If you think you could be pregnant or are trying to be, there are certain symptoms you should not ignore. Your body will go through a series of dramatic changes during this time so stay on top of what’s normal and what’s serious...
Light or heavy vaginal bleeding
Heavy bleeding, especially when accompanied with back or abdominal pain, can indicate a potential or actual miscarriage. While spotting can be a normal sign of implantation, you should still call your doctor if you bleed while you’re pregnant, or think you could be. Bleeding can be symptomatic of an ectopic pregnancy or later down the track placenta praevia. An ectopic pregnancy, or pregnancy that develops outside the womb, is definitely something you need to catch early so you can have the necessary tests and plan surgery if needs be.
Symptoms often start about two weeks after a missed period and a lot of the time it’s a different kind of bleeding to what your period would be like – either heavier or lighter and perhaps darker and more watery than usual.
Pain, such as severe lower abdominal pain on either or both sides
Pain in the lower abdomen can also be symptomatic of an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage so it is worth a trip to the doctors. If not diagnosed early, the fallopian tube can be stretched so much that it may rupture. If this happens you will experience more severe symptoms such as a sudden and intense pain which gradually spreads across the abdomen, sweating, feeling faint, diarrhoea, blood in your stools, shoulder tip pain or you may collapse or go into shock.
Severe vomiting
A lot of women find they start vomiting when they first become pregnant so you need to be aware of the potential detrimental impacts on your own health, particularly if it is accompanied by pain and/or a temperature. Severe vomiting more than two or three times a day in the first trimester can dehydrate and weaken you so you’ll need to speak to a doctor or midwife about it.
Breast growth
Many women experience breast growth during pregnancy, and for many women it’s the first sign that they are pregnant. If you notice an increase in size and possibly tenderness in your breasts then it could be a hint that it’s time to head the doctors. During pregnancy the breasts tend to grown as a result of hormonal changes, it’s a sign that the breasts are preparing for breastfeeding.
If you are showing any of these signs or think you might be pregnant, then it’s important to get checked out. Don’t forget you can pick up a home pregnancy test from your supermarket or pharmacy, or head along to your doctor or local Family Planning Centre for a more conclusive blood test. Make sure you tell someone about the symptoms you’ve been experiencing so you can give yourself, and maybe even your baby, the best chance. If you're after a bit of advice and guidance, BabyCenter is also a great sounding board for any pregnancy issues or concerns. For more pregnancy symptoms click here or to check out the BabyCenter forums for more advice click here.
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Light or heavy vaginal bleeding
Pain, such as severe lower abdominal pain on either or both sides
If you are showing any of these signs or think you might be pregnant, then it’s important to get checked out. Don’t forget you can pick up a home pregnancy test from your supermarket or pharmacy, or head along to your doctor or local Family Planning Centre for a more conclusive blood test. Make sure you tell someone about the symptoms you’ve been experiencing so you can give yourself, and maybe even your baby, the best chance. If you're after a bit of advice and guidance, (275).jpg){kind=small}