When To Seek Medical Care During Pregnancy: Signs Of Trouble
Posted on: 30 January 2015
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When you find out that you are pregnant, it is one of the happiest times of your life. You also quickly come to the realization that you are fully responsible for another life growing inside of you. This realization makes taking care of your health your number one priority. As such, you need to be sure that you know all of the situations or scenarios in which you need to seek immediate medical attention in the ER. That way you can be sure that you are taking the best possible care of your health and the health of your growing baby.
Bleeding Any Time During Pregnancy
Extremely light bleeding or spotting early on in pregnancy is a fairly common symptom that women experience. This bleeding often resolves itself in a day or two and can usually be attributed to the time when the fertilized egg implants into the uterus. Spotting can occur at virtually any time in the first trimester, and can often have no effect on the health of your pregnancy.
However, because bleeding (even small amounts) can be a sign of ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, or other health problems, you will still want to contact your doctor for advice. If the bleeding becomes heavier, you should seek immediate medical attention for evaluation and treatment.
Accidents or Physical Trauma
When you are pregnant, any accident or physical trauma you endure could be worrisome. If you suffer from a fall on stairs, walking down the street, or in the shower, you should go to the ER to get checked out. While the trauma may seem minor, it could have serious effects on your unborn baby.
Additionally, any injury directly to the abdomen, or traumas such as a car accident (even minor) also warrant immediate medical care. You can use your discretion to determine whether or not an accident warrants medical attention to a certain extent. However, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
Severe Abdominal Cramping
Early in your pregnancy, very minor cramping is a common symptom. These minor cramps usually occur as the uterus swells and grows when the egg is implanted and subsides within the early weeks of your first trimester.
However, if the cramping is severe and/or occurs later in the pregnancy, you could be experiencing an ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, or early labor. An examination and ultrasound at the doctor's office or the er can help to determine the cause of your cramping and get the problem resolved as quickly as possible.
When you are pregnant, your health is your number one priority. To ensure that you take the best possible care of yourself, it is important for you to know the situations when you need to seek emergency medical care. If you know what to look out for, you can stay safe and healthy throughout your pregnancy.