dangerous symptoms – Hello Doctor

Pregnancy is something your body is built to handle – as long as you’re going for regular check-ups and know what to expect, there’s no reason you shouldn’t enjoy a happy and healthy pregnancy. But there are some pregnancy symptoms that you should watch out for – if you experience any of these, call your doctor right away.

1. Pain in the middle or upper tummy area.

Sharp or severe pain in your middle or upper tummy, with or without nausea or vomiting, could be caused by severe indigestion, heartburn, a stomach bug, or food poisoning, which could be indirectly harmful to pregnancy. If you’re in the second half of your pregnancy this pain could also indicate pre-eclampsia, a very serious condition. Call your doctor.

2. Pain in the lower belly

Severe pain on either or both sides of your lower belly needs investigating. While it’s common to stretch ligaments during pregnancy, it could also mean something more serious, such as a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, premature labour or placental abruption.

3. Running a fever

If you have a fever with a temperature above 37.5 degrees C, but with no cold, flu or other symptoms, call your doctor within the day. If your temperature is more than 39 degrees C, call your doctor immediately. Really, immediately.

4. Blurred vision, a headache that won’t go, or severely swollen hands and feet

If you experience double vision, blurring, flashing spots, dimming or similar vision disturbances in the second half of your pregnancy, call your doctor straight away. These vision symptoms may be a sign of pre-eclampsia. Severe or sudden swelling with a headache or problems with your vision, may be pre-eclampsia.

5. Vaginal bleeding

Spotting or very light bleeding without pain is common in early pregnancy, and it may simply be what is known as breakthrough bleeding. Even so, let your doctor know if you bleed at any stage during your pregnancy.
If you’re not sure about a symptom, or simply feel uneasy, trust your judgment and call your doctor, or you can speak to one of ours!

Simply sign up on our website. download the free Hello Doctor app from the Google Play or iTunes store. Then you can ask our doctors a question via text or call, anytime, anywhere!

Joanne Hart for HelloDoctor.com

Source:

Baby Centre

You aren’t feeling well or your child has the flu – do you treat the symptoms from the medicine cabinet, or do you go to the doctor? Here are a safe pointers to help you decide.

Babies

Your baby’s first cold or flu can be a difficult experience for both you and your little one. If your little one is sick and feverish, you’re probably losing sleep over what to do next. See the family doctor if:

your baby refuses to drink fluids, is only taking small sips, is vomiting every time he or she drinks and/or isn’t passing urine – these are all signs of dehydration.
your baby’s fever won’t go down, even after a dose of baby paracetamol or ibuprofen, or has not resolved completely after 3 days.
your baby vomits more than three times in a 24-hour period or has severe diarrhoea.
your baby is having difficulty breathing and is gasping for air, breathing rapidly or wheezing.
your baby has severe breathing difficulties, or his/her lips are turning blue; can’t move or has a stiff neck; or has a seizure or convulsion.
there’s a large rash on your baby’s body, which could be a sign of measles, chicken pox or meningococcal disease, rather than cold or flu.
your baby is under three months of age, was born prematurely or suffers from a chronic disease such as a heart condition, diabetes or respiratory conditions (asthma or cystic fibrosis for example).

Pregnant moms

It’s vital to see your doctor as soon as you know you’re pregnant as pre-natal care will makes a great difference both to your healthy pregnancy and your baby’s development. Also see your doctor if you contract a cold or stomach virus – do not take over-the-counter medications without getting them approved. If you experience any of the symptoms below, see your doctor:

vaginal bleeding
pelvic or abdominal pain
gush of fluid from vagina
regular contractions prior to 37 weeks
swelling of the hands/face
persistent back pain
severe headaches, blurry vision
no foetal movement

Sources: NHS.uk, howstuffworks.com

Tag: dangerous symptoms