We help you understand your pregnancy worries

During the first three months, your hormones surge, turning your stomach. As they level off and settle, so does your tummy.   No two pregnancies are the same. While some women vomit, others suffer no symptoms at all, or different ones, such as sore boobs. Your abdominal muscles are strong, the walls of the uterus tough and your baby’s floating in fluid that cushions her from bumps. Eat little and often to prevent low blood sugar and to avoid dehydration-induced dizzy spells.

When you’re expecting, it’s hard not to worry about any odd aches or twinges you might experience. We all want our babies to be fine, and that lioness instinct to protect them starts even before they’re born! 

Most mums-to-be have occasional panic attacks – so don’t worry that you’re being a drama queen! Trust your intuition: If something doesn’t feel right, don’t be shy about contacting your gynae – if only for some peace of mind. 

Mother & Baby looks at the scenarios that get expectant mums in a spin and explains what to do next. 

“My baby hasn’t moved for a couple of hours.”
After having your insides used as a punch bag, now you can’t feel your baby at all. 

SO WHAT'S GOING ON? Babies need rest, too. “She’ll have her own pattern of activity,” says midwife Laura Abbott. “Recognising her busy bursts and her down times will help you spot changes.” 

RELAX OR REACT? “It’s easy to miss your baby’s movements when you’re busy,” Abbott notes. “Drinking cold water can coax her into action, but she may slow down later in pregnancy because she has less room to move.”
If you’re worried or haven’t felt her move in 12 hours, ask your gynae for a check to put your mind at rest, she suggests. 

MUMS LIKE YOU “Phoebe was always active in the mornings, so when she didn’t move for an hour, my husband took us on a 6.30am dash to hospital. Flying round a bend woke her up, and we turned back relieved.”
Kate Bosco-Fields, 28, mum to Phoebe, 6 months. 

“I’ve got stomach cramps.”
It’s easy to fret, but period-like pains are quite common in early pregnancy. 

SO WHAT’S GOING ON? “Your uterus is growing and, as your ligaments stretch to support it, you may feel cramping down the sides of your abdomen,” Abbott explains. 

RELAX OR REACT? “If the cramps are occasional and not accompanied by fever or bleeding, don’t worry,” Abbott assures.
“If you have sharp, persistent pains, especially on one side, plus light prune juice-coloured bleeding during your first trimester, seek medical attention right away to rule out an ectopic pregnancy,” she stresses. “But any pain that concerns you is worth discussing with your gynae.” 

MUMS LIKE YOU “I had lots of cramps early on, peaking at seven weeks with some bleeding, but a scan showed all was well. My gynae put it down to growing pains and implantation bleeding.” 
Helen Song, 26, mum to Kira, 3 months. 

“I’ve suddenly stopped getting morning sickness.”
Having become intimate with your toilet bowl, your stomach suddenly settles.

SO WHAT’S GOING ON? It may be that you’ve entered your second trimester. “During the first three months, your hormones surge, turning your stomach,” Abbott explains. “As they level off and settle, so does your tummy.” 

RELAX OR REACT? Enjoy the bloom. We’re all different and sickness can ease at any time. “But if all your pregnancy symptoms disappear, or you’re really worried, see your gynae,” says Abbott. 

MUMS LIKE YOU “I actually missed throwing up when I hit 14 weeks because I didn’t feel so pregnant and I was worried that something was wrong. I didn’t really relax until Aiden started kicking.”
Anita Durai, 32, mum to Aiden, 13 months. 

“I’ve not experienced morning sickness yet.”
While all your preggers mates are hurling their guts up, your dinner remains firmly in place. 

SO WHAT’S GOING ON? Morning sickness usually kicks in around eight weeks. One day you can be vomit-free and the next puking everywhere! Pass 14 weeks and you’ve probably escaped. 

RELAX OR REACT? Around 70 per cent of women get sick – you may be one of the lucky 30 per cent!
“No two pregnancies are the same,” Abbott points out. “While some women vomit, others suffer no symptoms at all, or different ones, such as sore boobs. If you’re worried, see your gynae.” 

MUMS LIKE YOU “Morning sickness is so linked with pregnancy that I panicked when I didn’t get it. My gynae reassured me that my blossoming boobs (I gained two cup sizes in a month!) were a reliable sign that all was well.”
Azizah Rahman, 25, mum to Taufik, 5 months. 

“I’m too sick to eat.”
So much for eating for two, when the tiniest morsel turns your stomach. 

SO WHAT’S GOING ON? There’s no definitive cause of morning sickness, but certain triggers like strong smells leave you too nauseous to nosh. 

RELAX OR REACT? It won’t hinder your baby’s nutritional needs because your body has reserves for her to draw on.
“Her need for certain nutrients is greater later in pregnancy, so not gaining weight now isn’t a problem,” Abbott assures.
“Drink lots of water to replace lost fluids, and if you can’t keep anything down or have lost a lot of weight, see your gynae.” 

MUMS LIKE YOU “I was so sick in the first three months of pregnancy that I lost weight. When I stopped vomiting, I gained 12kg – and had a healthy 3.2kg girl.”
Foo Swee San, 25, mum to Li Xuan, 8 months. 

“My friend and I are both 15 weeks pregnant, but her bump’s massive and I’m not showing.”
“Just as women aren’t the same shape, nor are their bumps,” says midwife Gail Johnson. 

SO WHAT’S GOING ON? “Lots of things make a difference – like how tall, short, curvy or thin you started out, how big your baby is and her position,’ Johnson reckons. “Fit women with tight abdominal muscles don’t show so much, either.” 

RELAX OR REACT? “Don’t compare your bump with others,” Johnson stresses. “Concentrate on how it changes weekly and on your baby’s movements. See your gynae if you still need reassurance.” 

MUMS LIKE YOU “I was anxious about my small bump, but my doctor said bump size didn’t reflect baby size. Josh weighed in at 3.4kg and I couldn’t believe he’d nested so neatly in my little bump.”
Sarah Chow, 29, mum to Josh, 10 months. 

“I fell on my tummy, but I’m not in any pain.”
It’s hard staying steady on your feet when you can’t even see them!

SO WHAT’S GOING ON? As your centre of gravity shifts forward, you lose your balance. Looser, less stable joints make you prone to tumbles, too. 

RELAX OR REACT? Your baby’s well protected by your inbuilt airbag.
“Your abdominal muscles are strong, the walls of the uterus tough and your baby’s floating in fluid that cushions her from bumps,” Abbott elaborates. “But any pain, vaginal bleeding or loss of amniotic fluid should be checked immediately.” 

MUMS LIKE YOU “After a spectacular belly flop out of a friend’s house, I sobbed until I felt Jake move. My gynae reassured me that babies are incredibly safe and secure inside us.”
Tan Suan Hwee, 27, mum to Jake, 11 months. 

“I’m getting dizzy spells, although I don’t faint.”
Fainting is unusual in pregnancy. Dizziness, though, is quite common. 

SO WHAT’S GOING ON? “Your uterus needs more blood in pregnancy and draws it from other parts of your body,” Abbott explains. “Blood flowing away from your brain makes you dizzy.” 

RELAX OR REACT? “Don’t jump up quickly as blood will shift suddenly from your brain,” Abbott advises. “Eat little and often to prevent low blood sugar and to avoid dehydration-induced dizzy spells. If you’re often dizzy, tired and pale, see your gynae - you may be anaemic and need iron tablets.” 

MUMS LIKE YOU “Just a hint of hunger left me dizzy when I was pregnant, so I never left home without some snacks.”
Nirmala Rashid, 29, mum to Elangovan, 9 months. 

“I feel breathless.”
Thank your ever-expanding uterus. 

SO WHAT’S GOING ON? Your growing uterus puts pressure on your diaphragm and squashes your lungs. 

RELAX OR REACT? “Once your baby’s head engages, you’ll find relief. Standing or sitting upright helps, as does sleeping propped up on pillows,” Abbott suggests. “Regular shortness of breath can indicate anaemia, so see your gynae.” 

MUMS LIKE YOU “At 20 weeks, I was breathless and dizzy. I was prescribed iron tablets for anaemia and felt better.”
Alison Chan-Bramley, 32, mum to Eva, 14 months. 

“I’m 11 weeks pregnant, but I can’t feel my baby.”
Waiting for that first foetal flutter can seem like an eternity. 

SO WHAT’S GOING ON? Some women who’ve already had babies report movements from 13 weeks. It takes longer for first-timers, who aren’t sure what the movements will feel like. 

RELAX OR REACT? “The majority of mums-to-be first feel movement between 18 and 22 weeks,” notes Abbott. “Your gynae can listen for a heartbeat from 10 weeks. Your scan at around 12 weeks should also put your mind at rest.” 

MUMS LIKE YOU “When my friend described her baby’s movements like a bubble popping, I realised the wind I thought I had was Charlotte moving!”
Jennie Schofield, 28, mum to Charlotte, 7 months. 

“I’ve got some kind of vaginal discharge.”
You’re spoiling all of your smalls. Eek! 

SO WHAT’S GOING ON? The mucous membranes in your vagina and cervix become thicker and softer, and produce a milky discharge. 

RELAX OR REACT? “If it’s smelly or appears green, see your gynae,” Abbott says. 

MUMS LIKE YOU “My smelly discharge turned out to be thrush, which was easily cured with a course of cream.”
Regina Ang , 30, mum to Dylan, 14 months. 

“I bled after sex.”
Not quite the pillow talk you were after. 

SO WHAT’S GOING ON? “Deep penetration, especially late in pregnancy, can cause bleeding,” Abbott esxplains. 

RELAX OR REACT? “Sex is safe during a normal pregnancy,” says Dr Daghni Rajasingham, an obstetrician and gynaecologist. “If you’re in a high-risk category (placenta praevia, tendency to miscarry, history of premature labour), ask your gynae if sex is safe. Also tell him about any unusual symptoms after sex, such as pain, bleeding, discharge, or contractions that seem to continue.” 

MUMS LIKE YOU “After post-sex bleeding, my gynae suggested trying new positions for shallower penetration. It worked – and spiced up our sex life!”
Caroline Richmond, 33, mum to Ted, 8 months.

If you have any comments or practical suggestions, write to us at editor@family.sg

- Mother & Baby
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