Some symptoms may appear around the time you would expect your period or a week or two later. In fact, 7 out of 10 women experience symptoms by the time they are six weeks pregnant.
How can you tell if a sudden pain is normal or if you should call your doctor or midwife?
Some symptoms may be more or less urgent depending on your week of pregnancy and any particular circumstances or medical history you may have.
Consult your doctor so you can review together which signs justify an urgent call or immediate medical attention as your pregnancy progresses:
- Your baby is moving or kicking less than usual (once movement has become regular). Ask your doctor if you should track your baby’s daily activity. They may give you specific instructions on how to count and when to call.
- Severe or persistent abdominal pain or tenderness.
- Vaginal bleeding or spotting. An increase or change in vaginal discharge: watery, mucous, or bloody. Note: After 37 weeks, an increase in mucus is normal and may indicate that labor is approaching.
- Pelvic pressure (a sensation that the baby is pushing downward), lower back pain (especially if this is new for you), menstrual-like cramps, or abdominal pain that comes and goes before 37 weeks.
- Painful burning during urination, or very little to no urine.
- Severe or persistent vomiting, nausea accompanied by pain, chills, or fever.
- Vision disturbances such as double vision, blurry vision, decreased brightness, flashing lights, or “floaters” (spots in your field of vision).
- Persistent or severe headache, or a headache accompanied by blurry vision, difficulty speaking, or numbness.
- Swelling in your face or around your eyes, mild swelling in your hands, severe or sudden swelling in your feet or ankles, or rapid weight gain (more than 4 kilos/9 pounds in one week).
- Trauma to the abdomen.
- Fainting, frequent dizziness, rapid heartbeat, or palpitations.
- Difficulty breathing, coughing up blood, or chest pain.
- Severe constipation with abdominal pain, or severe diarrhea lasting more than 24 hours.
- Persistent and intense itching on your hands, feet, palms, soles, or an overall sensation of itching on your body.
- Flu exposure or flu-like symptoms. Inform your doctor or midwife immediately if you have been in close contact with someone who has the flu or if you develop symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough, runny or congested nose, fatigue, body aches, and chills. Symptoms may sometimes include vomiting or diarrhea.
- Seek emergency medical care immediately if you experience difficulty breathing, chest or abdominal pain, sudden dizziness, confusion, severe and persistent vomiting, reduced fetal movement, or high fever.
- Exposure to a contagious disease, such as chickenpox or rubella, if you are not vaccinated, can result in infection and symptoms.
- Depression or severe anxiety. If you feel a deep sense of sadness or hopelessness that leads to panic attacks, prevents you from handling daily tasks, or if you have thoughts of harming yourself, seek help immediately.
- Any other health problem you may have — you can call your doctor even if it does not seem related to pregnancy (such as worsening asthma or a cold).
Your body is changing so quickly that it can be difficult to judge whether what you are experiencing is “normal.” If you are unsure whether a symptom is serious, do not hesitate to call your doctor. If there is a problem, you will receive help right away. If not, you can continue your pregnancy feeling reassured.
