For a pregnant woman, some sensations, including unpleasant or uncomfortable ones, are the norm. To understand that pregnancy is proceeding normally, everything is fine with the unborn child, it is possible only with the help of diagnostic methods. These data will be objectively reliable. It should be borne in mind that a pathologically proceeding pregnancy, for example, with gestosis in the second half, often happens with a healthy child, and the absence of discomfort and pathologies does not always indicate the full development of the fetus. That is, one should distinguish between the pathology of pregnancy and the pathology of the fetus.
First trimester and first changes
Nausea, nervousness, drowsiness, changes in appetite are all normal for the first trimester of pregnancy. Vomiting, which does not threaten dehydration, is also not a deviation. All these symptoms are called preeclampsia of the first trimester and do not pose a danger to the woman and the fetus. But the appearance of pulling pains in the lower abdomen, bloody discharge and frequent vomiting are not the norm, you need to urgently call an ambulance, and before the doctor arrives, observe bed rest. It is in the first trimester that the body makes a verdict to maintain a pregnancy or not. To make sure that the pregnancy is proceeding normally and everything is fine with the embryo, the following tests are carried out:
• ultrasound in the early stages (diagnoses pregnancy, excludes ectopic pregnancy);
• ultrasound at 12 weeks (diagnose the absence of anomalies in the development of the embryo);
• laboratory tests (including maternal blood tests, screening for developmental anomalies);
• sometimes a study of chorionic fibers is performed (in case there is a high risk of developmental abnormalities and genetic mutations).
Hypertonia or training contractions?
Obstetricians say that in the second and third trimester, the main task of the embryo is to grow, since the rudiments of organs and systems have already formed. At this stage, it is important to preserve the health of the expectant mother and prevent deviations during pregnancy. Hypertonicity of the uterus is not the norm under any circumstances - this threatens the development of fetal hypoxia and the danger of miscarriage. Drawing pains in the lumbosacral region, feeling of a "petrified uterus" are signs of hypertonicity. Unlike hypertonia, training contractions, which can begin as early as the beginning of the second trimester, pass quickly, periods of tension and relaxation of the uterus alternate. Remember, a "stone" stomach and severe lower back pain are hypertonicity, urgent medical attention is needed.
Excess weight: is swelling or excessive appetite to blame?
Increased appetite and thirst accompany almost every pregnant woman. However, in some cases, these symptoms may be indicative of pregnancy diabetes. For this, a blood test is carried out for glucose content (they donate blood for sugar). If these indicators are normal, then excess weight is the result of excessive food intake.
During pregnancy, the kidneys work in an enhanced mode: they are pressed by an enlarged uterus, there is an additional load due to an increase in the volume of circulating blood and the use of pregnant fluid in a larger than usual volume. Moderate edema is not a pathology, but extensive edema threatens with serious gestosis and can lead to a malnutrition of the fetus, provoke a persistent increase in blood pressure. To understand if you have fluid retention, you need to monitor the amount of fluid you drink and secreted for at least a week. If the difference between the values is more than 100-300 ml, you have fluid retention.
What research is done in the second and third trimesters?
During the second and third trimesters, an ultrasound examination is performed in order to exclude pathologies of the fetus and placenta. The doctor looks at the volume of amniotic fluid, the place of attachment of the placenta and a study of blood flow. It is impossible to obtain this data by subjective methods, and therefore one should not refuse diagnostics. At the same time, fetal abnormalities can be diagnosed. If in any case you plan to maintain the pregnancy, then it is all the more worth going for additional diagnostics. Knowledge about fetal developmental disorders, many of which are successfully treated, will allow you to prepare for the birth of a special child, to find good specialists to eliminate violations.
Colostrum is the norm
Enlarged breasts, nipple tenderness, and colostrum are all signs of a normal pregnancy. Indirectly, by the condition of the breast, one can understand that everything is fine with the child. If the pregnancy has stopped, then the hormonal status changes - the breast decreases sharply, colostrum ceases to be secreted. Lack of colostrum is not a deviation, in some women it appears on the eve or only after childbirth.
Fetal movements: what is the norm?
Normally, a woman feels fetal movements from 17-22 weeks. Every day, you need to record up to 12 cycles of perturbation or hourly note the presence of fetal activity. Both calm and active behavior can indicate both the norm and the pathology. If your child is always calm, while it is confirmed that there is no fetal hypoxia, then this is the norm for a particular pregnancy. A sudden change in fetal behavior can be a cause for concern: an active child has become lethargic, and a calm one is too active. You should contact your local obstetrician or call an ambulance.
Arterial hypertension is dangerous by the development of convulsive syndrome
An increase in blood pressure even by several tens of units is a cause for concern and hospitalization of a pregnant woman. The fetus experiences oxygen starvation, developmental delay and one of the most dangerous complications of pregnancy - eclampsia and seizures may occur. Seizures can lead to placental abruption, intrauterine fetal death, fractures in a pregnant woman, and premature birth. If you are diagnosed with increased blood pressure, and you feel a sharp headache, which is combined with loss of orientation in space, deafness, tunnel vision, seek immediate medical attention.
Spotting is always a cause for concern
The release of bright scarlet blood is always a danger. A common myth that periods go through the pregnant uterus can cause miscarriage. Sometimes the release of clotted blood can be several days after the instrumental examination on the chair. The reason for this is the loose cervix and vaginal walls, as well as increased vascular permeability, and not the carelessness of the doctor, as many believe.
You should be aware that the presence of complications during the first pregnancy does not affect the course of subsequent pregnancies. Often during the first pregnancy, women notice uterine hypertonicity, nausea gives them great inconvenience, as does the increased sensitivity of the nipples. Multiparous women are more ready for changes in the body, and therefore the characteristic, sometimes unpleasant sensations do not give them serious discomfort, and complications such as hypertonicity and the risk of developing eclampsia in multiparous women are much less common.
