Warning signs in pregnancy

You might get symptoms during your pregnancy that are common and often harmless.

But it is best to get these checked out. If you have any symptoms that are causing you concern, contact your midwife, GP or obstetrician immediately.

Always trust your instincts. It's best to be safe.

Get urgent help now

Check common warning signs

It can sometimes be hard to tell the difference between a warning sign or a normal pregnancy symptom. Talk to your GP, obstetrician or midwife if you are worried.

Common warning signs include:

• bleeding from the vagina
• stomach pain
• shortness of breath or chest pain
• swollen ankles, feet and fingers in pregnancy
• mental health and emotional distress
• a change in your baby's normal movements

Bleeding from the vagina

Vaginal bleeding is common during pregnancy. It does not always mean that there is a problem with your pregnancy. But it can sometimes be a sign of a miscarriage.

Always talk to your GP, midwife or obstetrician if you notice any bleeding from your vagina.

You might bleed for different reasons depending on your stage of pregnancy.

Vaginal bleeding in the first trimester

You might have vaginal bleeding during the first trimester (0 to 12 weeks).

This can happen for any of the following reasons:

• spotting (implantation bleeding) - when the egg attaches to the lining of the womb
• hormonal changes - these can make your cervix more likely to bleed, for example after sex
• threatened miscarriage
• miscarriage - sometimes bleeding in pregnancy can mean a pregnancy loss

In some cases, you might also bleed for the following reasons:

• ectopic pregnancy - when the pregnancy develops outside the womb
• molar pregnancy - a rare condition where your pregnancy does not develop normally from the very beginning

Vaginal bleeding in the second and third trimesters

Vaginal bleeding is common during the:

• second trimester (13 to 26 weeks)
• third trimester (26 to 40 weeks).

But always contact your GP, midwife or obstetrician urgently if you experience any bleeding.

You might bleed because of:

• problems with the cervix or neck of the womb - this includes infection or inflammation
• placenta praevia - when the placenta lies low in the womb and covers part or all of the cervix
• 'late' miscarriage - the loss of a pregnancy between 12 and 24 weeks
• placental abruption (rupture) - the placenta comes away from the womb, causing severe stomach pain

Vaginal bleeding later on in pregnancy can also be a sign of labour. This is especially true if you also have tightenings or pains in your lower tummy.

If you are less than 37 weeks pregnant, this might be a sign of premature labour.

Stomach pain

You will normally get some stomach pain while you are pregnant.

In your first trimester (weeks 0 to 12) it is common to feel mild pains in your lower tummy area. These are caused by hormonal changes and by your growing womb.

You might have more severe stomach pain in your second and third trimester.

You might also have stomach pain at any point in your pregnancy because of:

• urinary tract infection
• constipation or trapped wind
• premature or preterm labour - if you are less than 37 weeks pregnant

Talk with your healthcare team if you are worried about your stomach pain.

Stomach pain and cramps in pregnancy

Change in your baby's movements

A reduction or change in your baby's movements could be a warning sign that:

• your baby is unwell
• your baby does not have enough fluid around them
• there is a risk of you having a stillbirth

Your baby's movements during pregnancy

Shortness of breath or chest pain

Shortness of breath is common during pregnancy, particularly in your third trimester. But talk to your GP if you are short of breath when resting or at night.

Swollen ankles, feet and fingers in pregnancy

You might have swollen ankles, feet or fingers at any point in your pregnancy. This is very common.

But a sudden increase in your swelling could be a sign of pre-eclampsia. This is a condition that needs to be monitored as soon as possible.

Mental health and emotional distress

Mental health issues in pregnancy are common and can be treated.

Use the following guides to find out more and get help:

• mental health and emotional changes in your first trimester
• mental health and emotional changes in your second trimester
• mental health and emotional changes in your third trimester
• how to help yourself and get help for any mental health concerns

Perinatal mental health services can be accessed through maternity units and hospitals. They provide specialist support if you are experiencing mental health problems in pregnancy. Your GP, midwife, doctor or psychiatrist can refer you to the service.

Other common warning signs

Find out more about these other common warning signs during pregnancy:

• headaches in pregnancy
• varicose veins in pregnancy
• leg cramps during pregnancy