Unusual Pregnancy Symptoms to Never Ignore 

With pregnancy comes a lot of weird symptoms. 

Some normal… 

Some unusual.

As your pregnancy progresses, it’ll be important to know some symptoms that are not normal.

Let’s dive into a few symptoms that you should never ignore. 

Vaginal Bleeding

There are many reasons why you could be bleeding during pregnancy.

Here are a few causes that could be detected in early pregnancy: 

• Implantation bleeding. This is when the fertilized egg implanting on the wall of your uterus causes light bleeding. This is normal for early pregnancy. 
• Ectopic pregnancy. When a fertilized egg grows outside your uterus (i.e. in fallopian tubes), this is a concern and is potentially life-threatening. 
• Molar pregnancy. This is when a tumor develops in your uterus as a result of a nonviable pregnancy. This is rare. 
• Cervical polyps. A growth on your cervix that can cause irregular menstrual bleeding. This type of growth is noncancerous. Treatment usually consists of a simple removal of the polyp.
• Miscarriage. The loss of pregnancy before 20 weeks gestation. This may start with light bleeding that gets heavier over time. Usually, cramping occurs as well. 

Here are a few more reasons, most common in the second and third trimester: 

• Bloody show. This is light bleeding combined with mucus that happens at the end of your pregnancy. It could be a sign that your labor is starting soon! This is exciting and not a cause for concern. 
• Preterm labor. When you go into labor before 37 weeks of pregnancy. This can cause light bleeding along with contractions and pelvic pressure. 
• Placental abruption. When your placenta separates from the wall of your uterus, causing danger to both you and your baby. This is also rare. 
• Incompetent cervix. This means your cervix opens prematurely, potentially causing preterm labor. 
• Placenta previa. When your placenta covers your cervix inside the womb. This can cause increased levels of bleeding during your pregnancy. There is no immediate treatment for this condition. Usually, your doctor will monitor you closely during pregnancy.

Phew! 

We know, there are many reasons for vaginal bleeding in pregnancy, but don’t let that worry you.

Remember…

Knowledge is power.

The more you know, the more you will be able to detect unusual pregnancy symptoms. 

And just because you experience bleeding during pregnancy doesn’t mean it’s life-threatening to you or your baby.

However, if you are experiencing: 

• Heavy bleeding 
• Bleeding with pain and cramping 
• Dizziness with bleeding 
• Severe pain in your abdomen or pelvis 

Call your doctor or head to the emergency room right away. 

They’ll monitor the severity and find out the source of the bleeding. 

Severe Abdominal Cramping and Backache (Before 37 Weeks)

Some abdominal cramping and other aches and pains are very normal for pregnancy. It can be difficult to know which are serious and which aren’t.

That’s why it’s important to follow this advice: 

It’s better to be safe than sorry. 

If you struggle with the idea of “bothering” your care provider too much, don’t worry. They want to hear from you if you have a concern. 

Even if it’s one of the common causes of abdominal and back pain, they’ll want to hear from you to offer support. 

(And so do your doulas!)

Here are a few common causes of abdominal pain specifically: 

• Gas and constipation. This is real during pregnancy. Think about it. A growing baby is continually constricting your internal organs! Also, you have increased progesterone levels causing your gastrointestinal tract to slow down. The combination results in gas and constipation. You can usually combat this with gentle stool softeners, hydration, and eating high-fiber foods. 
• Braxton Hicks contractions. These are also called “practice contractions.” Your body is preparing for labor. So, sometimes you may feel abdominal tightening and slight cramping. However, these are not severe and have an irregular pattern. 
• Round ligament pain. You have two large ligaments that run from your uterus to your groin. As your baby grows, these ligaments continue to expand and stretch. This pain is achy, dull, and lingering. It can also be a sharp pain when moving positions. This one may be annoying, but it is normal. Some people find relief with chiropractic care. 

Now here is an unusual pregnancy symptom...

Severe and regular abdominal and back pain that comes with bleeding.

Here are a few potential causes of severe abdominal and back pain (pay close attention to these): 

• UTI (urinary tract infection). Don’t ignore this one. A UTI will cause pain and burning when you urinate, as well as abdominal or lower back pain. It’s important to treat this as soon as you experience symptoms because this type of infection can spread to your kidneys. So, see your care provider to get this take care of and avoid complications. 
• Pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia causes high blood pressure and protein in your urine. With this you can also have upper abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Therefore, if you’re diagnosed with preeclampsia, don’t ignore abdominal pain. Let your doctor know immediately. 

Here are a few more potential causes that we already discussed above: 

• Ectopic pregnancy 
• Placental abruption
• Miscarriage
• Preterm labor 

Each of these usually causes both bleeding and abdominal/back pain. 

So, once again… 

Don’t be shy in letting your care provider know if you’re feeling severe abdominal pain. You’ll want to find out what’s causing it. 

Leaking fluid (Not Urine) 

Leaking some urine while you’re pregnant is normal, expected even. Increased vaginal discharge is also expected during pregnancy. 

However, sometimes it’s possible to leak amniotic fluid… 

Which is the fluid that surrounds your baby within the womb and is very important. 

When amniotic fluid is leaking before you are full term, this may cause problems. 

Now you might be wondering…

How can I tell if I’m leaking amniotic fluid? 

Well, you can look out for two main things: odor and color. 

Urine has a distinct odor, so if the fluid smells like urine, it’s likely that. Also, vaginal discharge or fluid is usually milky white or yellow colored. 

Here are the qualities of amniotic fluid: 

• No odor
• It may saturate your underwear or pad
• Clear or lightly tinted with mucus or blood

And if you’re really not sure, here’s a test to help: 

Empty your bladder as much as you can, then place a pad in your underwear. Look at it again in about 30 minutes to an hour. Examine the color and amount. If it is yellow, it’s likely urine or vaginal discharge. 

But, if the fluid is clear and saturates a pad, it may be amniotic fluid leaking. If that’s the case, let your care provider know immediately. 

Rapid Weight Gain With Severe Swelling 

As your pregnancy progresses, you feel more and more like an overinflated balloon. Especially during the third trimester. 

While you’re pregnant, your body will retain more water. This means that extra water will gather in certain areas of your body. 

With this water retention, two things are bound to happen: 

Weight gain and swelling. 

But, as with any pregnancy symptom… 

There are levels of severity that tell you whether or not to notify your care provider. 

When you’re pregnant it can feel like you’re gaining weight rapidly as your baby grows. 

Especially after the first trimester morning sickness fades, you find your appetite growing too…

And fast. 

But gaining excessive weight and having sudden swelling that increases in your face, hands, and feet is concerning.

What do you mean by excessive?

Well, excessive weight gain would be gaining more than two pounds per week after your second trimester.

Sudden swelling with a headache, blurred vision, severe abdominal pain, heartburn, and nausea are symptoms of… 

Pre-eclampsia. 

Pre-eclampsia can cause serious complications during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. 

So, keep an eye on those symptoms and make sure they don’t become severe. Because if they do, you’ll need to contact your doctor or midwife right away. 

Visual Disturbances 

Have you experienced blurry vision during your pregnancy?

There are several potential causes. 

• Changes to the shape or thickness of your corneas
• Lower tear production 
• Intraocular pressure (more pressure inside your eye)

Why does this happen sometimes during pregnancy? 

Once again, it comes down to hormonal changes. Hormonal changes can cause fluid retention, possibly causing blurry vision. 

But, a little blurry vision can definitely be normal. 

Here is what would be considered unusual and concerning:

• Partial vision loss
• Blind spots
• Eye flashes
• Dimmed vision 
• Double vision 

If this is happening, it may be a symptom of …

Gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia. 

Both are quite treatable, so let your care provider know if you experience these symptoms. 

This is exactly why your doctor or midwife is often checking in with you about these types of symptoms. 

Persistent itchy skin

Itchy skin can be constant during pregnancy. 

Typically, the causes are…

• Stretching skin. It’s no surprise your skin will stretch during pregnancy. As your skin expands, it may itch.
• Hormonal changes. Once again, hormone changes can cause a variety of ailments, including itchy skin. Sometimes, your skin also becomes more sensitive and dry. 
• Perfumes or fabrics. While you’re pregnant, your skin may be more sensitive to certain perfumes or fabrics.
• PUPPP (pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy). During late pregnancy, an itchy rash can form near stretch marks. The cure? Delivering your baby. 
• Prurigo. This causes you to have crusty, itchy bumps on your arms, legs, or stomach.

And here are a few big red flags you should never ignore.

If you experience…

• Intense itchiness (including feet) 
• Loss of appetite 
• Dark urine
• Jaundice 
• Nausea 
• Feelings of depression
• Light stool (gray or pale brown color)

All of these symptoms together mean you could have a condition called cholestasis. 

Cholestasis is a liver condition that causes a build-up of bile in your liver and bloodstream. As levels of bile increase in your blood, this causes itchiness.  

About 1 in 1,000 pregnant women experience cholestasis. It seems that some are more genetically predisposed to have it than others. 

So, there isn’t a clear way to prevent cholestasis of pregnancy from happening. 

But here are a few indicators that may increase your risk of getting cholestasis: 

• A close family member has been diagnosed with it
• You’ve had it in previous pregnancies
• You’re pregnant with multiples 
• You have a history of liver disease or have liver damage

Keep these symptoms in mind if you have itchy skin. Listen in to what your body is telling you and when in doubt… 

Talk with your doctor. 

Doulas Can Help You With Your Unusual Pregnancy Symptoms

Your doula is a resource that you can count on during your pregnancy. Whether it is a question about your pregnancy, birth, postpartum or beyond…

No question is too “out there” for your doula. She can help you decide if and when to call your care provider for more help.  

Come to us with any and all concerns. 

We’re here to help.