🤔 Is it normal? Sorting out pregnancy symptoms

Pregnancy comes with a long list of new sensations, and it’s hard to know which ones are "textbook" and which ones need attention. Here’s a general guide — always call your provider if something feels wrong to you, even if it’s on the "normal" list below. You know your body best.

Usually just pregnancy

Mild swelling in your feet and ankles by evening, especially in warm weather. Round ligament pain — a sharp, brief pull low in your belly when you move quickly, most common in the second trimester. Heartburn and reflux, particularly after meals or lying down. Vivid dreams and disrupted sleep. Nosebleeds and bleeding gums from increased blood volume.

Worth mentioning at your next appointment

Persistent lower back pain that doesn’t ease with rest. Constipation that isn’t responding to fibre and fluids. Itchy skin without a rash, especially on your palms and soles — this can occasionally signal a liver condition called ICP and is worth flagging.

Call sooner rather than later

Sudden swelling in your face or hands, severe headache that won’t lift, vision changes, sharp pain under your ribs, reduced movement from baby after you’d normally expect to feel them, any vaginal bleeding, or a fever. These aren’t meant to scare you — they’re just the shortlist worth acting on quickly rather than waiting it out.

A note from Maya

A huge part of my job as a midwife is reassurance — most days, most symptoms are completely unremarkable. But "just call and check" costs you five minutes and saves you a sleepless night of googling. Use your provider for exactly that.