What’s Normal and What’s Not During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is usually accompanied by a series of changes and experiences on the part of the mother. If it’s your first time, you may find yourself worried sick whenever you so much as feel nauseated in the morning. It is a very delicate period for every woman, especially during the first three months. You, therefore, need to know what’s normal and when to call a doctor so that you don’t ignore critical signs or blow the small details out of proportion. Here is some explanation on what’s normal during pregnancy and what’s not:

NAUSEA AND VOMITING

When It Is Normal:

Usually, nausea is regarded as one of the most prominent signs of pregnancy, which means that it is, to some extent, very normal. Nausea usually manifests profoundly during the first trimester and most times comes in the morning, taking a lead role in the dreaded morning sickness which actually occurs at any time of the day.

When to See A Doctor:

You should start getting concerned if your nausea lasts very long. If you are vomiting severely and can barely keep any fluids in your body for more than twelve hours, then you may need to plan a trip to see your doctor. It could lead to dehydration which, needless to say, is dangerous for your baby.

VAGINAL BLEEDING

When It Is Normal:

Only when you are spotting lightly. Check the shade of the blood; the lighter the red, the faster you need to see a doctor.

When to See A Doctor

Generally, a pregnant woman should not be bleeding. It is never a good sign and most times it points towards miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. If you are bleeding heavily and you can also feel cramps similar to menstrual cramps, then it may be a threat of miscarriage. If these symptoms are also accompanied by sharp pains on either side of the abdomen, then you may have an ectopic pregnancy. This means that your baby may be implanted outside the uterus, most likely in the fallopian tube.

The light bleeding or spotting should not be a major concern but if you feel pain and bleed heavily, be sure to see your doctor.

FEVER

When It's Normal:

Fevers are generally never a problem for pregnant mothers, and they subside quickly. That is, of course, if they are lower than 38ºC or 101ºF.

When to See A Doctor

High fevers should be of much concern. They could point towards infections which could be more dangerous to the baby than the mother. In this case, the fever will be accompanied by pain in the joints and a rash on the skin. Infections such as CMV are common among children and may cause complications such as congenital deafness if not dealt with early enough or properly.

Other cases that should be considered abnormal include pain or a burning sensation during urination, blood clots characterized by swelling and severe headaches, and signs of sexually transmitted infections. Such often pose more danger to the baby than the mother.