What pregnancy complications can happen?

In This Section

• Prenatal Care
• What happens at an appointment?
• What is prenatal testing?
• What’s an ultrasound?

• What’s chorionic villus sampling?
• What’s amniocentesis?
• Where can I get prenatal care?
• What pregnancy complications can happen?

How do I know if something is wrong during my pregnancy?

Some symptoms are warning signs of very dangerous pregnancy problems. Call your doctor, nurse, or midwife, or go to the hospital right away if you notice:

• bad headaches, or ones that don't go away

• swelling of the face, hands, feet, or ankles

• vomiting for 24 hours

• vaginal bleeding

• dimness or blurring of vision

• double vision and/or dizziness

• spots before your eyes

• sudden gush or steady trickle of watery fluid from the vagina

• burning or pain with urination

• fever or chills

• suspected labor

• belly pain that doesn’t go away or keeps coming back

• rashes or sores

• fainting

• decreasing or no fetal movement after 24 weeks

Talk to your doctor, nurse, or midwife if you notice:

• bleeding from the vagina

• leaking of fluid from the vagina

• early labor

• you’re not gaining enough weight

• your expected due date passes without delivery

What are signs of premature labor?

A full-term pregnancy lasts for about 40 weeks. If contractions cause your cervix to open earlier than normal — between the 20th and 37th week — it's called premature labor. Premature labor can be very dangerous.

The signs of premature labor include:

• uterine contractions (strong tightening in your belly) every 10 minutes or less

• constant period-like cramps in your lower belly

• belly cramps with or without diarrhea

• pressure in your pelvic area that feels like the fetus is pushing down

• change or increase in vaginal discharge

• a sudden gush of watery fluids from your vagina (water breaking)

When should I call my doctor?

Call your doctor if you notice any signs of premature labor, think you’re having a miscarriage, or if you notice any serious warning signs.

More questions from patients:

Is bleeding during pregnancy a bad sign?

Your body goes through a lot of changes during pregnancy. Some kinds of bleeding while pregnant are perfectly normal. For example,  hemorrhoids — varicose veins of the rectum that can cause bleeding — are pretty common.

However, some symptoms are warning signs of more dangerous problems. Vaginal bleeding can be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage. Call your doctor, nurse, or midwife or go to the hospital right away if you notice any vaginal bleeding. If you have severe bleeding, go to the emergency room immediately.

Other things that are less serious can also cause vaginal bleeding. But see your doctor or midwife right away just to be safe.

Is spotting during pregnancy normal?

Your body goes through a lot of changes during pregnancy. Many of the symptoms you have and changes you deal with are common in healthy pregnancies.

However, some symptoms are warning signs of more dangerous problems. Spotting while pregnant can be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage. Call your doctor, nurse, or midwife or go to the hospital right away if you notice any vaginal bleeding.

Other things that are less serious can also cause spotting. But see your doctor or midwife just to be safe.