Prenatal Emergencies / Complications

There are several conditions arising in the prenatal stage of pregnancy that warrant immediate medical attention.

These prenatal complications include:

• Severe vomiting and nausea
  It is common to have some nausea during pregnancy. However, sometimes it becomes severe. It may make you not to eat or drink, exposing you to the risk of dehydration.
• Decline in the level of baby's activity level
  It is important to seek immediate medical attention if a previously active baby seems to have less energy. Experts suggest that you should drink something cold or eat something then lie on your side to see if the baby moves. If the baby does not react, you should see Dr Essel immediately.
• Bleeding
  Bleeding means different things throughout your pregnancy. It may be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy if it happens during the first trimester, miscarriage in the first or early second trimester or placental abruption in the third trimester. It is always serious and may require Dr Essel to do further examinations.
• Your water breaks
  sometimes water breaking is a dramatic gush of fluid, but other times it is more subtle. If you not sure if it is urine or a rupture of the membrane, go to the bathroom and empty your bladder. If the fluid continues flowing, you have broken your water and should seek appropriate attention.
• Contractions early in the third trimester
  These contractions could be an indication of pre-termpre-term labour, although sometimes it can be false labour. False labour contractions are unpredictable, non-rhythmic and do not rise in density.
• Flu symptoms
  pregnant women, should get the flu vaccine because they are more likely to get sick. They will have serious complications from the flu than other women.
• Persistent abdominal pain, severe headache, swelling and visual disturbances
  These symptoms could be a sign of preeclampsia, a serious and potentially fatal disorder marked by high blood pressure and excess protein in the urine that occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy.

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