Knowing What's Normal: A Guide To Pregnancy Questions
It’s not news to anyone, least of all pregnant women, that pregnancy brings with it some testing times. After all, you’re carrying a new life which is growing with every passing day. That’s not something that is going to happen without a few moments of difficulty along the way. Some discomfort, some inconvenience and some moments of anxiety are baked in, and it’s reasonable to expect that the path to the delivery room will have the occasional shaky step.
What is most important as you continue through the process is that you are aware of which health elements are expected when you’re expecting, and which are worth focusing on in more detail. There will be things that happen - and others that don’t - which will give you pause, and here we will look at some of these in more detail to give you the key facts. Before we do, it’s important to be aware that the overriding priority here is your comfort and reassurance, and if you feel the need to seek medical advice for anything that happens while you’re with child, please do so. You have a right to be cautious, even over-cautious at this time.
“My baby isn’t kicking - is that normal?”
Different babies have different levels of activity in the womb, and some start later than others. Some activity is certainly to be expected, most usually by the time you are five months pregnant. In some mothers it’s known to be as early as thirteen weeks, while others report the first “kicks” as late as 26 weeks into the pregnancy. That’s around the start of the third trimester, so it can be quite a way along. It’s not a sign of anything bad if you’re three or four months gone and haven’t felt a kick; the normal range for first activity is so broad.
It’s worth investigating deeper if you’re getting towards the seventh month and there has been no kicking; or if the baby was once highly active and has stopped being so. This isn’t a time for alarm bells. There are perfectly benign reasons why it could be the case. However, it is absolutely reasonable to seek medical advice and any checks that are available at this time; they can provide reassurance and in the circumstances where there is a more acute issue, early intervention is always better.
“I’m experiencing pain - when does it become a concern?”
Some pain during pregnancy is a given - again, you’re giving over room within your body to a whole other life and that doesn’t come without discomfort. During the time when you’re carrying a child, it’s extremely normal to have backache, pain in the hips, and leg soreness all the way down to your feet. Given the elevated levels of hormone, it’s not unusual to have some aches in other places too, although it’s also not unreasonable to use approved methods of pain management. You’re dealing with a lot and deserve your comfort.
Some pain is to be expected, but that doesn’t mean that any and all pain in pregnancy can be dismissed quite as easily. If you are experiencing persistent mid-back pain, headaches or pain in the abdominal area, then it is definitely a necessity to speak to a doctor as soon as possible. We’re not going to go into a laundry list of potential causes of these issues, because the causes can vary so widely, but your doctor can identify when more intensive action is needed.
“I’ve just noticed bleeding - what’s going on?”
The appearance of blood is rarely greeted with a positive reaction in any case, but in pregnancy there are, of course, specific concerns that haunt any prospective mother. It’s possible that during your pregnancy you will notice bleeding, usually when going to the toilet - and it’s hard not to freak out about it, of course. If this happens early in your pregnancy it’s actually pretty normal and happens to many if not most expectant mothers at some point. Nonetheless, you may have noticed a pattern emerging in the advice we’ve given so far.
If bleeding at any time during pregnancy is heavy, or persistent, then it certainly needs checking. Most prospective mothers will know that unusual bleeding at an early stage of pregnancy can be a sign of miscarriage. Nonetheless, it might not be - for a range of reasons, it is sensible to speak to a midwife and get certainty as soon as possible. More information is always better than less.
“My bathroom habits have changed - should I worry?”
In short, your bathroom habits will definitely change when you’re about to become a parent. For so many reasons, they’ll be different in so many ways. You will have to go more often. You will sometimes find that constipation becomes an issue, and a leaky bladder is also normal. Let’s be blunt - you have a growing life occupying the space where so much of your digestion and processing of liquids takes place, so you’re going to see changes. Again, so much of what’s important here relates to how pronounced those changes are.
If using the toilet becomes painful, if you experience any kind of burning, then you must see a doctor. In all likelihood, it will be a urinary tract infection (UTI), which are not uncommon in pregnancy. As much as this is the case, though, they don’t go away without intervention, specifically the use of antibiotics. If left for too long, a UTI can spread and sepsis can result; a condition that is harrowing and harmful to experience. If you experience a fever while pregnant - whether or not it is accompanied by pain when using the toilet - see a doctor immediately. It could be the most important visit you ever make.
Many things can happen that you’re not expecting, when you’re “expecting”. In the majority of cases, it won’t be anything too concerning - but it is essential that you take the opportunity to speak to a doctor if something occurs that you’re not prepared for. For you and for your baby, there’s never a bad time to get expert advice and assistance in pregnancy.
