Revised:Thursday October 09 2014
Important signs to watch for if you are pregnant
- Bad cramps or stomach pains that don't go away
- Bleeding or a trickle or gush of fluid from your vagina
- Lower back pain/pressure or change in lower back pain
- A feeling that the baby is pushing down
- Contractions or change in the strength or number of them
- An increase in the amount of vaginal discharge
- Fever, chills, dizziness, vomiting or a bad headache
- Blurry vision or spots before your eyes
- Sudden or severe swelling of your feet, hand or face
- A significant change in your baby's movements
Go to a hospital right away and contact your doctor/midwife if you have any of these symptoms!
Adapted with permission from:
Best Start: Ontario's Maternal Newborn and Early Child Development Resource Centre
Taking care of yourself
Smoking, drugs & alcohol | Emotional changes | Exercise | Nutrition | Weight gain | Staying in school |
A healthy weight gain can help you have a full-term, healthy baby weighing 6.8 to 7.9 pounds (3.1 to 3.6 kg). Most women will need to gain between 25 - 35 pounds, some a little more, some a little less. Pregnant teenagers may need to gain more weight than adult pregnant women because they need to eat enough to support their own growth as well as their babies' growth. Recommendations for weight gain can be different from woman to woman depending on her pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is a measure that relates weight to height and risk of health problems. Talk to your health-care provider about the weight gain that is healthy for you.
Remember... Just like your baby, every pregnancy is unique and so is your body!