There’s nothing quite like the feeling you get when you find out you’re pregnant, especially if you’ve been trying for a baby for some time. You’re rushed with feelings of joy, excitement, and even emotions like fear and panic - and these are totally normal! Becoming a parent - whether for the first or fifth time - can be a scary, exciting, and wonderful time. However, pregnancies don’t always go according to plan and can have some serious health implications. If you’re pregnant, or you’re trying for a baby, guides on parenting and motherhood can be really helpful. You might want to visit motherhoodcommunity.com to learn in-depth techniques on how to have a healthy pregnancy.

Abdominal pain

It's natural to ask: is abdominal pain a typical pregnancy symptom? Pelvic pain-related discomfort due to your expanding womb pulling on your muscles and ligaments, for instance, may be completely normal, but abdominal pain may be a warning that something is wrong. You should immediately contact your midwife or GP if you experience constant, bad pain, particularly if it is on the right side of your body, and if you have any other symptoms such as bleeding, lower back pain, cramping, blurred vision, extreme headaches, or swollen hands, feet or face.

Varicose veins

Did you know that you can get varicose veins during pregnancy, but not necessarily in the legs where they normally appear? Vulvar varicose veins can appear around your pelvis during pregnancy, and can cause a chronic pain condition called pelvic congestion syndrome. Damage to multiple veins in the vulva and genitals can cause numerous varicose veins, which may cause swelling and blocked blood flow to the area. If you notice any unusual veins around your pelvis or vulva, speak to your midwife or GP for advice.

Vomiting

Morning sickness isn’t uncommon in pregnancy, but for some women, the sickness is constant and can last the whole pregnancy. As you know, vomiting can cause severe dehydration, which isn’t good for you or your baby. If you’re vomiting a lot, and struggling to keep even water down, speak to your doctor as soon as possible, as they will be able to begin a course of treatment for hyperemesis gravidarum. This should ease the amount of vomiting and allow you to rehydrate and nurture your growing baby.

Frequent and painful urination

It’s no secret that pregnant women need to visit the restroom more often, especially as your baby grows. The pressure on your bladder from your baby will make you feel like you need to urinate more often. However, very frequent, painful, and little amounts of urine could be a sign of a urine infection. Your GP will be able to diagnose your symptoms and treat the bacterial infection to avoid complications in your pregnancy.

Blood loss

Finally, it may be normal to experience spotting, known as implantation, early in pregnancy, but bleeding may also be a sign of placenta praevia or a cervical infection. If you’re experiencing any bleeding, especially associated with pain, speak to your GP or midwife as soon as possible to arrange an examination.

We hope these tips help you to have the best possible pregnancy experience. Also, take a look online for more parenting tips o sites like Serenity Kids.