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Things to worry about during pregnancy


When To Call Your Doctor During Early Pregnancy

Watch for 7 warning signs of trouble with your early pregnancy.

Written by Denise Mann

Reviewed by Dan Brennan, MD on March 31, 2022

You're expecting! It's an emotional and exciting time, especially if it's your first baby. You're going to notice a lot of changes in your body. Many of them are perfectly normal. And most women have healthy pregnancies.

Still, there are some symptoms you'll need to pay more attention to during your early months. For example, nausea, a little bleeding, and vaginal discharge aren't unusual, but they could also mean there's a problem. Should you call your doctor? Probably.

You might be tempted to dismiss these signs if you don't realize they're clues to avoid bigger troubles. Knowing what to watch for helps you take care of yourself and the little one growing inside you. Any time you're concerned about what's going on or how you're feeling, it's OK to talk to your doctor.

1. Vaginal Bleeding

What it may mean: "Some spotting is normal, but heavy bleeding could be a sign of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy," says Natali Aziz, MD. She is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif. "The brighter red the bleeding, the more significant it is."

"If you have bleeding and bad cramping similar to period cramps, this can be a sign of threatened miscarriage," says Manju Monga, MD. She is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. "If this is coupled with sharp, lower abdominal pain, it may be a sign of ectopic pregnancy," a serious complication that occurs when the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tubes.

What to do: "Call your doctor," Monga says. "Your doctor will likely do an ultrasound, an exam, and some blood work based on your symptoms." Though most spotting or light bleeding may not be a serious problem, "you don’t want to ignore it if it is associated with cramping, heavy bleeding, or abdominal pain. "

2. Excessive Nausea and Vomiting

It's normal to have some nausea and vomiting during your first trimester. Most pregnant women go through that.

But if it's severe or makes you dehydrated, that's something to heed. If you can’t keep any water or fluids down for more than 12 hours, call your doctor.

What it may mean: “Vomiting that interferes with your day-to-day activities can lead to weight loss, dizziness, dehydration, and an imbalance of electrolytes,” Aziz says.

What to do: Tell your doctor. “You may need hospitalization to treat the dehydration, and many medications are available to control nausea," Aziz says.

Bottom line: "Nausea and vomiting are normal occurrences during pregnancy, but the extremes can cause problems," says ob-gyn Stanley M. Berry, MD, of William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. "The majority of women who have nausea and vomiting in their first trimester will go on to have normal, healthy pregnancies. "

3. High Fever

A fever greater than 101 degrees Fahrenheit (which is 38.3 degrees Celsius) during pregnancy may be serious.

What it may mean: It could be a sign of infection, which could affect the baby.

Fevers during pregnancy that are accompanied with rash and joint pain may be a sign of infection such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), toxoplasma, and parvovirus. "CMV is the most common cause of congenital deafness, and it is not as uncommon as we think," Aziz says.

What to do: "Report any fever plus upper respiratory symptoms, body ache, and flu-like symptoms or rashes and joint pain to your doctor," Aziz says. And get your yearly flu vaccine.

4. Vaginal Discharge and Itching

Some vaginal discharge is normal. But in some cases, "These may be signs of treatable infections or sexually transmitted diseases that can have important consequences in pregnancy," Aziz says.

What this may mean: If it's an infection, it could harm the baby.

What to do: Don't be shy. Let your ob-gyn know what is going on down there because if there's a problem, treating it could make a difference to your baby.

5. Pain or Burning During Urination

What this may mean: "These can be signs of bladder or urinary tract infections, and if left untreated, they can lead to more serious illness, infection, pre-term labor, and pre-term birth," Aziz says.

What to do: If it's an infection, treating it can relieve your pain, and help assure a healthy pregnancy.

6. Leg or Calf Pain, or Swelling on One Side/ Severe Headache

This won't happen in most pregnancies. But pregnancy does mean a greater chance of developing a blood clot.

A blood clot in the calf may lead to pain or swelling and can result in a blood clot that travels to the lung, which could be fatal.

A blood clot in the brain may be heralded by a severe headache. There are other possible causes of bad headaches during pregnancy.

What to do: If you have a history of blood clots, or if you get a severe headache, consult your doctor.

7. Flare-Ups of Chronic Diseases

Women who have certain pre-existing medical conditions -- such as thyroid disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, and/or lupus -- should note any changes in their condition during pregnancy.

What it may mean: If your underlying disease is flaring up or not well-controlled, it can have serious consequences for your health -- and your baby's.

For example, "if your thyroid hormone is too high or low, you can be at an increased risk of miscarriage," says Gayle Olson, MD. She is a maternal-fetal specialist at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Or, "if your blood sugar levels are not tightly controlled, you may be at increased risk of miscarriage or fetal abnormalities," she says.

The bottom line: "Any flare in an underlying condition is a red flag and should be followed up," Olson says.

Still, most women will have healthy pregnancies, Berry says, so try to enjoy your pregnancy.

"Stress is no good, and the more positive the attitude, the better things are for mom and baby," he says. So make sure you have good prenatal care and a healthy diet, and get proper rest and take your prenatal vitamins.

Warning signs during pregnancy | Pregnancy Birth and Baby

Warning signs during pregnancy | Pregnancy Birth and Baby beginning of content

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Pregnancy is a time of great change for your body, and in your life, as you get ready for your baby to arrive. It also can be a time when you may be worried about some of the changes you are experiencing, and you want to know when you should seek help.

Most changes in your body are likely to be a normal part of pregnancy. Most pregnancy health issues are mild and common. However, some signs can indicate that things may not be going well, and could point to a more serious pregnancy complication.

Some of these symptoms may appear at different stages of your pregnancy; others might occur at any time. Even if you are not sure about your symptoms but think that something just doesn't feel right with your own or your baby's health, it's important to get it checked out.

Contact your doctor, midwife or hospital immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:

Any time during pregnancy

While some signs may only appear at certain times during your pregnancy, many can occur at any stage, including:

  • prolonged or severe vomiting
  • bleeding from your vagina
  • a discharge from your vagina that is unusual, or a lot more than usual
  • severe or long-lasting headaches
  • dizziness
  • continuing weight loss
  • fever or chills
  • urgency, pain or a burning feeling when urinating (weeing)
  • feeling constantly out of breath, dizzy or weak or having a racing heart
  • you have had a blow to your stomach (such as from a fall, crash or a family violence incident)
  • you are experiencing problems with your emotional health that last longer than 2 weeks, such as feeling depressed, anxious or being unable to do your usual, everyday tasks

Early pregnancy (before 20 weeks)

Certain types of pain in the early stages of pregnancy could be a sign of miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy:

  • persistent or severe pain on one side of your abdomen or pain in the tip of one shoulder
  • severe pain or cramping in your lower abdomen (tummy)

Later pregnancy (after 20 weeks)

Although some discomfort is common during the later stages of pregnancy, some signs need to be checked by a doctor immediately, including:

  • changes to your vision, flashing lights or blurry eyesight, which are signs of pre-eclampsia
  • sudden, severe swelling in your hands, feet or face
  • an extreme itchiness of your skin, including hands and feet
  • a large amount of swelling in your legs (which is also painful)
  • if your baby has stopped moving or is moving differently

What happens next?

When you see your healthcare professional, they may perform some tests to check or maintain the health of you and your baby. These tests may include:

  • a health assessment and investigation
  • an ultrasound or blood test

You may also receive a referral to another doctor or specialist, and you can also get emotional support.

How can I avoid pregnancy complications?

It's often not possible to avoid a complication in pregnancy. You may have a higher chance of developing one if you have a health problem before conception, or had one during a previous pregnancy. There may also be a higher chance if you have a family history of pregnancy complications.

It may be possible to lessen the chance of developing a problem, or reduce the chance of a complication becoming worse, by making sure you go to all of your antenatal appointments. If a potential health issue is found, you may need additional antenatal appointments to more closely monitor the health of you and your baby.

Where to get help

  • Phone your doctor, midwife or maternity hospital urgently if you have any concerns.
  • Visit your hospital or call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.

Other sources of advice

  • Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 to speak to a maternal child health nurse.
  • Consider visiting healthdirect's Symptom Checker for pregnancy if you are experiencing discomfort in pregnancy or are worried about any symptoms.

Sources:
NSW Health (Early pregnancy – when things go wrong), BabyCenter (Pregnancy symptoms you should never ignore), Raising Children Network (Health problems in pregnancy)

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: April 2021


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Early pregnancy: when things go wrong - Maternal, child and family health

Early pregnancy – when things go wrong is a resource that offers expert advice and support to women experiencing complications in early pregnancy.