Pregnancy is a time when you need to relax and just enjoy the sensation of becoming a mother. So I don’t mean to be a scaremonger and frighten you with these facts. But there are times when we need to be careful and when a visit to the doctor cannot hurt, especially if you’re in too much pain or discomfort. Some people may dismiss you as a hypochondriac, but there’s no such thing as being too cautious when it comes to your baby’s health and well-being. So if you’re pregnant, and if you feel any of the below symptoms, it means you need to call your doctor at once and get yourself checked out:
- Spotting or bleeding: When you’re pregnant, you don’t expect to experience your monthly period, so a little blood in your underwear is definitely a cause for concern. It may be as mild as the embryo implanting itself in your uterus or as complicated as a possible miscarriage. So it’s best to consult your OBGYN immediately and do exactly as he/she asks you to. Sometimes, bleeding with severe cramps and pain on one side of your abdomen may be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy where the baby forms in your Fallopian tube instead of your uterus. You must rush to the hospital immediately if you even suspect this to be the case because ectopic pregnancies, if not treated immediately, can cause severe internal bleeding and subsequent loss of life.
- Pain or a burning sensation during urination: If you feel a burning sensation or any kind of pain when you urinate and/or is your urine gives off a strong odor, you may be suffering from a urinary tract infection. You must contact your healthcare provider if this is the case, because, if left untreated, these infections could cause permanent damage to your kidneys.
- Constant thirst and the frequent need to urinate: If you feel constantly hungry, extremely thirsty, tired, and find yourself running to the bathroom once too often, you may be suffering from gestational diabetes. When a woman is pregnant, her body needs to produce double the amount of insulin that it normally does, and this becomes a problem for some women who are not able to do so. So they become diabetic, a condition that’s induced by pregnancy. If you experience these signs, call your doctor immediately and get yourself tested.
- A persistent headache: If you have a constant headache and feel faint all the time, you may be suffering from pre-eclampsia, a complication of pregnancy where the mother’s blood pressure shoots up to abnormal levels. You must get in touch with your doctor immediately and/or get yourself rushed to the nearest hospital.
- Itchiness: If you find yourself scratching your arms, legs torso, palms and soles, you need to call your OBGYN and fix an immediate appointment. Your liver may be at risk if you don’t have a rash where you itch and if your stools are pale in color and you don’t feel as energetic as you usually do.
