Due to the many changes that occur in the body during pregnancy, many pregnant women find it difficult to distinguish between normal and abnormal pregnancy signs. In order not to misinterpret it, pregnant women need to know what are the signs and symptoms of a normal pregnancy, as well as what signs and symptoms to watch out for.
Changes that occur during pregnancy do not only occur physically, but also emotionally. This is due to the normal hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. The changes felt during pregnancy are an effort by the pregnant mother's body to support the growth and development of the fetus and prepare for the labor process later.
Common Symptoms and Signs of Normal Pregnancy
The following are some of the symptoms and signs of normal pregnancy that are common and often felt by pregnant women:
1. Light vaginal bleeding
Pregnant women are likely to feel panicky when there are bloodstains from the vagina, even though vaginal bleeding during pregnancy is not always synonymous with miscarriage. Light bleeding that pregnant women experience may be normal and a sign of a normal pregnancy.
Spots of blood coming out of the vagina in early pregnancy indicate that the future fetus or embryo has attached to the uterine wall and is ready to grow. This spotting is called implantation bleeding and is usually accompanied by mild cramping that mimics menstrual symptoms.
Apart from implantation bleeding, light vaginal bleeding during pregnancy can also be caused by sexual intercourse during pregnancy or a transvaginal ultrasound examination.
Normal light vaginal bleeding usually lasts 1-2 days or only a few hours. However, pregnant women need to be vigilant and should immediately consult a doctor if vaginal bleeding does not stop within a few days, is bleeding profusely, or is accompanied by severe pain and fever.
This type of bleeding is abnormal and can be a sign of a serious condition, such as miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or abnormalities in the placenta, such as placenta previa and placental abruption.
2. Morning sickness
Morning sickness or nausea and vomiting during pregnancy is a normal sign of pregnancy experienced by many pregnant women. This condition is often accompanied by complaints of frequent spitting. These signs of normal pregnancy often appear in the early trimester of pregnancy, but some pregnant women still experience symptoms morning sickness until the end of the second trimester.
To overcome this, pregnant women can consume warm ginger drinks, take pregnancy vitamins that contain vitamin B6, and eat small but frequent meals.
Morning sickness included in the sign of normal pregnancy if it is not too severe and does not make pregnant women weak due to lack of food and drink.
However, pregnant women need to see a doctor immediately if their nausea and vomiting are severe enough or last all day to make them weak due to dehydration. This condition could be a sign of hyperemesis gravidarum which must be treated by a doctor so as not to interfere with the health of pregnant women and fetuses.
3. Changes in the breast
One of the signs of a normal pregnancy that is felt by almost every pregnant woman is breasts that become firm and dense, and sometimes feel painful to the touch.
Breast changes during pregnancy can be caused by increased levels of pregnancy hormones and blood flow to breast tissue during pregnancy. These changes can also occur because the breasts begin to produce milk.
4. Fetal movement
When pregnant women are normal and healthy, usually pregnant women will begin to feel fetal movements when they enter the second trimester or to be precise at 16-25 weeks of gestation. The fetus that moves periodically is a sign that the fetus is in good health.
Pregnant women are advised to monitor fetal movements every day. If pregnant women feel the fetus is not as active as usual, try consuming cold food or drinks to stimulate the fetus to move again.
Immediately consult a doctor if the fetus is less active and occurs repeatedly, or if the fetus has not moved for a very long time. This may indicate that the fetus is experiencing stillbirth.
5. Gradual weight gain
A sign of normal pregnancy that is also important for pregnant women is weight gain gradually. Normal weight gain of pregnant women is 1-2 kg in the first trimester and continues to gain about 0.5-1 kg in each following week.
During pregnancy, the normal weight gain of pregnant women can reach 12-15 kg, while the recommended weight gain for pregnant women with twins ranges from 15-20 kg.
In addition to some of the signs and symptoms above, pregnant women may also experience other normal signs of pregnancy, such as:
- vaginal discharge
- Mild headache
- Mild cramping and swelling in the legs
- Pregnancy glow
- Frequent urination
- Back pain
- Tired quickly
- Breath feels heavier
As long as these symptoms are mild and do not occur continuously or do not interfere with activities, pregnant women do not need to worry excessively because these could be signs and symptoms of a normal pregnancy.
However, to ensure that pregnancy goes well, pregnant women are still advised to routinely carry out prenatal checkups as recommended by a gynecologist.
When consulting with a doctor, pregnant women can ask the doctor whether the symptoms that pregnant women feel are a sign of a normal pregnancy or not.
