I will preface this article with the fact that if you have a pregnancy symptom that you feel is concerning, never ignore it. Yes, that even means pregnancy symptoms are not in this article or on this list. Yes, that even means pregnancy symptoms that you have been told are likely normal but do not feel normal to you. If it is concerning you, causing a lack of sleep or anxiety, and your gut is telling you that something is wrong, listen to that and contact your care provider. As a care provider, I never get upset when clients message or call me, even when it turns out to be nothing. As I always tell my clients, I would rather take your call at 3 am than have you up and anxious all night long or go to the emergency room for no reason.
Vaginal Bleeding
One of the most significant pregnancy symptoms to never ignore is bleeding from the vagina. There are many cases where bleeding from the vagina is normal and not to be worried about. Still, many complications can also happen when bleeding occurs. If you are experiencing bleeding, put on a pad. This will give you an idea of how much you are bleeding and over how much time. I also recommend immediately taking it easy to lay down while you wait to hear back from your care provider on the next steps.
Questions that your care provider might ask are whether or not you have had sex recently, if you have worked out or done extra physical labor in the last day or so, and if you are experiencing cramping or contractions with the bleeding, so take note of these things. At the same time, you wait for them to communicate. Deep breaths. As I mentioned above, many things can cause bleeding in pregnancy, and although I am telling you not to ignore it, it indeed could be benign.
Sudden Pain
Another pregnancy symptom that is never to be ignored is a sudden onset of pain. This pain could be in your abdomen, chest, or anywhere else. If you get a sudden onset of intense pain, it is best to get that checked out so that you can make sure everything looks normal with your placenta, baby, and vitals. Pain and discomfort are a part of pregnancy, but usually, these things come on slowly and are not typically very intense. Even if there is a chance that your care provider will tell you that the pain you are experiencing is normal, it is better to get looked at than not. And, if your care provider tells you that it is normal but you feel strongly that it is not normal, getting a second opinion can be a great idea.
Vision Changes
Visual disturbances are another pregnancy symptom that should not be ignored. Your vision getting worse in pregnancy can be typical, but seeing stars, a black spot on your vision, tunnel vision, and other disturbances similar to these can be signs of something a lot more serious. Sometimes, all you need is a good protein snack. Visual disturbances that occur in the late second and third trimesters and do not go away can be a symptom of pre-eclampsia and should be noted in your chart immediately.
Typically, your care provider will want to run extra blood and urine tests and check out other vitals that could be warning signs like blood pressure, temperature, and swelling. Headaches can coincide with visual disturbances and are also something that you should not ignore. Let your care provider know if you have a headache that does not go away with rest or medication. Long-lasting and intense headaches are atypical and must be followed up with extra testing.
Extreme Nausea & Vomiting
Extreme nausea and vomiting should not be ignored either. As we all know, a certain amount of puking can be expected, especially in the first trimester. But there are circumstances where this morning sickness can get out of hand and cause other complications, especially for a parent who cannot stay hydrated or eat anything. Hydration is one of my biggest concerns when someone says they are vomiting frequently, and nutritional intake is second to Hydration. Sometimes, individuals will be able to keep the fluid and food down long enough for some absorption, but if you wonder if that is the case, having your care provider check in with you can be helpful. Vomiting and nausea can come back and rear their ugly heads in the third trimester, and although this is often very normal, it can also be a warning sign of something more complicated than that. This is another excellent time to check in with your provider and ensure they know your symptoms.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Any symptoms of STIs should be brought to your care providers, and testing should be done following this check-in. Some STIs can be easily treated in pregnancy and do not cause issues to an unborn baby, but others can put your baby and you at serious risk. If you have any symptoms of an STI, let your care provider know. There are even some STIs where vaginal birth is contraindicated, and a cesarean section would need to be performed. To keep your baby and yourself safe during pregnancy, do not ignore possible STIs and report them as soon as you notice them.
Fever
Lastly, do not ignore a fever, especially in the first trimester. Fevers can come from a myriad of sicknesses and, in many cases, will not impact your unborn baby. In the first trimester, fevers put your baby at a much higher risk, so getting seen by your care provider is the best thing you can do. If a fever occurs in the third trimester, it could be as simple as catching the flu or a cold, but it could also be a sign of uterine infection and, therefore, should be brought to your care provider as soon as you can reach them.
Remember that this article does not list every symptom that should not be ignored, and if you have a pregnancy symptom that concerns you, bring it to your care provider. Also, remember that a lot of weird body things are absolutely normal during pregnancy, so as you wait to hear back from your provider, remind yourself of what you know. You know that you have this symptom, not what it means, not what Google and the mommy Facebook group say it means, just that you have this symptom. When you know more, you can worry more or be relieved, but right now, you only know that you have this symptom—so take deep breaths, in through your nose, and out through your mouth. You've got this!
