Weird discharge while pregnant

Weird Early Pregnancy Symptoms: 10 Unexpected Ones

Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — By Annamarya Scaccia on January 3, 2018

Everyone knows the classic signs of pregnancy. You’ve missed your period. Your breasts are tender. And you’re tired all the time.

But pregnant women also experience a whole host of symptoms beyond these first signs. From mucus discharge to tasting metal to headaches, expect the unexpected.

Here’s a list of 10 weird early pregnancy symptoms no one tells you about.

While many women experience vaginal discharge, it’s not often associated with pregnancy. But most pregnant women will secrete sticky, white, or pale-yellow mucus early on in the first trimester and throughout their pregnancy.

Increased hormones and vaginal blood flow cause the discharge. It increases during pregnancy to prevent infections as your cervix and vaginal walls soften. Visit your doctor if the discharge starts to:

smell
burn
itch
turn greenish-yellow
becomes very thick or watery

These may be signs of an infection.

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When you first wake up in the morning after ovulation, your body temperature is slightly elevated. It stays that way until you get your next period.

But if this temperature, known as basal body temperature, stays elevated for more than two weeks, you may be pregnant.

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It’s not uncommon for pregnant women to feel lightheaded or dizzy in the first trimester. Pregnancy causes blood pressure to drop and blood vessels to dilate.

But pay close attention to your symptoms. Severe dizziness coupled with vaginal bleeding and severe abdominal pain could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. Make sure to see a doctor right away to avoid life-threatening complications.

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You may feel bloated, like you want to pass gas or go number two. But it’s just not happening. That’s because pregnancy’s hormonal changes can lead to constipation, as can prenatal vitamins.

Your digestive system slows down during pregnancy. This gives nutrients just enough extra time to absorb into your bloodstream and reach your little one.

If you can’t go, add more fiber into your diet, drink plenty of fluids, and exercise regularly. If needed, you can also check with your doctor about adding a pregnancy-safe stool softener.

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About 25 to 40 percent of pregnant women will lightly bleed or notice spotting early on in their pregnancy. The slight bleeding can happen when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining. This is known as implantation bleeding. It’s common about two weeks after conception.

Bleeding can also be caused by cervical irritation, an ectopic pregnancy, or a threatened miscarriage. Make sure to get medical help right away if your light bleeding gets heavier or is accompanied by severe cramps, back pain, or stabbing pains.

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Pregnancy lowers your immunity. This means you’re more prone to a cough, colds, and the flu. It’s not uncommon for pregnant women to experience cold- or flu-like symptoms early in pregnancy.

Talk to your doctor about pregnancy-safe treatment options. Pregnant women are more vulnerable to severe illnesses from the flu. This can lead to serious health problems for your baby.

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Hormones change everything during pregnancy. This includes the valve between your stomach and esophagus. This area becomes relaxed during pregnancy, which can cause stomach acid to leak into your esophagus, causing heartburn.

Fight back by eating smaller, more frequent meals. Also cut out fried grub. Try to avoid fizzy drinks, citrus fruits, juices, and spicy foods.

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Your hormones suddenly change when you become pregnant. This can throw your emotions out of whack. You’ll feel unusually weepy and emotional. Your libido goes from hot to cold then back to hot again. You might also experience mood swings. This is very common during early pregnancy.

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Increases in estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy can lead to changes in taste for many pregnant women.

A condition called dysegusia has some pregnant women tasting metal. You’ll feel like you were chomping on some old pennies with your lunch. Get rid of the metallic flavor by munching on saltines and chewing sugarless gum. Also try drinking colder liquids or eating spicier foods.

Some of the symptoms listed above may make you think you’re just stressed and run down. But experienced together, they can point to pregnancy.

Pay attention to what your body is telling you. It might be time to see your doctor for a pregnancy test.

Last medically reviewed on January 4, 2018

Parenthood
Pregnancy
Getting Pregnant

How we vetted this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Boyle J. (2016). Is spotting during pregnancy normal?
focus.sanfordhealth.org/pregnancy-parenting/pregnancy/is-spotting-during-pregnancy-normal
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Getting Pregnant.
mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/symptoms-of-pregnancy/art-20043853
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Pregnancy week by week.
mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy/art-20047208
Pregnancy: Am I pregnant? (2014).
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9709-pregnancy-am-i-pregnant
Pregnancy: Having a healthy pregnancy. (2016).
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/5186-pregnancy-having-a-healthy-pregnancy
Pregnant women and influenza (flu). (2017).
cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/pregnant. htm
Vaginal discharge in pregnancy. (2015).
nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/vaginal-discharge-pregnant

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Current Version

Jan 4, 2018

Annamarya Scaccia

Edited By

Frank Crooks

Medically Reviewed By

Debra Rose Wilson, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT

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Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — By Annamarya Scaccia on January 3, 2018

4 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms, Tips, and More

Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — By Ashley Marcin on October 18, 2017

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Overview

By the time you’re 4 weeks pregnant, you can usually get a clear positive on a urine pregnancy test.

It’s a funny thing, but your egg may have only been fertilized in the last two weeks. Still, the dating for pregnancy begins with the start of your last menstrual period.

By entering this date into a due date calculator, you can estimate the day your little one might enter the world. Try this pregnancy quiz to learn more.

Changes in your body

Your baby has just implanted into your uterine lining. Your body is now beginning the incredible series of changes that will take place over the next 36 weeks, give or take a few.

One of the earliest physical signs you’ll experience is a missed period. This indicates that your progesterone levels are taking over your hormonal balance to sustain your pregnancy.

As your baby develops, your body will produce more and more human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) as well. This hormone is present in your blood as soon as 7 to 11 days after conception. It comes from the cells that eventually turn into the placenta.

At 4 weeks, normal levels should range between 5 and 426 mIU/mL.

Your baby

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Your baby is currently a collection of cells called a blastocyst. Development this week is rapid. Around half of these cells will become an embryo the size of a poppy seed by the week’s end. The other half of the cells work to keep your baby safe and nourish its growth.

The size may sound impossibly small, but what’s even wilder is that many of your child’s characteristics, such as eye color, hair color, sex, and more, have already been determined through its chromosomes.

Twin development at week 4

Your first trimester symptoms may be amplified if you’re carrying twins. After all, you have two bundles of joy, so you’re more likely to have higher hormone levels. You may even suspect you’re pregnant sooner than if you were carrying one baby. You can take a pregnancy test this week to find out, but you won’t know the number of babies until your first doctor’s appointment, which is usually around week 8. Your first appointment might happen sooner if you had fertility treatment.

If you’ve had fertility treatments for pregnancy, you may also have your human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and progesterone levels confirmed with a blood test. There’s nothing to see on an ultrasound yet, but high hCG and progesterone levels may give you a clue that you’re carrying multiples.

4 weeks pregnant symptoms

At this early stage, you might not notice much going on with your body. In fact, some women don’t know that they’re pregnant for weeks if they aren’t keeping close track of their menstrual cycles or if their cycles tend to be irregular.

On the other hand, by week 4 of your pregnancy you may experience the following:

breast tenderness
exhaustion
frequent urination
nausea
heightened sense of taste or smell
food cravings or aversions

Overall, the symptoms in week 4 often mimic your normal premenstrual symptoms. So much so that many women swear their periods will start at any moment.

Here are some home remedies for common early pregnancy symptoms:

To relieve sore breasts, wear a supportive bra during the day and to bed if it helps.
If you feel sluggish, try taking a catnap in the afternoon. Exercise can also give you a much-needed boost of energy.
You may want to moderate your liquid consumption if you’re finding yourself in the bathroom too often. Don’t cut back too much, though, because you need the hydration now more than ever.
Nausea is uncommon this early, but if you do experience it, try eating small, frequent meals and avoiding foods that trigger sickness. Many women find relief while snacking on carbohydrates and tart foods.

Read more about the best nausea remedies for morning sickness.

Things to do this week for a healthy pregnancy

Once your pregnancy test turns positive, you’ll want to call your doctor or midwife to set up your first prenatal appointment. Don’t worry if the due date is far in the future. Most women are seen for the first time around week 8.

Depending on your healthcare provider’s protocol, you may also need to head into the office to have some preliminary blood work. This will confirm your pregnancy and check your hormone levels. One test will check your hCG. This number should double about every 48 to 72 hours. The other will check your progesterone levels.

Both tests are repeated at least once to assess the increase in numbers.

Even at week 4, it’s never too early to start healthy habits. Try eating whole foods, avoiding smoking and alcohol, and, if you aren’t already, start taking a prenatal vitamin.

Exercise is also a great way to ease pregnancy symptoms and keep your body and baby healthy. Typically any activity you were doing before pregnancy is safe to continue in the first trimester. For vigorous exercise, you may want to speak with your doctor about certain changes that might be necessary.

Shop for prenatal vitamins.

When to call the doctor

While you shouldn’t worry, it’s important to know that miscarriage rates are high in early pregnancy. Researchers estimate that up to 20 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, many of which happen around the time a woman expects her period to start.

At week 4, miscarriage is called a chemical pregnancy since the embryo cannot be detected on ultrasound, only through blood and urine testing.

Signs of miscarriage include cramping, spotting, and heavy bleeding. If you experience these symptoms, don’t necessarily fear the worst. As the blastocyst buries deeper into your lining, you may have spotting and discomfort. In other words, not all blood means miscarriage is imminent.

The best way to gauge what’s going on is to keep an eye on yourself and speak with your doctor about the symptoms you’re experiencing. If you don’t already have a provider, our Healthline FindCare tool can help you connect to physicians in your area.

The waiting game

The first weeks can seem like a difficult waiting game. It’s easy to compare notes with friends and family. Keep in mind that each pregnancy and each woman is unique. What may have worked or been a problem for someone else might not apply in your situation.

If you ever have questions or concerns during pregnancy, your first resource should be your healthcare provider. They’re used to frequent calls and even silly questions, so ask away!

Last medically reviewed on October 19, 2017

Parenthood
Pregnancy
1st Trimester

How we vetted this article:

Being pregnant with twins, triplets, and other multiples. (2017).
marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/multiples-twins-triplets-and-beyond.aspx
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Fetal development: The 1st trimester.
mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/prenatal-care/art-20045302?pg=1
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2016). Miscarriage: Definition.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pregnancy-loss-miscarriage/basics/definition/con-20033827
Signs and symptoms of pregnancy. (2016).
nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/signs-and-symptoms-pregnancy.aspx?tabname=Pregnancy#close
Stages of pregnancy. (2010).
womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/you-are-pregnant/stages-of-pregnancy.html

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Current Version

Oct 19, 2017

Ashley Marcin

Edited By

Nizam Khan (TechSpace)

Medically Reviewed By

Debra Rose Wilson, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT

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Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — By Ashley Marcin on October 18, 2017

What is it? Normal and abnormal discharge during pregnancy

Today we will talk with Elena Yurievna Romanova, an obstetrician-gynecologist at the Expert Center for Pregnancy Management at the Mother and Child Clinic, about what discharges during pregnancy should be feared and what discharges from the genital tract are regarded as normal.

Increased vaginal discharge during pregnancy is natural

Normal pregnancy discharge is milky white or clear mucus without a strong odor (although the smell may change from before pregnancy), this discharge does not irritate the skin and does not cause discomfort to the pregnant woman. The discharge can have a different color - from completely colorless (most often) to whitish and yellowish. The consistency of discharge at the beginning of pregnancy resembles raw chicken yolk - they are thick, jelly-like, often released in the form of clots.

With normal discharge, it is enough to use panty liners or change underwear twice a day.

Due to the activity of progesterone in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, the discharge will be scarce and viscous.

Due to the increase in estrogen activity from 13 weeks, the discharge becomes less viscous and more abundant.

By the end of the pregnancy, vaginal discharge becomes more and more abundant. Each time you need to evaluate the nature of the discharge, change the gasket. If the fluid continues to ooze, this may mean leakage of amniotic fluid and the need to contact an obstetrician-gynecologist in the emergency department of a hospital with a maternity ward. There are auxiliary tests, thanks to which, as well as obstetric ultrasound, leakage of water can be excluded.

Not all discharge in pregnant women is the norm.

For example, a white, thick, crumbly, odorless discharge that itchs and burns the skin and causes discomfort during intercourse is likely a sign of a yeast infection (candidiasis).

White or grayish discharge, the smell of which after sex begins to resemble the smell of fish, is the main symptom of bacterial vaginosis, vaginal dysbacteriosis.

A yellowish or greenish discharge that has a strong unpleasant odor usually occurs with nonspecific vaginitis, and a foamy discharge is a sign of trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted disease.

In all these cases, contact your doctor immediately. It should not be treated with over-the-counter drugs and folk remedies. According to some external signs, a diagnosis cannot even be made by a doctor, in addition, infections in pregnant women should be treated especially carefully and only by a professional. After proper treatment, the discharge returns to normal. There is no need to get rid of the usual discharge for pregnant women. After childbirth, they will stop naturally, and before that they are a sign of the normal course of pregnancy.

Allocations can change their nature and amount under the influence of irritants or intolerance to a particular substance, for example, when using panty liners. Such secretions are transparent and abundant, they stop when the irritant is removed.

"Thrush" is a disease caused by fungi of the genus Candida, present in small quantities in all women. During pregnancy, immunity decreases and fungi begin to actively multiply, causing inflammation, abundant white flocculent discharge with a sour smell, burning and itching in the vulva. The disease can manifest itself throughout pregnancy.

Bloody discharge in the first half of pregnancy usually indicates a lack of the hormone progesterone, which can lead to spontaneous miscarriage. Discharge may be accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen and lower back. In the treatment of the threat of abortion, the appointment of progesterone drugs, such phenomena disappear.

If bleeding from the vagina appeared during pregnancy during the second or third trimester, then this is a sign of a formidable complication, namely, placenta previa or its premature detachment. With improper attachment of the placenta in the uterine cavity and overlapping of the placental tissue with the area of the internal pharynx, they speak of placenta previa. In this case, spotting occurs in a third of pregnant women. This most often occurs between 28 and 30 weeks, when the lower segment of the uterus is most prone to stretching and thinning. The discharge is repeated, the woman does not experience any pain, so it may be too late to see a doctor for an examination. This threatens the child with a lack of nutrients and oxygen, because it is through the placenta that the fetus is nourished. For a pregnant woman, this is fraught with acute placental abruption and severe bleeding, which is always problematic to stop, especially at home.

Bloody discharge during pregnancy should force a woman to immediately contact her obstetrician-gynecologist.

Brown discharge during pregnancy also indicates the threat of termination of pregnancy, or bleeding "erosion" (decidual polyp) of the cervix. Therefore, you should not understand these issues on your own; when brown discharge appears, it is better to consult your doctor.

Brown discharge during a delay in menstruation as a sign of an ectopic pregnancy is very dangerous. This condition requires immediate surgical care, as the growing embryo can rupture the wall of the fallopian tube at any time and cause internal bleeding. Therefore, with pain in the lower abdomen, which is accompanied by brown discharge from the genital tract and delayed menstruation, you should immediately call an ambulance.

When the vagina becomes inflamed, the mucous discharge acquires a mucopurulent character, a greenish-yellow color, an unpleasant odor, burning and itching appear in the genital area. This is how chlamydia, mycoplasmosis, ureaplasmosis, trichomoniasis manifest themselves. Is it necessary to treat the infection during pregnancy, or is it better to do it after childbirth?

All sexually transmitted infections in pregnant women require treatment, as they can pass to the fetus and cause intrauterine infection (IUI). IUI is very dangerous for a child - it leads to his death or serious illness. Infection of a child during childbirth can lead to such serious complications as pneumonia, severe damage to the brain, kidneys, liver, and blood poisoning (sepsis).

Today, obstetricians and gynecologists have learned to treat any infection in pregnant women in accordance with special guidelines for the timing of pregnancy, so that it is effective and safe for mother and fetus. It is not the treatment that should be feared, but the infection itself and its consequences.

Medicines that are used to treat pregnant women have passed the necessary clinical trials, during which it was proved that they do not have a negative effect on the pregnant woman and the fetus, including that they do not have a teratogenic effect (do not cause deformities in the fetus).

Sometimes the discharge is mucous in nature, occurs upon contact with an irritant or allergen. It can be synthetic tight underwear, allergies to fabrics, toiletries, personal care products. If irritation and allergens are not eliminated in time, then an infection that lives on the mucous membranes of the genital organs will definitely join.

Hygiene measures are mandatory for pregnant women. Twice a day you need to take a warm shower, using special gels for pregnant women to wash the genitals. Be sure to monitor the cleanliness of the whole body and underwear - it must be changed daily. Pads (but not tampons!) can be used for discharge. The oral cavity can become the source of infection, so you need to monitor your teeth, brush them twice a day and get an examination by a dentist. Good nutrition strengthens the immunity of a pregnant woman. The diet should contain fresh vegetables and fruits, lean meats and fish, daily dairy products, vegetable oil, a variety of cereals.

A mobile lifestyle, therapeutic exercises and maximum exposure to fresh air are very important. Hiking is useful even at the very end of pregnancy - they will help not only maintain immunity, but also strengthen the muscles that will be required during childbirth. Be healthy!

Pregnancy discharge | What are the discharge during pregnancy? | Blog

In the absence of menstruation, girls usually suspect that conception has occurred. However, during pregnancy, the female body may continue to secrete a secret of a different color and character. We recommend that you keep a close eye on everything that happens so as not to miss the development of adverse events. We will talk about how to recognize problem situations during pregnancy in the article.

What secretions can occur during conception

Many women note that immediately after the delay and in the later stages, the nature of the secretion changes. It can be:

With or without scent.
Depending on the color - transparent, white, cream, yellow, greenish, bloody.
By consistency - thick, liquid, cheesy.
As a symptom for assessing the state of health - threatening, safe.

During ovulation, the egg is released from the ovary, its membrane is blown away, a small amount of fluid is released - so it becomes ready for fertilization. At this time, the thick mucus that fills the cervical canal of the cervix becomes less viscous. This makes it easier for the spermatozoa to penetrate and move further into the tubes for fertilization. At this time, you may notice an abundance of clear mucous secretions.

After the fusion of the egg with the spermatozoon, movement into the uterus begins, which should end with implantation in the inner layer. During penetration, its slight detachment may occur - this causes damage to the blood vessels that abundantly penetrate the muscular layer of the uterus. You may see light brown discharge, which is common during pregnancy. The color is due to the fact that the blood has time to clot.

Sometimes the discharge is brightly colored and some women mistake it for early menses. But in this case, a short duration is characteristic, a different shade (dark or scarlet), a slight mark on the linen.

With some features of the structure of the female genital organs (for example, with a bicornuate uterus), after implantation of the embryo in one part, rejection of the endometrium may begin in the other, as is usually the case with menstruation. This rarely happens.

Characteristics of discharge in case of threatened miscarriage

Spontaneous abortion is the rejection of an embryo in the early stages after conception. If at the first signs of pregnancy, you notice spotting, there is a high probability that a miscarriage begins.

Also, miscarriage symptoms include:

pulling or pressing on the lower abdomen, sacrum, lower back;
the muscles of the uterus are tense.

The woman may experience cramps. This continues all the time or intermittently. From the vagina there are scarlet or brown discharge during pregnancy, which was previously confirmed. Sometimes the period may be still small, and the first signs did not have time to appear.

After 22 weeks, this phenomenon is called preterm labor. The child in this case is still weak, the organs are not sufficiently developed, and there is little chance of survival.

The following factors increase the risk of miscarriage:

various diseases;
progesterone deficiency;
nervous and physical strain;
pathologies in the genitals;
fetal developmental defects.

To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes an ultrasound scan. If it shows that the fetal heart rate is disturbed, the tone of the uterus is increased, its size differs from normal for this period, hospitalization will be recommended to maintain pregnancy.

What discharge during pregnancy is considered normal

This secretion does not pose a threat to health:

transparent;
whitish;
yellowish;
odor free;
mucous;
without itching, burning, redness of the genitals.

Clear fluid on underwear is a symptom of ovulation. During pregnancy, the activity of ongoing processes in the body increases, so the amount of secretion secreted may increase. However, a violation of the norm is the leakage of amniotic fluid. You can determine the problem with the help of special diagnostic tests that the doctor will prescribe if he has suspicions.

White color, small amount, homogeneous structure should also not cause concern. The increased volume of fluid in this case is associated with increased hormonal activity.

One of the variants of the norm is mucous discharge, which smells of slight sourness. If there is no pain, discomfort, there is nothing to worry about.

Yellow discharge, there are signs of pregnancy, there is no unpleasant odor - you are all right. Some women had this color before conception, only they did not pay attention. Now there are more of them, therefore more noticeable.

Sometimes a woman observes that the laundry gets wet and there is a smell of urine. This may indicate incontinence due to the constant pressure of the growing uterus. In this case, it is recommended to go to the toilet more often, change underpants twice a day.

What discharge during pregnancy is considered a sign of infection?

White discharge during pregnancy with a cheesy texture is a symptom of thrush (candidiasis). In pregnant women, it is diagnosed quite often - the reason is a change in hormonal levels. The disease is accompanied by itching, redness of the vulva, a strong sour smell. Sometimes external manifestations are not detected, then treatment is not carried out.

Infection is indicated by pain, pain, skin irritation, ulcers, smell of rot or fish, gray or green color, frothy discharge, increased nervousness, large inguinal lymph nodes. The reason may lie in sexually transmitted infections. This includes syphilis, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, chlamydia and others. They are dangerous because they cause premature birth and fetal developmental defects.

What kind of discharge during pregnancy should I pay special attention to and should I consult a doctor?

The following indicates that pregnancy is at risk:

Severe pain in the perineum, bleeding, difficulty defecation, convulsions - these may be injuries to the vaginal mucosa.
Nausea, profuse vomiting, edema, headaches, cough, hypertension, bright red secretion are symptoms of hydatidiform mole (abnormal development of the embryo).
A drop in blood pressure, pallor, weakness, sweating, pulling sensations, bleeding during pregnancy against the background of a lack of growth of hCG in the blood - this is how an ectopic attachment manifests itself.
Discharge of clots, sharp pain, vomiting, diarrhea may indicate a frozen fetus.

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.

It is also necessary to contact the clinic if you have been physically abused, had rough sex, had an accident, fell, hit. The likelihood that the situation will be resolved successfully is much higher if you do not delay the visit, listen to the symptoms and take good care of your health.

Remember, despite the fact that pregnancy is a normal state of health of the female body, the diagnosis and treatment tactics are still different, due to the many restrictions on manipulations and medications during pregnancy. That is why diagnosis and treatment during pregnancy should take place only under the supervision of a physician.