Things you should never ignore during pregnancy.

Pregnancy can be a worrying time, especially the first time round.

Your body changes in so many different ways and sometimes it can be hard to know if what’s happening is normal or not.

This can lead to a lot of panicking and far too much time Googling or on the phone to the NHS’s non-emergency helpline.

Most of the weird and wonderful feelings are completely fine, but according to the experts at BabyCentre there are a few things you should never, ever, ignore.

It’s hard to know what’s normal and what isn’t (Image: Caiaimage)

Sharp pain in your middle or upper tummy

You can experience this with or without vomitting, but either way it’s extremely important to get it checked.

If you’re in the second half of your pregnancy, it could indicate pre-eclampsia.

However it could also be caused by

  • severe indigestion
  • heartburn
  • a stomach bug
  • food poisoning

Call your midwife, doctor or maternity unit immediately.

Severe pain on either or both sides of your lower belly

This could just be a stretched ligament, but it can also be a sign of something more serious including:

  • an ectopic pregnancy
  • premature labour
  • the placental separating from the womb lining
  • miscarriage
  • a fibroid breaking down

Call your midwife, doctor or maternity unit immediately.

It can be very scary (Image: Getty)

This can be a sign of pre-eclampsia in the second half of pregnancy.

Seek medical advice if you experience any of the following:

  • blurred vision
  • double vision
  • dimming
  • flashing spots or lights in front of your eyes

Vaginal bleeding

Spotting or VERY light bleeding without pain is probably nothing to worry about in early pregnancy, but it’s still worth getting it checked out.

However, it might be something more serious if:

  • it’s a different colour or consistency to your normal period
  • it’s heavy and combined with back pain. This can be a sign of miscarriage
  • it’s very sudden, even if it’s painless. This could be caused by a low-lying placenta
  • it’s fresh of dark blood, regardless of whether it’s clotting or not. This could be a sign of placental abruption

Call your midwife, doctor or maternity unit immediately .

It burns when you go for a wee

You need to get it checked out (Image: Cultura RF)

This could be the sign of a urinary tract infection.

You should see your doctor, who will be able to give you antibiotics, if you have any of these symptoms:

  • it’s painful or burns when you go for a wee
  • your wee is cloudy or smelly
  • there is blood in your wee
  • you need to go to the loo extremely regularly, ever if you’ve just been
  • you’re nauseous or have cold sweats
  • you feel achy all over or have pain in your lower abdomen

Leaking fluid from your vagina

If you notice any fluid leaking from your vagina before you reach the 37 week mark, it might mean your waters have broken early.

If this happens, your baby has less protection from infections.

Call your midwife, doctor or maternity unit immediately.

Feeling faint or dizzy

This can just mean you haven’t eaten enough, but it can also be a sign of low blood pressure so it’s worth getting it checked out.

It’s worth getting it checked out, just to be safe (Image: GETTY)

If you’re being sick more than a couple of times of days can weaken you. It might be hyperemesis gravidarum, the morning sickness condition Kate Middleton suffers from.

If it happens during the second half of your pregnancy, it could just be a tummy bug but it might be a sign of pre-eclampsia so make an appointment to see your doctor.

Your baby’s movements have slowed down

You know better than anyone what is ‘normal’ for your baby’s movements.

If you notice this decrease contact your doctor or midwife, especially if it’s after 28 weeks.

Itching all over

This might sound like a strange one, but it might mean you have a liver condition called obstetric cholestasis.

 

Source: The Mirrow

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