Unusual Pregnancy Symptoms: Should I Call my Doctor?

While pregnancy is a happy, exciting time for most women, there is also a degree of anxiety that permeates the experience from the first sign of pregnancy. This anxious feeling can be compounded by the fact that pregnancy symptoms begin even before the pregnancy test comes up positive, and many women have trouble distinguishing between what's normal and what are unusual pregnancy symptoms. While some pregnancy signs may be less common than others, not all of these unusual pregnancy symptoms are an indication that something is wrong. Still, if you are ever concerned about any of the symptoms that you encounter during your pregnancy, a call to your doctor is always a good idea.

When to Call your Doctor

Some unusual pregnancy symptoms will warrant a call to your doctor, and usually sooner rather than later. These might include bleeding, cramping or pain at any time during the nine months. Once you begin feeling the movement of your baby, your doctor will offer guidelines as to when to call if the movement is not felt within a period of time. The general rule of thumb is to call if you are more than 28 weeks along and you don't feel at least ten movements in two hours or less.

Other unusual pregnancy symptoms that are worth a call to your doctor include pre-term labor signs like contractions that begin to occur at regular intervals, pressure in the lower abdomen or fluid leaking. Other unusual pregnancy symptoms that might be seen in the second and third trimesters include swelling of the hands, face or feet, blurred vision, fever or sever gastrointestinal problems.

Other Symptoms to Watch For

Some unusual pregnancy symptoms may not be the sign of a problem but do need to be checked by your doctor. If you gain weight at a more rapid pace than is typical, it could indicate gestational diabetes or it could mean that you are carrying more than one baby. Other signs that you are carrying twins might include increased pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness and fatigue. A distinct heartbeat may be heard earlier than is typical and the uterus may grow much quicker. While these unusual pregnancy symptoms are not an indication of a problem, it is a good idea to see your doctor about them so your prenatal care is tailored to your unique situation.

Pregnancy is a time of excitement and apprehension, especially when unusual pregnancy symptoms crop up during the term. While many unusual pregnancy symptoms will not indicate that anything is wrong with the baby, it is always a good idea to contact your doctor for reassurance and an accurate assessment of your pregnancy.

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Understanding your Pregnancy Symptoms Week by Week

Pregnancy is an exciting time for many women, but it can also be a time that is wrought with anxiety and uncertainty. One way to feel more comfortable with your pregnancy is to educate yourself about the changes that both you and your baby will experience in the upcoming months. By tracking pregnancy symptoms week by week, you can stay up to date on what is typical throughout your pregnancy and when to worry about particular symptoms that may crop up.

The First Trimester

The first trimester will see a lot of changes to your body due to the fluctuating hormones that will prepare you for the job of caring for that growing baby inside. Because of this, pregnancy symptoms week by week will come fast and furious, from nausea and fatigue to swollen breasts and an aching back. This is a good time to stay abreast of the changes that might take place and if any unusual pregnancy symptoms appear, you can call your doctor. The pregnancy symptoms week by week during this time will vary slightly from woman to woman, with some experiencing the symptoms at slightly different times and others not seeing some of the pregnancy signs at all.

The Middle Trimester

Most women find these three months to be the most comfortable and enjoyable of the entire pregnancy term. Your abdomen is growing sufficiently so you can flaunt your pregnant status with pride, but the week by week pregnancy symptoms that appeared during the first trimester often ease up or even disappear during this time. This is a good point to get as much rest as you possibly can, since the next phase of pregnancy will see the reappearance of many physical symptoms as well as the surfacing of brand new ones.

The Last Trimester

Once again the pregnancy symptoms week by week will begin to fluctuate, as your abdomen grows to a challenging size and the hormones kick in once again to prepare your body for the work of labor and delivery. Fatigue becomes a problem as sleep is an elusive prospect during this time; partly because an extended belly makes comfort almost impossible, and partly because the anxiety and excitement over what is to come is making it hard to relax. Increased urination comes back as well, this time because of the enlarged abdomen instead of simple hormone fluctuations. All of the pregnancy symptoms week by week are getting the body ready for the safe and healthy delivery of your healthy baby very soon.

Pregnancy is a time of many changes for your body. By keeping track of pregnancy symptoms week by week and alerting your doctor to any unusual pregnancy symptoms, you can survive your pregnancy months with as much confidence and peace of mind as possible.

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Teen Pregnancy Is A Growing Problem

Why are teen pregnancy statistics going through the roof? Why are more teens having babies, which is essentially described as babies having babies? There are a few theories as to why teen pregnancy is so out of control. Some blame the media, TV and movies, where young girls, and young men, are constantly exposed to sex and sexually charged subjects. Some people blame the lack of values in today’s youth. Some blame the parents for not having the birds and the bees talk, as they used to call it, to educate their young ones about the dangers of getting pregnant so young. Whatever the reason, teen pregnancy is out of control but the trend can be reversed.

Parents And Teachers

Young people need to be taught about sex and about pregnancy so that they are well educated on the subject. The more teens know about sex and pregnancy, the more likely they are to use protection or to abstain from sex to prevent teen pregnancy. Now, there are always going to be those parents and teachers who don’t want to talk about sex with their teens and they definitely don’t want to talk to them about birth control because that’s basically giving them a license to have sex in their eyes. These parents and teachers need to realize that teenagers are inherently curious, especially about their changing bodies and hormones, and young men and women are going to experiment. One of the main things they will experiment with is sex.

The Teenage Years

Any parent who has raised a teenager knows that teaching them anything is not an easy thing to do. The teenage years become the time when you want to separate yourself from your parents as much as possible. Your body’s changing, your hormones are raging and suddenly your appearance and your image become everything. Some teens rebel, and this can also account for much of the teen pregnancy these days, but some are able to keep themselves together and remain responsible. The responsible ones all have something in common: They all have great relationships with their families and they all respect themselves.

If you can instill this responsibility and self respect in your teen, whether you’re a parent, a teacher or just a friend of the family, that teen will be less likely to be affected by teen pregnancy. Pregnancy is a beautiful thing, it’s a miracle, but it’s something that should wait until adulthood, when the person knows who they are and where they’re going. This is both for the sake of the parents and for the innocent child.

More about day by day pregnancy including FREE! chinese pregnancy calendar