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During a pregnancy you will experience many symptoms ranging from morning sickness early on to swollen feet and ankles later in the pregnancy. Every pregnant woman worries about the health of her pregnancy and baby, always wondering what each little symptom she feels means. It is a good idea to talk to your doctor throughout your pregnancy to get an idea of what to expect and what to keep an eye out for. It is better to be equipped with knowledge in the event you experience a complication or problem during your pregnancy.
Here are a few signs that may indicate a problem and should not be ignored. If you experience any of these symptoms or others that you are concerned about you should immediately call your doctor.
- Your baby is not moving or is moving less frequently than normal
- Severe or persistent abdominal pain or cramping
- Vaginal bleeding or spotting
- An increase or change your vaginal discharge
- Pelvic pressure
- Pain or burning during urination, or a decrease in the amount of urine
- Severe or persistent vomiting, or any vomiting accompanied by a fever
- A fever above 100 degrees Fahrenheit
- Visual disturbances
- Persistent or severe headache
- Swelling of your face or hands, any sudden swelling of your feet, or rapid weight gain
- Persistent or severe leg cramps
- Fainting, frequent dizziness, or heart palpitations
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain
- Severe constipation accompanied by abdominal pain
- Diarrhea that lasts more than 24hrs
- Persistent and intense itchiness
As stated above these symptoms should not be ignored and you should call your doctor immediately if you experience any of them. You should also call your doctor any time you are concerned or unsure about something you are experiencing. It is always better to get checked out than to let something become a problem.
Well this week marks the beginning of the third trimester for me. It seemed like it would take forever to get to this point back in March when I first found out I was pregnant, but really time seems to have flown by. I’m told time goes by a lot slower in the third trimester, I guess I’ll have to wait and see.
Things have continued to go very well with my pregnancy. I haven’t gain much weight as of my last appointment, but my doctor says that everything looks good and as long as the baby is growing it doesn’t matter. She is definitely growing so that’s good. Sometimes I feel like my belly is getting bigger every day. It is hard to remember the days when I wasn’t showing at all!
I went for a one hour glucose screening a couple of weeks ago. My blood sugar came back a little high, only a few points over the cut off, but still over. I talked to my doctor about the results today (I had been out of town when the results came in) and he said likely it was just a false positive, apparently it happens a lot with these screening tests. He is sending me in for a three hour glucose tolerance test which is supposed to be a lot more accurate. With this test I will have to fast for 8-12 hours before the test, they will take my blood when I first get there to get a base reading, then I will drink a larger quantity of the very sugary drink they give you and have my blood drawn at one hour intervals over a 3 hour period. It doesn’t sound like much fun to me, but apparently it isn’t that bad, just really boring. I’ll let you know how it goes.
I have really enjoyed being pregnant so far, minus the morning sickness early on. It is reassuring to know that things are going well with me and the baby. The baby is doing great. Her heartbeat continues to be very strong, I can’t wait to hear it again at my appointment later this week. She is kicking up a storm. It is the most incredible thing to feel her moving around in there, my husband gets a big kick out of it too. We can’t wait to meet her.
I’m sure time will continue to fly by so I will just continue to enjoy being pregnant. We are starting to buy a lot of the baby gear, how fun!
When your baby is born the umbilical cord will be clamped and cut. A small umbilical cord stump is left attached to where your baby’s belly button will eventually be. The stump will dry and fall off sometime during the first couple of weeks. For new parents this little stump causes much concern and fear. What exactly are you supposed to do with it? How do you care for it? Does it hurt the baby? How do I know if something is wrong?
Your pediatrician and the nursing staff of the hospital will explain all about the umbilical cord stump and how to care for it before you leave the hospital. While you are in the hospital, surrounded by expert care, is the best time to ask questions. If you are unsure about what to do ask someone, they will be happy to show you.
Here are some general tips for caring for the umbilical cord stump until it falls off.
- Keep the area clean and dry. At each diaper change be sure to thoroughly clean the area and make sure it is completely dry before you dress the baby. While you wait for the stump to fall off you should give your baby sponge baths instead of submersing them in water to help keep the area dry.
- Expose the umbilical cord stump to light and air as this will aid in the drying out and healing process.
- Fold the front of the diaper down in the front so that it does not cover the umbilical cord stump. This will allow the cord stump to stay exposed to the air and will prevent the contents of the diaper from irritating or infecting the area. Some diaper companies now make newborn diapers that already dip down in the front so you don’t have to worry about folding the diaper over.
It is normal to see some traces of discharge or dried blood in the area as it heals, however, if you notice any of the following you should immediately contact your pediatrician.
- Sudden fever
- Redness or swelling around the stump area
- The area continues to bleed
- Any oozing of yellowish, foul-smelling discharge
A very common complaint during pregnancy, particular in the later months, is swelling of the feet, ankles and lower legs. As your uterus grows it puts more pressure on the blood vessels in the lower abdomen and pelvis area. The swelling is caused by fluid that is forced out of the blood vessels and into the tissues of your legs. It pools at the lowest point in your lower legs, ankles and feet causing them to be most likely to swell.
Swelling in this area is not uncommon and is not something you generally have to be too concerned about. If, however, you experience any sudden excessive swelling, swelling that does not go away after rest, or swelling in your hands and face you should contact your doctor immediately as these may be signs of something else going on.
So what can you do if you suffer from this pesky pregnancy complaint? Here are a few tips and suggestions.
- Try to avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time.
- Lie on your side, not your back during sleep and rest.
- Rest often with your legs up. If you sit at a desk all day at work consider getting something for under your desk to prop your legs up.
- Avoid wearing clothes that fit tight or constrict the flow of blood from your lower body.
- Avoid wearing shoes that are too tight. Also try to choose shoes that offer good support and don’t have heals that are too high.
- If you notice swelling in your feet, ankles and lower legs rest with your legs propped up, this should alleviate the swelling.
- Ask your partner for a foot and lower leg massage.
Again, if you are concerned about your swelling, or experience any of the more severe forms of swelling listed above you should call your doctor.
Did you suffer from swelling during your pregnancy? What tricks did you learn to help alleviate the swelling?
The birth of a new baby is a joyous and happy occasion, but it can also be very overwhelming. When you consider all the changes you body is going through, particularly when it comes to your hormones, as well as the inevitable lack of sleep, the stress of adjusting to your new schedule and new baby, and the pressure that women often put on themselves to be the best at everything it isn’t any wonder that many women suffer from some form of the “baby blues” or postpartum depression.
Luckily for many women the “baby blues” come and go quickly during the first weeks after the baby arrives. However, for some women these feelings do not go away or may become worse. The symptoms, like with any form of depression, can range from mild to severe. The following is a list of the common signs of postpartum depression.
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Feelings of helplessness
- Suffering from deep sadness or crying a lot
- Being restless and irritable
- Lack of energy and feeling sluggish or exhausted
- Feelings of nervousness or being jumpy
- Feelings of worthlessness and guilt
- Lack of appetite and associated weight loss
- Having no interest in your new baby
- Being overly worried about your baby
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- No interest or pleasure in any activities, particularly those you used to really enjoy
- Either being unable to sleep or sleeping all the time
- Unable to cope with your daily tasks
- Thoughts of death, suicide, or harming your baby
If you have any of the above symptoms you should call your doctor immediately so you can get treatment. There are many treatment options for postpartum depression ranging from counseling to medication. The best treatment options for you will depend on how severe your symptoms are. Your doctor will be able to make recommendations for you and refer you to a therapist or support group.
No one knows for sure what causes postpartum depression, but hormones are suspected to be the likely cause. Now that postpartum depression is more out in the open, hopefully more research will be done and more can be discovered about the causes. Studies have found that women with a personal or family history of depression are at an increased risk of suffering from postpartum depression. You are also more likely to suffer from postpartum depression if you suffered from it after a pregnancy.
Remember that you are not alone, many women suffer from postpartum depression. The best thing for you and your family is to get help, talk through it, and take care of yourself. Here is a very helpful website, Postpartum Support International.