Pregnancy is, for most women, a stage of constant changes: the body transforms week by week, and it is normal.
experience discomfort such as fatigue, nausea, or mild bloating.
Precisely for this reason, many pregnant women have doubts about what is “normal” during pregnancy and what, instead, is a sign of a problem.
An alarm that requires immediate medical attention.

This distinction is fundamental. A healthy pregnancy does not mean a pregnancy without any discomfort, but one in which the problems are identified and treated early.
Sometimes the signs are unexpected. At Hospital Clínica San Fernando we want every pregnant woman, and also their partners, to be able to
Families should recognize these warning signs and act immediately when necessary.

Why it is important not to minimize the symptoms

During pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes important hormonal, circulatory, and physical changes. Most of these changes are part of a healthy process, but some symptoms may indicate complications that, without timely treatment, put both the mother and the baby at risk. Conditions such as preeclampsia, placental abruption, infections, or premature labor are often signaled by specific signs, and recognizing them in time can completely change the outcome.

Warning signs that require immediate medical attention

1. Vaginal bleeding

Bleeding at any stage of pregnancy should be evaluated. In the first trimester it can have various causes, some of which are not serious, but it can also be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy or an ongoing miscarriage. In more advanced stages, bleeding can indicate problems with the placenta, such as premature detachment, a condition that requires urgent attention.

2. Intense and persistent headache

A severe headache that does not improve with usual painkillers, especially if accompanied by blurred vision, flashes of light, or sudden swelling of the face and hands, may be a sign of preeclampsia, a complication related to high blood pressure during pregnancy that can quickly become serious if not treated.

3. Sudden and excessive swelling

A certain degree of swelling in the feet and ankles is common, especially in the third trimester. However, when the swelling appears suddenly, is very pronounced, or also appears on the face and hands, it may be another sign of preeclampsia and should be evaluated as soon as possible.

4. Decreased or absent movements of the baby

Starting from a certain gestational week, the woman begins to regularly feel the movements of the baby. A notable decrease in the frequency or intensity of these movements, or their complete absence for several hours, is sufficient reason to immediately seek evaluation, as it may reflect fetal distress.

5. Contractions before 37 weeks

Feeling the abdomen tighten rhythmically, with or without pain, before completing the 37th week of pregnancy can be a sign of premature labor. The sooner it is evaluated, the greater the chances of stopping or managing the process safely for the baby.

6. Fever

Fever during pregnancy should never be taken lightly. It can be a sign of an infection, such as a urinary tract infection or chorionamnionitis (infection of the membranes surrounding the baby), which requires timely treatment to prevent complications for both the mother and the fetus.

7. Intense abdominal pain

Severe abdominal pain, especially if it is constant, located in a specific point or accompanied by other symptoms such as bleeding or fever, should be evaluated immediately. It can have multiple causes, ranging from placental abruption to complications not directly related to pregnancy, but that require equal attention given the patient's condition.

8. Loss of fluid through the vagina

The discharge of clear liquid, either in the form of a constant drip or a sudden spurt, can indicate membrane rupture (ruptured ductus), regardless of whether or not there are contractions. This is a sign that should always be evaluated in the hospital, regardless of the time of day.

9. Severe and persistent vomiting

Nausea is common, especially in the first trimester, but when vomiting is so frequent that it prevents you from keeping liquids or food down, and causes weight loss or signs of dehydration, medical evaluation is needed, as it may be hyperemesis gravidarum.

10. Difficulty breathing or chest pain

Sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, or intense palpitations during pregnancy should be evaluated urgently, as they may be related to cardiovascular complications or thrombosis, the risk of which increases during pregnancy.

The value of constant prenatal monitoring

Many of these complications can be detected, or even prevented, through regular prenatal monitoring. During each appointment, the doctor checks the blood pressure, weight, baby’s growth, and other parameters that allow for the identification of warning signs before they become an emergency. Failing to attend prenatal checkups not only delays this early detection, but also leaves the mother and baby without the necessary follow-up for a healthy pregnancy.

In addition to routine prenatal monitoring, it is essential that the pregnant woman and her family know that, in the event of any of the signs described above, it is not necessary or advisable to wait for the next scheduled appointment. These situations require immediate evaluation, usually in an emergency department equipped to provide obstetric care.

Trusting intuition without replacing medical evaluation

Many pregnant women describe a feeling of “something not being right” even before they can identify a specific symptom. This intuition should not be ignored, but it should also not be used as a substitute for professional evaluation: the safest course is always to consult a healthcare professional, even if it turns out to be a false alarm in the end.

At Hospital Clínica San Fernando, we have obstetric care and an emergency service prepared to receive pregnant women in the event of any alarm signal, at any time of the day. A healthy pregnancy does not depend on everything going smoothly without any surprises; it depends on taking action in time when something goes wrong. Knowing these signs is, in itself, a way of caring for both the mother and the baby before they are even born.