Pregnancy is a journey that a mother takes with her unborn child. At each trimester and also in between, your doctor will take you through specific tests and precautions to ensure the health of your developing fetus.

As an expectant mother, there are a few signs to look out for that indicate that the health of your baby might be deteriorating or may not be in very good condition.

Read on for 11 must know signs your unborn is not doing too well

11 Must Know Signs Your Unborn is Not Doing Too Well

• Vaginal bleeding

Light vaginal bleeding or spotting during the first trimester of pregnancy is common. However, if the bleeding is heavy and accompanied by abdominal pain and cramps, it is a cause of concern. Reasons for this include a possible miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or molar pregnancy. All of these conditions do not sustain a viable pregnancy.

Read More: 11 Home Remedies for Treating Vaginal Tearing

These terms are explained simply as follows-

• Miscarriage – is a spontaneous loss of pregnancy,
• Ectopic pregnancy refers to implantation of a fertilized egg in an incorrect place, such as the fallopian tube, instead of the uterus.
• Molar pregnancy is a non viable pregnancy due to growth of abnormal tissue.

• Itching

Itching of the hands, feet or tummy, particularly during the third trimester, can indicate liver disease of pregnancy. It is also called intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and high levels of bile acids are seen in mother’s blood, causing itching. This can result in premature birth and stillbirth of the developing baby.

Read More: 11 Tips to Treat Vaginal Itching During Pregnancy

• Swelling of the hands and feet

Swollen hands or feet in an expectant mother could indicate preeclampsia or pregnancy induced hypertension, which is increase of blood pressure after 20th week of pregnancy. Preeclampsia usually occurs in the third trimester. It has detrimental effects on the developing baby leading to premature birth, low birth weight and rarely, may even be fatal for the developing baby.

• Fever

Fever is usually a sign of infection. High fever, particularly during the first trimester can take a toll on the unborn baby. Causes of fever during pregnancy may range from viral or bacterial flu, gastro intestinal infection or urinary tract infections. Fever can result in birth defects, low birth weight, premature birth of the baby or miscarriage.

• Skin rash

A skin rash during pregnancy is serious as it could indicate a viral infection such as measles, Rubella, infectious mononucleosis or chicken pox. These can result in serious consequences for the unborn baby such as birth defects, growth restriction or mental disability.

• Increase in thirst and urination

A marked increase in thirst or urination can indicate gestational diabetes or increased blood sugar levels in pregnancy. This could result in low birth weight, low blood sugar levels and malformations of the baby at birth.

• Leg pain and cramps

Leg pain and cramps are due to muscle contractions in pregnancy, due to fluid and weight gain. These may be normal, but if the pain and swelling is severe and worsens on walking, it could indicate deep vein thrombosis or blood clot formation. If left untreated, it can lead to the clot travelling to other areas of the body and may even be fatal for mother and baby.

• Severe nausea and vomiting

Severe nausea and vomiting, beyond what is normally experienced in pregnancy, could indicate hyperthyroidism in a pregnant mother. Hyperthyroidism in pregnancy can lead to premature labor, low fetal weight and loss of baby, so it needs to be treated as soon as possible.

• Back pain

Back pain usually accompanies pregnancy because of weight gain, change in posture and

However, if back pain is persistent and accompanied by fever, tummy cramps, vaginal bleeding or numbness, it may be serious. These could indicate preterm labor, an infection if there is fever, nerve compression or osteoporosis. All of these could harm the development of your unborn baby.

Read More: Home Remedies For Back Pain During Pregnancy

• Reduced baby movements

Fetal movements or unborn baby movements are first felt by a pregnant mother at about 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy. These movements might reduce as the baby’s head fixes in the pelvis. If baby movements reduce or stop, it could be an alarming sign that the unborn baby is not doing too well. Reduced movements could indicate growth restriction, fetal lack of oxygen or nutrients, or stillbirth.

• Blurred eyesight

Blurred vision or eyesight could indicate preeclampsia or hypertension in pregnancy. It is could be accompanied by swollen feet and hands, abdominal pain and/or headaches. It could also indicate gestational diabetes.

There are lots of signs your body will tell you during pregnancy that show that your unborn may not be doing too well. Listen to your body and take these signs seriously.

Pregnancy is a wonderful gift of creation. Cherish every moment of it!

References

https://www.thebump.com/a/bad-pregnancy-symptoms

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/235213-overview