You are expecting and awaiting your little bundle of joy! Pregnancy is an emotional and exciting journey for a female, especially if it’s her first baby. Pregnancy brings about a lot of changes in the expecting mother’s body, among which, most are perfectly normal. In fact, most females have a healthy pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby. I have personally known of 5 friends who had Ectopic pregnancy symptoms in their first trimester!
Morning sickness, headaches, fatigue are common pregnancy problems that most females experience in the first trimester. But at times, some complications might be a sign of an underlying cause or problem. This makes it essential to know what signs and problems to watch out for to help you take the best care of yourself and the developing baby. At any time you are concerned about what’s going on, you should talk to your doctor and clear your head of any doubts. Here are some common first trimester complications you should watch out for.
From Ectopic pregnancy symptoms to familiarizing with 7 other complications in the first trimester of pregnancy:
1. Vaginal Bleeding or Spotting
Spotting or vaginal bleeding during pregnancy’s first trimester is known as implantation bleeding, which generally happens around the time the female is supposed to have her period. Implantation bleeding in the first trimester is common and generally not a cause of concern. However, if the bleeding increases, does not stop or is accompanied with severe cramps, you should talk to your doctor.
2. Nausea and Vomiting
Morning sickness is the most common problem that affects a pregnant female in the first trimester. Nausea and vomiting affects different females differently. For some, it could be extreme, which also increases the risk of dehydration. Some females cannot hold down anything that they eat due to severe nausea and vomiting, which can cause reduced nutrition for the female and foetus. Talk to your doctor, who can recommend some medication to regulate severe nausea.
3. Fatigue, insomnia and heartburn
During the first trimester, many pregnant females feel fatigued and tired, which can also affect their sleeping hours and quality of sleep. Sleeping problems in the first trimester can be attributed to extreme exhaustion that the female feels throughout the day. Heartburn in pregnancy and increased urination may also be a common complaint. Such complications are considered somewhat normal and not an alarming sign. But if the condition or symptoms get worse, talk to your doctor to rule out any complications.
4. Miscarriage
It is an unfortunate fact that about 10 to 15 % of pregnancies end in a miscarriage and around 80% miscarriages happen in the first trimester of pregnancy. Miscarriage in the early pregnancy can be caused due to infections, clotting disorders, chromosomal abnormalities, or anatomic problems of the uterus. Eating a well-balanced diet, keeping the body fit and physically active with exercises, and avoiding alcohol and smoking can help sustain the pregnancy.
5. Ectopic pregnancy definition
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg gets implants outside the uterus. Around 1 in 50 pregnancies could be an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy symptoms can be fatal and include internal bleeding. As the fertilized egg is implanted outside the uterus, this pregnancy cannot sustain. This makes diagnosis and treatment of ectopic pregnancy very essential. If not treated in time, an ectopic pregnancy can be life-threatening for the female.
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6. Constipation and diarrhea
Stomach problems in the first trimester of pregnancy are not uncommon. Usually, a female experiences mild to severe constipation due to the hormonal changes and the changes in her diet. Severe constipation can also leaf to haemorrhoids and blood in stools. If your diarrhoea lasts more than 3 to 4 days, you should report to your doctor, as it can lead to dehydration and weakness.
7. Painful urination
During pregnancy, a female is even more susceptible to Urinary Tract Infections. Painful urination is a common sign of UTI. In severe cases, a female may also have blood in urine, which is a sign of UTI in pregnancy. Untreated UTI can lead to kidney infection. Avoid delaying consulting a doctor in case you suffer from painful urination in pregnancy to get treatment for UTI.
8. Preeclampsia
After week 20 of pregnancy, swelling is considered somewhat normal in most females. This swelling is caused due to a change in the blood volume and flow, allowing the fluids to get trapped in the tissues near the extremities. However, swelling in the first trimester of pregnancy, could be an indicator of preeclampsia. Consult your doctor to the soonest if you notice such symptoms in the first trimester. Pregnant females might face a number of discomforts in pregnancy. But, it is important to know what is normal and what is a sign of a complication or problem. So, in case of discomforts, unexplained changes or symptoms, consult your gynaecologist in Delhi right away to carry on a healthy pregnancy.
