Pregnancy is a time of great joy. It is the fulfillment of womanhood for most girls and the binding force in marriages. However, as with most important things, pregnancy comes with its share of hardships and risks.
The human body is such a wonderful thing in that it will alert you if there is something wrong with it. This is particularly helpful for pregnant women. One alarming sign that pregnant women should watch out for, especially during the first trimester, is Vaginal Bleeding or Spotting especially if accompanied by cramps. These symptoms could possibly lead to abortion or miscarriage. If pain occurs on one side only and you experience fainting, this could a warning sign for ectopic pregnancy. On the other hand, if this occurs during the last semester of your pregnancy, there is a great probability of premature labor.
Another pregnancy risk that pregnant mothers face is pre-eclampsia or toxemia. This usually manifests itself in the form of frequent headaches, blurring of vision, sudden swelling of joints and extremities. If you experience these symptoms, you might need to see your doctor as toxemia or pre-eclampsia can lead to premature labor as well as fetal distress.
Pregnant women should also watch out for fetal movement. Lack of it might mean fetal distress. One way of monitoring fetal movement is through kick counting. You can start this on your 28th week. What you need to do is record the time of the first kick as well as the 10th. If time elapsed seems to be longer than usual, you can stimulate movement by walking around of by drinking fluids. If there has been no change, you should visit your doctor.
Regular pre-natal check-up is one of your tools in lowering the risks you could face during pregnancy. Without proper monitoring, what could have been a happy moment in your life would be a nightmare.
