Threats during pregnancy – pay attention to these symptoms!

In fact, threatening symptoms are not that common during pregnancy. Just know about them in order to eliminate unnecessary worries during this magical period. Awareness is a great solution.

So read the new material of the School of Women’s Health Dr. Silina and get rid of unbased fears.

Symptoms to look out for

This is not about anxiety, just about reacting in time and feeling confident during the pregnancy. Noticed it in time – solved it in time.

Pain symptoms

Abdominal pain during pregnancy is not always dangerous. Depending on the nature of pain, its intensity, localization, other characteristics, and with the support methods of diagnostics, the doctor can determine the seriousness of the problem and help to solve it.

For example, due to the increased level of the hormone of pregnancy, progesterone, intestinal motor skills slow down, which could lead to bloating, gases, and constipation, which in turn provokes spasmodic pain and severity in the abdomen. From the uterine stretching, which is expected with intrauterine growth of the baby – a binding device, primarily round uterine ligaments, the extension can also cause unpleasant feelings.

Pulling pain can be a sign of the threat of termination of pregnancy or ectopic pregnancy – in early terms, or premature birth – in the later terms. Acute local pain may indicate placenta abruption. Pain in the womb may indicate the inflammation of the symphysis or divergence of the pelvic bones. With this type of pain it is essential to measure pubic connection with the help of an ultrasonic sensor. And if there are signs of disparity, a consultation with a doctor-traumatologist and possibly a cesarean section will be required. But I advise you, with this form of pain to check the level of vitamin D. Usually correction of its deficiency improves the situation.

Moreover pain may also signal other serious diseases, such as infections, inflammation of the pelvic organs, and neuralgia.

If you experience pain I advise contacting the doctor who monitors your pregnancy. Still you must remember that sometimes pulling pains in the lower abdomen signifies a growing uterus.

Bleeding symptoms during pregnancy

Bleeding of any intensity is dangerous. With a normal course of pregnancy, there will be no spotting or bleeding, except for minor smearing discharge in the first weeks of pregnancy, which corresponds to the period of implantation (attachment of the fertilized egg to the wall of the uterus). If you see red, pale pink, or even brown secretions, you should urgently consult a doctor to exclude the following conditions.

Sometimes bleeding may be due to a violation of the integrity of the cervix’s vessels or to so-called decidual cast, which is basically a variation of the norm. But again, only your doctor can detect this.

Changes in the fetal movements

From the 16th and maximum to the 24th week of pregnancy a woman should begin to feel the baby moves. Each pregnant woman feels and describes them differently. For some, it’s like “fish swimming”, “butterflies flying”, “champagne balls bursting”. For someone it’s like “grumbling or twitching in the stomach”. You should remember the date of the first movements – it will help your doctor predict the day of delivery. Moreover from this moment on it is important to monitor the number of movements of your baby. Usually there should be at least ten of them per day. If there are few movements, or on the contrary, they are too active and painful, you should consult an obstetrician-gynecologist. 

But again, I want to reassure you that the longer the pregnancy, the stronger the baby becomes. So of course the movements are more sensitive. During the consultation some pregnant women complained to me that “it hits the urinary tract or the liver as if it were a punching bag”.

High body temperature 

One of the effects of progesterone is the influence on the center of thermoregulation. Therefore, the body temperature during pregnancy may sometimes rise to 37.5°C (99.5°f). If there are no other symptoms, there is no need to worry about this “treat” and bring down the fever too. In those cases when the temperature is 38°C (100,4°f) and above or have any of the complaints listed below – you need to seek help.

I really do not recommend paracetamol or ibuprofen. You should only take these so-called “light” pills (they are not) after your doctor’s prescription. 

If you have a temperature of 38°C (100,4°f) and above, you can safely take paracetamol 500 mg or ibuprofen, and the temperature should decrease within an hour. Do not expect a 5-minute fever jump down.

And again, I emphasize that you need to be in touch with the medical institution where you are monitoring your pregnancy.

Liquid, transparent secretions from the vagina

First of all in case of the liquid transparent secretions from the vagina, it is necessary to exclude leakage or outflow of amniotic fluid. Typically it should go away during childbirth period from the 37th week of pregnancy. If it happens earlier, you need the help of a doctor for complex diagnostic and treatment. The main thing is distinguishing amniotic fluid from urine, mucus plugs or inflammatory secretions. 

It is essential to do an amniotic fluid leakage test. I advise you to have it at home. In particular, greenish, yellowish, cheese-like discharge with a smell accompanied by discomfort and itching may indicate inflammation and/or infection of the genitourinary tract and require specialist consultation. 

Untreated bacterias such as Gardnerella vaginalis and Trichomonas vaginalis may cause premature amniotic fluid loss and premature birth. Therefore if the secretions are “disturbing”, I recommend a smear on the flora and a PCR-test to check for seven sexually transmitted diseases (PSD).

Morning sickness (unpleasant pregnancy symptoms like nausea, vomiting, drooling) 

I should note that vomiting is observed in 50-80% of all pregnancies and signs about violation of the body’s adaptation to pregnancy. It usually goes away on its own in the second trimester of pregnancy. In the early stages these symptoms may be a variant of the norm. Still, if vomiting becomes more frequent and is accompanied by weakness, loss of body weight, dryness of the mucus membranes and a decrease in pressure – these conditions may severely affect the course of pregnancy.

Vomiting more than five-ten times a day is the reason for intravenous infusion of medicines. As my experience with pregnant women shows, the sooner you start the intravenous therapy, the fewer complications arise. Do not afraid of treatment: the higher the degree of dehydration of the body, the stronger the vomiting and the greater the risks for the fetus.

Hypertension 

An increase in the blood pressure of 140/90 and above is an alarm bell because it may lead to a violation of placental blood circulation, resulting fetus receiving a smaller amount of blood and therefore oxygen and nutrients. In addition hypertension increases the risk of premature birth and stillbirth.

The rate of pregnancy-related high blood pressure disorders doubled in the U.S. between 2007 and 2019, according to new American research that finds one in five births now results in such a disorder, a preterm delivery or a baby with low birth weight.

According to the classification, arterial hypertension is divided into pre-existing hypertension, i.e. present before pregnancy or before the 20th week; gestational hypertension appeared for the first time after the 20th week of pregnancy; and mixed: when the high blood pressure was present both before pregnancy and at the late terms. That is why every visit your doctor measure your blood pressure, and if it is increased you must follow the doctor’s recommendations and monitor it yourself registering in your diary. Feeling unwell or having blood pressure above 170/110 requires urgent care.

Late gestosis 

After the 20th week of pregnancy, so-called late gestosis may occur. These include preeclampsia, eclampsia, and HELLP syndrome. These severe pathological conditions are dangerous for the mother and the fetus. Preeclampsia combines arterial hypertension, proteinuria (protein in the urine), and sometimes edema. Eclampsia is when seizures are added to the above disorders. Multiple organ failure with damage for the central nervous system may lead to heavy seizures with the loss of consciousness. HELLP syndrome is a severe condition accompanied by anemia, liver damage, and a decrease in the level of platelets in the blood. Only a doctor can recognize these complications, and your task is not to ignore complaints and if notice symptoms like increased blood pressure, vomiting, pain in the right hypochondrium, swelling, jaundice, and convulsive twitching, seek help in time.

Any complaints and disorders during pregnancy should be discussed with your obstetrician-gynecologist. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us! Highly qualified doctors of our Medical Center will be happy to help you. We sincerely wish you an easy and joyful pregnancy without complications.

Sincerely, Lyudmila Volodymyrivna Steshenko, gynecologist 

You can get a detailed understanding of the processes in your body during pregnancy from Natalia Silina’s course Pregnancy and the postpartum period – a complete guide.

All materials published on the website “School of Women’s Health dr.Silina” have been reviewed by a gynecologist-endocrinologist, the founder of the educational project, and candidate of medical sciences, Natalya Silina.