Pregnancy Complications that Signal Distress in Mom or Baby

Pregnancy is a natural state of a woman's life, however, things can and do go wrong. There are some simple warning signs that every pregnant woman should be aware of. The body has natural warning signs that warrant distress in either the mother or baby and should never be ignored. If you ever have any of the following symptoms you will need to contact your doctor at once to gain further instructions. As a pregnant woman, you must always be aware of what is going on in your body so that you can help to ensure a healthy baby at delivery.

One warning sign during pregnancy is leaking amniotic fluid. If you ever feel as though you have peed your pants, or can't seem to stop the flow of urine, you may have an amniotic sac leak. This is very crucial to determine since a leak in the amniotic sac could lead to a premature rupture and cause pre-term labor. The amniotic fluid is the fluid that surrounds the baby in the uterus and protects is from harm. Amniotic fluid is generally clear, but may be pink, yellow or green tinged. If you ever see any green fluid you need to get to the nearest emergency room as soon as possible. Green amniotic fluid may signal the baby has had a bowel movement which is a sign of distress. Your doctor can test the fluid with a test strip to determine if it is indeed amniotic fluid. If it is amniotic fluid, your doctor will take the necessary steps to prevent further rupture and avoid labor.

Another symptom you cannot ignore during pregnancy is any vaginal bleeding. Any bright red or dark blood seeping from the vagina is a very serious warning sign. This can signal oncoming labor, a placenta tear, and a host of other dangerous complications. Be sure you call help immediately and get to your doctor's office for a complete examination. If you notice a slight, light pink spotting, there is generally no need for alarm. Spotting lightly during pregnancy can be a result of over activity or a result of intercourse. Only if the blood darkens and becomes heavy do you need to worry.

Any signs of pre-term labor also warrant a trip to the doctor. If you feel like you are having contractions, feel severe cramping or just have a feeling that something may not be right, it is always best to see your doctor and allow the doctor to determine that everything is ok. Some signs of pre-term labor include contractions throughout your uterus, cramps that feel like menstrual cramping, a dull lower back ache, and increased pelvic pressure. Preterm labor is any labor that is prior to 35 weeks of pregnancy. After 36 weeks, labor may progress without much concern. Your doctor can take preventive measure to try to stop the labor, but you must get to the doctor as soon as possible.

Preeclampsia is also a concern in the last trimester of pregnancy. Signs of preeclampsia include: headaches, protein in urine, elevated blood pressure, blurred vision, sudden weight gain, and severe swelling. The only solution to preeclampsia is delivery of the baby, so your doctor will need to monitor the mother until after delivery of the baby. Pregnant women who suffer from preeclampsia are often put on hospital bed rest and induced when the baby has grown enough to survive outside the uterus.

Some other warning signs of pregnancy include excessive dizziness, vomiting that cannot be controlled, fever, or any sharp pain in the abdominal area. If you ever feel that the movement of the baby has slowed down, you will want to call the doctor right away to have the baby examined. When a pregnancy is concerned, it is always better to be on the safe side and call your doctor than have something go wrong. There are many procedures and medications the doctors use that result in a healthy baby and mother.