| Introduction | | | | |
| | | | Morning sickness |
| When a woman becomes pregnant, she is very | | | | |
| aware that a new life is growing within her | | | | Most people associate pregnancy with morning |
| for the next nine months. Millions of women | | | | sickness. Pregnant women are mostly affected |
| give birth to healthy babies every day. On | | | | by morning sickness in the first three |
| the other hand, one often hears of women who | | | | months. However, if a pregnant woman |
| have miscarriages, or who give birth to | | | | experiences prolonged vomiting over one or |
| stillborn children or children with birth | | | | two days, preventing adequate intake of |
| defects. This acts as a constant reminder of | | | | fluids, it may lead to dehydration requiring |
| just how fragile and delicate the process | | | | hospitalization. |
| from conception to childbirth is. It is a | | | | |
| long road with pitfalls at every turn. While | | | | Premature labour |
| most women negotiate the path to motherhood | | | | |
| successfully, always at the back of their | | | | When a pregnant woman develops fever and |
| minds runs the thought that things can go | | | | chills not accompanied by the symptoms of a |
| wrong if they are not careful. | | | | cold, she should be careful. A high fever can |
| | | | be dangerous as it can cause premature |
| Vaginal bleeding | | | | labour. A sudden gush of fluid from the |
| | | | vagina may be an indication of the premature |
| A pregnant woman's body has several ways of | | | | rupture of the membranes in the last |
| indicating that the pregnancy is in trouble. | | | | trimester of pregnancy. When this occurs, an |
| Vaginal bleeding or spotting in the first | | | | infection known as amnionitis develops the |
| three months of pregnancy should set off the | | | | symptoms of, which are fever, a discharge |
| alarm bells in the mind of an expectant | | | | that gives off a bad smell and abdominal |
| mother. Bleeding accompanied by mild cramps | | | | pain. This is potentially dangerous for the |
| when the uterus is enlarged and the cervix is | | | | fetus. |
| closed may be a warning sign of a possible | | | | |
| abortion. Sometimes the bleeding tends to be | | | | Urinary tract infection |
| heavy and the cramps are moderate to severe. | | | | |
| In addition, if tissue is passed, the uterus | | | | Sometimes pregnant women need to urinate |
| enlarged and the cervix is open, the | | | | frequently. They may also feel some |
| condition is symptomatic of a miscarriage. | | | | discomfort during urination either as a |
| Vaginal bleeding accompanied by moderate to | | | | burning sensation or a dull pain in the lower |
| severe pain often confined to one side and | | | | abdomen towards the end of urination. These |
| fainting could indicate an ectopic pregnancy | | | | are the symptoms of a urinary tract |
| (pregnancy in the tube). When a woman has | | | | infection. |
| dysfunctional and variable vaginal bleeding, | | | | |
| the uterus is a normal size, and the cervix | | | | Abdominal pain |
| is closed, she probably has a hormone | | | | |
| imbalance. | | | | Sudden intense or continual abdominal pains |
| | | | early in the pregnancy could signify a |
| Pre-eclampsia or toxemia | | | | miscarriage. These symptoms late in pregnancy |
| | | | could be a precursor for premature labour. |
| Severe, persistent headaches in pregnant | | | | |
| women accompanied by inordinate weight gain, | | | | Lack of fetal movement |
| fluid retention, blurred vision and spots | | | | |
| before the eyes are a symptom of | | | | If a pregnant woman feels a marked decrease |
| pre-eclampsia or toxemia (high blood pressure | | | | in fetal movement, she should consult the |
| in pregnancy). Sudden swelling of the hands, | | | | doctor immediately as this could indicate |
| feet and ankles is also a sign of toxemia. A | | | | fetal distress. |
| woman with these symptoms may need to be | | | | |
| hospitalized to bring down her blood pressure | | | | The definitive guide for parents on stages of |
| or for fetal testing. Toxemia could result in | | | | pregnancy, labour, delivery and childbirth, |
| complications like inadequate fetal growth, | | | | with monthly changes in the mother, weekly |
| premature labour or fetal distress during | | | | development of the baby, complications, etc. |
| labour. | | | | |