Pregnancy

While some signs may only appear at certain times during your pregnancy, many can occur at any stage, including:

  • urgency, pain or a burning feeling when urinating
  • feeling constantly out of breath, dizzy or weak or having a racing heart
  • you have had a blow to your stomach
  • you are experiencing problems with your emotional health that last longer than 2 weeks, such as feeling depressed, anxious or being unable to do your usual, everyday tasks

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Danger Signs Of Pregnancy In First Trimester

Danger Signs Of Pregnancy In First Trimester Print out free Danger Signs in every area, including in your locker, classroom as well as in your car. If you work or teach in an environment in which safety is a primary concern, you should know numerous ways to convey your safety concerns to your students. You can do so with simple signs and stickers or use technology to create custom hazard signs that include the measurements, text, and pictures.

Safety signs are something that majority of people require when they are in the wilderness on their own. Many people require them when walking their dog, cat, or simply alone in a new place. This is why it is important to keep a variety of designs of signs that are available. A great option is to use an existing template. There are Danger Signs Of Pregnancy In First Trimester available online and you can use these to create your personal signs.

When using a template, you should keep in mind some things when editing these signs. For instance, youll want to make sure that you change the size according to the requirements. Additionally, youll need to change the color of the text to ensure that it is easier to read.

The Symptoms And Signs Of Tubal Pregnancy To Watch Out For Are

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  • Pain is the main sign of tubal pregnancy. Lower abdomen pain and inflammation is the warning sign of this condition.
  • There could be one sided pain or pelvic cramping or tenderness.
  • In addition a woman may have pain while urinating, having a bowel movement, or otherwise.
  • External Bleeding is the other sign of tubal pregnancy, which however could be cause by certain other reasons as well and is therefore difficult to pinpoint the cause of. Bleeding in the early part of pregnancy could be due to a miscarriage or even something as normal as implantation bleeding. The bleeding that is caused in a tubal pregnancy is due to falling of progesterone levels. This bleeding which is a sign of tubal pregnancy can difficult to distinguish from other pregnancy bleeding, and so any bleeding during pregnancy should always be reported to the medical practitioner.
  • There could also be internal bleeding that is caused by hemorrhaging of the affected tube. This internal bleeding could travel up to the abdominal cavity and irritate the diaphragm and even cause shoulder pain. This is one of the dangerous signs of tubal pregnancy.

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