Pregnancy health centre

Understanding pregnancy discomfort - symptoms

What are the symptoms of pregnancy discomfort?

Women can expect some or all of these changes in a normal pregnancy:

• In the first trimester: absence of menstrual flow, minor weight gain, increased urination, enlarged and perhaps sore breasts, morning sickness and nausea.
• In the second trimester: significant weight gain (about half a kilo a week), stretching of the abdominal wall and pelvis, backache, constipation, heartburn and foetal movement.
• In the third trimester: swollen limbs from fluid retention, leaking breasts, constipation, haemorrhoids, insomnia and discomfort below the rib cage a few weeks before the baby drops into position at about 36 weeks.

Seek medical advice from your doctor or midwife if:

• You have severe or persistent nausea and vomiting, rapid heartbeat or pale, dry skin. You may have dehydration related to hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness.
• You have vaginal spotting or bleeding. You may be having a miscarriage or a serious placental complication.
• You have sudden weight gain over a few days, severe headache or blurred vision. You may have developed pre-eclampsia, a form of high blood pressure.
• You have a fever over 38° C (100.4° F) and chills, backache or blood in your urine. You may have a kidney infection or other infection.
• If you feel fewer baby movements from normal or you are concerned about your baby’s movements; you may be experiencing foetal distress.
• You feel wetness or a leaking of fluid, unlike normal vaginal secretions or urinary leakage. You may have ruptured membranes or leaking of amniotic fluid.