Boonsri Chanrachakul, M.D. on Nov 12, 2017
5 min read
3.8
One of the greatest and most profound periods in a woman’s life is when she has the opportunity to care for and nurture a tiny child in her womb. If, however, the mother finds she is not totally healthy, the effects of any disease or abnormality can have serious consequences for the baby she is carrying, and at times, these can affect both mother and baby simultaneously. Therefore, if abnormalities occur during pregnancy, that is, if a mother experiences any abnormal symptoms during pregnancy, she should not be overly confident or take anything for granted. Instead, the best course of action is to immediately consult a doctor who can provide an accurate diagnosis and give professional advice. And what are the types of symptoms that could be classified as indicative of an abnormal pregnancy? Let’s find out.
The amount of bleeding may vary considerably, from just a little to rather a lot, but regardless of quantity, mothers should not be complacent. During the first trimester there may be some normal spotting, as the fertilized egg implants itself on the lining of the uterus, causing hormonal changes and a certain amount of vaginal bleeding. However, some causes of vaginal bleeding or spotting are serious, possibly indicating a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. If a mother experiences bleeding combined with abdominal pain during the latter part of her pregnancy, this could also be an indication of a preterm birth. The best option always is to see a doctor.
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Because these are relatively common symptoms, some people will not suspect anything out of the ordinary. Especially during pregnancy, these symptoms are more likely to occur because the digestive system works slower than normal. The expectant mothers might experience some constipation or gas. The abdominal wall thickens and stretches to accommodate the growing uterus; and the steadily growing fetus will begin to squeeze or put pressure on the mother’s bladder, all of which can cause abdominal pain. This does not mean that mothers should dismiss symptoms like these, as they could also be signs of a urinary tract infection or ectopic pregnancy, that if left unchecked, could pose a risk of miscarriage.
These are common symptoms, especially in pregnant women, and they can be caused by dehydration, hormonal changes, stress and fatigue. Unfortunately, however, these symptoms can be a warning sign of something much more serious—preeclampsia. Especially if there is also swelling of the fingers and toes; the chances of preeclampsia are high.
When a new baby is growing in the womb, some of the fluids in the mother’s body are also passed on to the baby, and this means that expectant mothers can feel thirsty almost all the time. If you feel abnormally thirsty, however, and that thirst is not resolved by increasing your fluid intake, and if you are sweating at the same time, this could be a sign that you are experiencing a complication known as gestational diabetes.
An unborn baby grows in the womb more and more every day until there is no longer much space for it to flip itself or turn over. As a result, it does eventually move more slowly and, at times, is perhaps still or quiet as it is sleeping comfortably. Some mothers can get used to this feeling and thus may wrongly assume their baby is asleep, when in reality the baby’s lack of movement may also be indicative of an abnormality. If therefore, these symptoms appear, it is safest to first assume that there is the possibility that something is wrong. The best course of action is to consult a doctor and have health and pregnancy checkups on a regular basis. Doing so is the best way to help prevent any possible health problems for the new, soon-to-be-born baby, and also the mother-to-be.
For women who are thinking of starting a family or have been trying to conceive, Samitivej Pregnancy Care offers a predictive and preventive approach through precise and personalized medicine, making certain that every step from conception to birth is as smooth, safe and healthy as possible. Our team of highly trained experts at Samitivej’s Women’s Health Center consists of obstetricians, gynecologists, maternal fetal medicine specialists, geneticists, neonatologists, lactation specialists, and nurse midwives. The collaboration between these professionals and our patients remains at the core of our philosophy. Our goal is to provide the required knowledge, confidence and skills, which can help families make the best choices during one of life’s most exciting journeys.
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