Pregnancy Symptoms You Need To Get Help ForPregnancy symptoms to watch out forFind out what pregnancy symptoms to look out for and when to get help. Change in your baby's movementsYou should start to feel your baby move from around 16 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. A change in your baby's movements can sometimes be a sign of a problem, so it's important to get help if you notice any change. Find out more about your baby's movements and when to get help Fluid leaking from your vaginaIt's normal to have more vaginal discharge in pregnancy. But if you're unsure about any increase or change in your vaginal discharge (such as a change in smell or colour), you should speak to your midwife or doctor. Find out more about vaginal discharge in pregnancy and when to get help Fluid leaking from your vagina may also be a sign of labour. High temperature (fever)A high temperature can be a sign of an infection, so it's important to get it checked out. Signs of a high temperature include feeling hotter than usual, shivering (chills) or a thermometer says your temperature is 38C or above. Find out more about having a high temperature and when to get help Itchy skinItching in pregnancy can be caused by your skin stretching, but it can sometimes be a sign of a liver condition called intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) that may need treatment. Find out more about itching in pregnancy and when to get help Mental healthIt's natural to feel a lot of different emotions while you're pregnant. But if problems like stress, anxiety or low mood are affecting your day-to-day life, support is available and there are things you can try that may help. Find out more about mental health during pregnancy and where to get support PainAches and pains are common in pregnancy as your body changes. But they can sometimes be a sign of something more serious that needs to be checked. Find out more about: If you have any other pain you're worried about, get help straight away. Shortness of breath (breathlessness)It's common to feel out of breath in pregnancy, especially as your baby grows. But if breathlessness comes on suddenly, you're out of breath when you're lying down, or you have other symptoms like chest pain or dizziness, this needs to be checked immediately. Find out more about shortness of breath and when to get help Severe headacheHeadaches can be common in early pregnancy. But a severe headache can sometimes be a symptom of pre-eclampsia, which can lead to serious problems if it's not monitored and treated. Find out more about headaches in pregnancy and when to get help Sickness (vomiting)Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, often known as morning sickness, is very common in early pregnancy. If vomiting is very severe this can be serious and may need specialist treatment. Find out more about vomiting in pregnancy and when to get help Sudden vision problemsVision problems that start in pregnancy, such as blurring or seeing flashing lights, can sometimes be a symptom of pre-eclampsia. This needs to be checked immediately. Find out more about pre-eclampsia and when to get help Sudden swelling in your face, hands, legs or feetA sudden increase in swelling can be a sign of pre-eclampsia or a type of blood clot called deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and needs to be checked immediately. Find out more about pre-eclampsia and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and when to get help. Vaginal bleedingVaginal bleeding in pregnancy is not always serious but it's important to get advice from a healthcare professional. Find out more about vaginal bleeding in pregnancy and when to get help Other symptomsThese are not all the symptoms and problems that can happen in pregnancy. If you have any other symptoms or you're worried about your health or your baby's health, get help. Find out more about common health problems in pregnancy Where to get medical help when you're pregnantWhen you're pregnant, it's a good idea to find out what services are available in your local area should you need medical help. The best place to get medical help often depends on how many weeks pregnant you are. Check your local NHS trust website to find out where you can get help at each stage of pregnancy in your local area, as this can vary depending on where you live. ImportantAlways call 999 if you think it's a life-threatening emergency, no matter what stage of pregnancy you are. Call NHS 111 if you're not sure what to do, or you need help when your GP or other maternity services are closed (out-of-hours). Early pregnancy units (EPUs)Early pregnancy units (EPUs) are specialist units (usually in hospitals), that can help if you have problems in early pregnancy, like spotting, light bleeding or mild tummy pain. Check with your local EPU if they offer support at your stage of pregnancy, as this can vary depending on where you live. If you're under 20 weeks you may be able to contact your local EPU yourself, especially if you've had a previous miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy (when the pregnancy grows outside of the womb). But some EPUs need a referral from your midwife or GP. Find out how to contact your local EPU by:
Maternity assessment unitsMaternity assessment units are specialist units (usually in hospitals), that can help with urgent problems later in pregnancy, such as changes to your baby's movements and signs of labour. Check what stage of pregnancy your local maternity assessment unit offers support. It's usually from around 20 weeks of pregnancy. Depending on where you live, maternity assessment units can be called different things, such as maternity triage or maternity assessment centres. Find out how to contact your local maternity unit by:
Sexual Health AdviceThroughout this series we have help and advice on staying healthy, dealing with Sexually Transmitted Infections, the risks of each type of the most popular gay sex and what to do if the sex you have is not consentual. The topics covered in this series include:
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