It's likely you'll be healthy during your pregnancy. You probably won't have any serious health concerns. But it's important for you to be aware of symptoms that may mean you have a more serious problem. Talk with your doctor about any concerns you have while you are pregnant. Then your health problems can be checked quickly.
Many minor problems of pregnancy can be managed at home. Home treatment is usually all that's needed to relieve mild morning sickness or discomfort from heartburn or constipation. You can also use home treatment for sleep problems, hip pain, hemorrhoids, and fatigue. If you have a problem and your doctor gives you specific instructions, be sure to follow those instructions.
If you have a family history of diabetes, you may get a type of diabetes that only occurs during pregnancy (gestational diabetes). It's treated by watching what you eat, exercising, checking blood sugar levels, and maybe taking oral medicines or insulin shots to keep blood sugar levels within a target range. If you have gestational diabetes, your baby may weigh more than normal. It's important to control your blood sugar to help keep your baby safe before and during delivery.
You may also have other common problems while you're pregnant, like a cold or the flu, that aren't caused by your pregnancy. You can use home treatment for these illnesses too. But make sure to talk to your doctor if your symptoms get more serious, such as coughing up blood or not being able to drink enough fluids (dehydrated).
While most problems that occur during pregnancy are minor, you may have more serious symptoms that you need to talk to your doctor about. Your symptoms may be related to:
Make a plan with your doctor about where to go for care if you have problems while pregnant and can't reach your doctor. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may want you to go to an emergency department or a maternity center.
During the days and weeks after delivery (postpartum period), you can expect that your body will change as it returns to its nonpregnant condition. As with pregnancy changes, postpartum changes are different for each person. Some problems, such as high blood pressure, hemorrhoids, or diabetes, may continue after delivery. You may need to follow up with your doctor about these problems after your baby is born.
Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:
You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home.
Temperature varies a little depending on how you measure it. For adults and children age 12 and older, these are the ranges for high, moderate, and mild, according to how you took the temperature.
Oral (by mouth) temperature
A forehead (temporal) scanner is usually 0.5°F (0.3°C) to 1°F (0.6°C) lower than an oral temperature.
Ear temperature
Armpit (axillary) temperature
Pain in adults and older children
Symptoms of difficulty breathing can range from mild to severe. For example:
Severe trouble breathing means:
Moderate trouble breathing means:
Mild trouble breathing means:
Symptoms of preterm labor may include:
Severe vaginal bleeding means that you are soaking 1 or 2 pads or tampons in 1 or 2 hours, unless that is normal for you. For most women, passing clots of blood from the vagina and soaking through their usual pads or tampons every hour for 2 or more hours is not normal and is considered severe. If you are pregnant: You may have a gush of blood or pass a clot, but if the bleeding stops, it is not considered severe.
Moderate bleeding means that you are soaking more than 1 pad or tampon in 3 hours.
Mild bleeding means that you are soaking less than 1 pad or tampon in more than 3 hours.
Minimal vaginal bleeding means "spotting" or a few drops of blood.
If you're not sure if a fever is high, moderate, or mild, think about these issues:
With a high fever:
With a moderate fever:
With a mild fever:
Symptoms of a kidney infection may include:
Symptoms of a bladder infection may include:
Certain health conditions and medicines weaken the immune system's ability to fight off infection and illness. Some examples in adults are:
During pregnancy, swelling that may be a sign of a more serious problem may include:
You can get dehydrated when you lose a lot of fluids because of problems like vomiting or fever.
Symptoms of dehydration can range from mild to severe. For example:
Severe dehydration means:
Moderate dehydration means:
Mild dehydration means:
Signs that you are in labor include:
"Bloody show" is blood-tinged mucus that will pass out of the vagina for some women as the cervix begins to open (dilate) and thin (efface). On its own, however, this is not a definite sign that you are in labor.
Shock is a life-threatening condition that may quickly occur after a sudden illness or injury.
Adults and older children often have several symptoms of shock. These include:
Symptoms of a vaginal infection may include:
Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.
Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care.
Based on your answers, you need emergency care.
Call 911 or other emergency services now.
Sometimes people don't want to call 911. They may think that their symptoms aren't serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. Or they might be concerned about the cost. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call 911 for medical transport to the hospital.
Based on your answers, the problem may not improve without medical care.
Based on your answers, you need emergency care.
Call 911 or other emergency services now.
Get down on your knees, bend forward, and put your head on the floor so your buttocks are higher than your head. Stay in this position until help arrives.
Sometimes people don't want to call 911. They may think that their symptoms aren't serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. Or they might be concerned about the cost. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call 911 for medical transport to the hospital.
If you have morning sickness, try these tips to feel better.
It's helpful to always have some food in your stomach, but not too much.
Keep a few crackers by your bed, so you can eat them before you get out of bed.
Peppermint or ginger tea can be good choices. Water and sports drinks are also good.
These often include spicy or greasy foods, citrus juice, milk, coffee, and tea with caffeine. Try to connect what you're eating with the times when you feel worst. Even if you have to give up pizza for a short time, it can be worth it!
And make sure you have something in your stomach when you take them.
If you're taking iron supplements, ask if they're needed. (Iron can make nausea worse.) And ask if vitamin B6, doxylamine, or ginger might be a good idea.
Some women find that these anti-nausea wristbands help. You can buy them at most drugstores.
If you have abnormal vaginal symptoms, talk with your doctor about your symptoms before you try any home treatments or nonprescription medicines.
Try these tips to help manage vaginal problems during pregnancy.
Relieve itching with cold-water compresses or cool baths. Warm baths may also relieve pain and itching.
Treatment for pregnant women with heartburn focuses first on making lifestyle changes, like changing what and how you eat, and on taking nonprescription antacids. Some doctors may also recommend a prescription medicine to treat heartburn.
Call a doctor if any of the following occur during self-care at home:
Current as of: February 23, 2022
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:William H. Blahd Jr. MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Elizabeth T. Russo MD - Internal Medicine & E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.
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