Pregnancy: What is Normal and What is not

The two scariest pregnancies are often your first – and your second. You really don’t know what is normally the first time around. Then the second pregnancy can be so different from the first that you cannot say what is normal or not. The rule of thumb is always: “If in doubt, call your Best Gynecologist In Lahore or your midwife” to find out whether you are worried or not.

You never want to aggravate a potentially harmful situation. Usually the little hiccups and discomforts experienced here and there are completely normal and rarely cause concern.

So what is normal and what is not during pregnancy?

Bleed.

This is one of the scariest things a woman can experience during pregnancy. From the moment a woman discovers that she is pregnant, any sign of blood can be frightening. The good news about bleeding is that it occurs quite often in small doses. No less than 40% of women experience minimal vaginal bleeding during their first trimester. This can have various causes, including implantation, sexual intercourse, an internal examination by a doctor, or obstetric and hormonal changes.

What is normal during pregnancy?

Bleeding is less common after the first trimester. In both cases we recommend calling your doctor’s office and describing what you see and experience so that she can advise you on this. Although bleeding is usually insignificant and is not an indication of a medical emergency, you want to take it for granted.

Bathroom Issues.

Pregnancy does a number on all organs related to … which … all organs. Your heart needs to pump more blood and your lungs can be squeezed there during your 3rd trimester. Look at a photo of the internal representation of a pregnancy in the third trimester and it is not hard to see why frequent urination, upset stomach, gas, constipation, hemorrhoids etc. occur so often. Frankly, it’s amazing that everything can work at this stage of the game.

In addition to anatomical changes, your hormones do a number on the internal functioning of your body, which makes things even more complicated. The best thing to do is drink plenty of water, eat a diet rich in fiber, especially from fresh fruits and vegetables, and rest when your body says so. Over-the-counter hemorrhoid cream should also provide some relief. If things seem extremely uncomfortable, make an appointment to talk to your doctor.

Swelling.

As mentioned above, a significant hormonal and anatomical change means that things are definitely not as usual, and blood circulation is one of the things that is affected. The body of a pregnant woman retains more fluid than normal and the larger her body becomes – and the more weight she carries – the more things tend to become swollen. Drinking water is incredibly important, even if you have retained water, to flush out the toxins from your system. Raise your legs as much as possible and keep your salt intake in the recommended doses. If the swelling is prolonged and does not seem to disappear, it has migrated to your fingers and face or you experience other physical discomfort, such as headache, going in and having things checked. This can be a sign of pre-eclampsia, which can become serious if not addressed immediately.

Pangs.

Giving birth is a big job and your body spends around nine full months on it. In addition to loosening the ligaments and joints – especially in your pelvic area – your body also begins to “do” labor. These are called “Braxton-Hicks” contractions and are NOT the official start of delivery. Braxton-Hicks can sometimes be quite powerful, but there are things that distinguish them from the real deal, such as:

They usually slow down and stop completely when you lie down and rest.

They do not occur at completely regular intervals, nor do they continue to increase in strength or duration (getting longer, stronger and closer together) in the same way as normal contractions.

Your cervix does not respond to contractions.

These contractions can already start after 5 months. By the time you approach your due date, they can be surprisingly strong and occur fairly regularly. However, if you experience more than 4 at the same hour, they are accompanied by a feeling similar to menstrual cramps or low back pain, your water breaks (or appears to be leaking) or you notice a ‘bloody show’, call your healthcare provider.

Looking for an OBGY Diagnostics that offers tender prenatal care and that patiently guides you through your own ‘what is normal and what is not during pregnancy’ questions? Give Overlake OBGY a call. (042) 35169602.