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