What to do during pregnancy

During pregnancy, spotting is a relatively dangerous thing. If the spotting is small in amount and short in duration, there is no need to worry too much, but if the bleeding is frequent, pregnant women should pay enough attention to it, because it may mean that the pregnant woman has threatened abortion, hydatidiform mole or ectopic pregnancy. Certain methods must be taken to deal with these problems. Here I will introduce to you the principles of dealing with spotting during pregnancy.

1. Principles of handling

Whether in the early stages of pregnancy or at any time during pregnancy, you should tell your doctor about any bleeding symptoms; usually, light bleeding is not considered a serious problem. However, if you experience spotting or fresh bleeding, especially if it is accompanied by abdominal pain or cramps, it is best to see a doctor right away, as this may be a sign of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. In late pregnancy, such bleeding symptoms may also mean that there is a problem with the placenta.

If vaginal bleeding occurs, seek medical attention as soon as possible. The doctor will first assess the amount of bleeding and measure blood pressure and pulse to determine whether immediate hospitalization is needed. The patient will then be asked some relevant information, such as the date of the last menstrual period, whether the menstrual period is regular, whether she has ever experienced morning sickness and breast tenderness and whether they still exist, and whether she has symptoms of lower abdominal pain. Then further physical examination will be carried out and a preliminary judgment will be made. If necessary, an ultrasound examination and blood test for 'beta-human chorionic gonadotropin' (abbreviated as chorionic hormone) or progesterone in the serum will be arranged to help diagnose whether it is a normal intrauterine pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, ectopic pregnancy or hydatidiform mole.

Regarding the examination of chorionic villus, it is usually more valuable to compare the values ​​of two blood draws 48 hours apart. In patients with normal intrauterine pregnancy, the second value will usually be more than 66% higher than the first. If the increase is not enough or there is a decrease, it may be an ectopic pregnancy or incomplete abortion. At this time, uterine dilatation and curettage or laparoscopy should be arranged for further diagnosis.

With the development of vaginal ultrasound, its resolution has greatly increased, which can help doctors detect intrauterine gestational sac earlier. If an intrauterine gestational sac is found, the chance of ectopic pregnancy occurring at the same time is very low, about only one in forty thousand. If no gestational sac is found in the uterus and the chorionic hormone is higher than 1500IU/L, the possibility of ectopic pregnancy must be considered.

2. Prevention Methods

1. Do not wear high heels during pregnancy:

After pregnancy, women's foot muscles are insufficient and the weight of the body is mainly borne by the ligaments of the feet. Due to the softening of the ligaments, they cannot bear weight for a long time. Especially in the later stages of pregnancy, wearing high heels at this time is very unsafe and it is easy to fall. At the same time, it will make pregnant women more tired and cause increased pain in the lower limbs and back. Although wearing heelless flat shoes is safe, since the center of gravity falls on the heel, it is easy to cause heel pain and back pain if you stand or walk for a long time. Therefore, it is best to wear low-heeled shoes and wedge-heeled shoes with a heel of 2 to 3 cm.

2. Pregnant women should quit smoking and drinking:

It is known that tobacco contains a variety of harmful substances, among which nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, etc. are the most harmful to the human body. Nicotine in tobacco can increase the fetal heart rate[2], reduce placental blood flow, affect fetal development, and cause malnutrition or deformities. Alcohol is even more taboo as it can cause fetal developmental delay, deformity or mental retardation. Therefore, you should avoid smoking and drinking before planning to conceive and during pregnancy.

3. Pay attention to radiation protection:

Household appliances will have some radiation to a greater or lesser extent. For example, televisions, especially color TVs, emit radiation and microwaves when working for long periods of time, which can also have subtle effects on pregnant women and fetuses. Therefore, pregnant women must do a good job of radiation protection.

4. Don’t drink tea:

Because tea contains rich caffeine, drinking tea will increase the heart rate of pregnant women, increase renal blood flow, and increase the burden on the heart and kidneys of pregnant women, which is not conducive to the healthy development of the fetus. Therefore, women should try not to drink tea during pregnancy.

5. Do not do strenuous exercise:

Pregnant women may easily have accidents if they do strenuous exercise, and if they are not careful, it may cause miscarriage. Therefore, pregnant women should pay more attention when exercising, and walking is a good choice.

6. Use skin care products specially made for pregnant women:

Ordinary skin care products contain plant extracts and estrogen, which are very irritating to babies and may affect their normal development. Therefore, when women are pregnant, it is best to use skin care products specifically for pregnant women to avoid affecting the fetus.