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7 Pregnancy Warning Signs

Some symptoms during pregnancy are par for the course, but others are cause for alarm. How do you know the difference?

By Denise Mann
WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

For some expectant moms, the slightest ache or pain triggers a major alarm and a trip to the doctor’s office. But other pregnant women sometimes ignore a potentially serious warning sign. They may think it’s a normal part of pregnancy. Or they may simply not want to be seen as the girl who cried wolf.

How do you know which symptoms during pregnancy warrant immediate medical attention and which can wait until your next prenatal visit? When WebMD put that question to experts, the consensus was you’re always better safe than sorry. When in doubt, call your doctor. But the experts also tell WebMD there are some symptoms during pregnancy you should never ignore. Here are the top seven warning signs of a potentially serious pregnancy complication.

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Pregnancy Warning Sign No. 1: Bleeding During Any Trimester

Bleeding means different things throughout your pregnancy. “If you are bleeding heavily and have severe abdominal pain and menstrual-like cramps or feel like you are going to faint during first trimester, it could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy,” says Peter Bernstein, MD. Bernstein is a professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology and women’s health at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. Ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus, and it can be life-threatening.

Heavy bleeding with cramping could also be a sign of miscarriage in first or early second trimester. By contrast, bleeding in the third trimester with abdominal pain may indicate placental abruption, which occurs when the placenta separates from the uterine lining.

“Bleeding is always serious,” says Donnica Moore, MD. Moore is a women's health expert in Far Hills, N.J., and the editor-in-chief of Women’s Health for Life. She tells WebMD that any bleeding during pregnancy needs immediate attention. If you start bleeding, don’t wait. Call your doctor or go to the emergency room.

Pregnancy Warning Sign No. 2: Severe Nausea and Vomiting

Severe nausea and vomiting to the point you can’t keep anything down is a dangerous situation. “If you can’t eat or drink anything, you run the risk of becoming dehydrated,” Bernstein says. You also run the risk of becoming malnourished, and dehydration and malnutrition can cause serious complications ranging from birth defects to premature labor.

Bernstein says it’s important to contact your doctor when you experience severe nausea. There are safe medications your doctor can prescribe for controlling nausea. Your doctor may also advise some dietary changes to help you find food you can keep down. Addressing the nausea and vomiting will allow you and your baby to get the nutrition you both need.

Pregnancy Warning Sign No. 3: The Baby’s Activity Level Significantly Declines

What does it mean if your previously active baby -- the one that made you feel like the Incredible Hulk was about to burst from your abdomen -- seems to have less energy? “If your baby is not moving as much as it was, it could be that the baby is not getting enough oxygen and nutrients from the placenta," Bernstein says.

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