Your body's changing: Your center of gravity has shifted, you're carrying more weight, and you tire more quickly. That's why it's important to exercise with care and listen closely to your body when you work out.
Your body lets you know when you're pushing it too hard. Here are some things to watch out for:
1. Decreased fetal movement
If you notice that your baby isn't moving around as much as she normally does, stop exercising and take a minute to pay attention to what she's doing. Remember that sometimes it's hard to tell if your baby is moving around when you're moving around, too. Also, be sure to eat and drink water before your workout because that may affect your baby's movements.Call your healthcare provider: if your baby isn't moving around as much as normal or you notice a sudden decrease in your baby's movement.
2. Dizziness
Persistent dizziness together with fatigue and headaches can be symptoms of severe anemia or another serious condition.Call your healthcare provider: if you're still dizzy after you've cooled down, rested, and had some water.
3. Overheating
If you feel faint or dizzy, or if you develop a headache, nausea, cramps, or a racing heart, your body's telling you that it's having a hard time regulating your internal temperature, which can be harmful to your baby. The baby can get overheated just as you do. When your body overheats, blood flowing to the uterus is diverted to the skin to help the body cool itself off, putting the baby in jeopardy.It's unusual to overheat from exercise alone, but if it's hot outside or in the gym where you exercise, you could run into trouble. If you're exercising indoors, it's best to do so in a well-ventilated room with fans. If you're exercising outdoors, avoid the sun when it's strongest in the middle of the day. Consider staying inside if it's especially hot out.
Call your healthcare provider: if you feel very hot and you have symptoms of overheating, like profuse sweating, dizziness or lightheadedness, a headache, nausea, cramps, or an irregular heartbeat.
4. Heart palpitations
If your heart is pounding and you can't carry on a conversation without being out of breath, or if you sweat buckets while you exercise, you're probably working too hard. Heart palpitations may be a sign of dehydration, severe anemia, thyroid disease, or a heart problem.Call your healthcare provider: if your heart continues to race after you've cooled down, rested, and had some water.
5. Swelling in your calf
Your feet and hands may puff up a little after you exercise, but if you notice calf pain or swelling, it could be a sign of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a potentially life-threatening condition caused by a type of blood clot. DVT usually affects veins deep in the lower leg and thigh and occurs on one side of the body. You may experience redness and skin that feels warm to the touch.Also, sudden swelling in your legs (and face and hands), along with high blood pressure, may be a sign of preeclampsia.
Call your healthcare provider: immediately if you think you have DVT. If you have DVT and you experience chest pain, difficulty breathing, fainting, or any other serious condition, go to the emergency room right away.
6. Vaginal bleeding
Some women do experience light spotting throughout their pregnancy, but vaginal bleeding during pregnancy is always a cause for concern. Early in your pregnancy, it could signal a miscarriage. In the second and third trimesters, bleeding is associated with premature labor and complications with the placenta, such as placenta previa or placenta abruption. All require immediate medical attention.Call your healthcare provider: immediately if you have vaginal bleeding. If you can't reach anyone, go to the emergency room.
7. Blurred vision
It's common for blood pressure to drop during the first 6 months of pregnancy. But combine low blood pressure with exercise and dehydration, and you may be headed for trouble.If your eyesight gets hazy in the middle of your workout, you may be dehydrated. That alone is enough to send your blood pressure plummeting and your heart into overdrive. As a result, not enough blood may be getting to your developing baby's vital organs.
Blurred vision may also be a sign of preeclampsia. This condition can be dangerous for your baby because preeclampsia can severely restrict the flow of blood to the placenta.
Call your healthcare provider: immediately. If you can't reach anyone, go to the emergency room.
8. Fainting
Fainting during pregnancy shouldn't be taken lightly. It could signal something as simple as dehydration or something serious like major circulatory or heart problems. You may not be getting enough oxygen to your brain, which means your baby may not be getting enough either.Call your healthcare provider: immediately. If you can't reach anyone, go to the emergency room.
9. Recurring pain in abdomen or chest
It may just be your ligaments stretching, but you could also be having contractions – especially if the pain recurs at somewhat regular intervals.Women experience labor pain differently: For some the pain is similar to a severe menstrual cramp. For others, the pain is sharp and comes in waves or feels like a recurring pain in the back. Abdominal pain accompanied by bleeding might be a sign of placental abruption. You may need to be hooked up to a fetal monitor so your healthcare provider can determine whether you're in labor.
Life-threatening chest pain most likely signals a serious problem with your heart or lungs. If you're pregnant and have chest pain while exercising, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that you stop what you're doing right away.
Call your healthcare provider: immediately. If you can't reach anyone, go to the emergency room.
10. Fluid leaking from your vagina
If your underpants are constantly wet or if you feel watery fluid leaking (or gushing) from your vagina, it could mean premature rupture of the membranes. That can be a signal that your body is about to go into labor.Call your healthcare provider: immediately. If you can't reach anyone, go to the emergency room.
0 comments:
Post a Comment