Pregnant women have been urged to take any unusual changes in their bodies seriously and seek immediate medical attention to prevent complications.
Speaking on Plan B FM’s Nyansapo Fie Show hosted by Akosua Gyamfua, guest Miss Rashida Assan; A Midwife from Tema Urban Hospital, spoke on the topic “Danger signs in pregnancy.”Midwife Rashida Assan highlighted some key danger signs that expectant mothers should never ignore during pregnancy. She identified vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, severe headaches accompanied by dizziness or blurred vision, difficulty breathing, and severe fever or unusual weakness as major warning signs.
According to her, although some level of weakness may occur during pregnancy, excessive weakness or feeling seriously unwell requires medical attention. She advised pregnant women to report to the nearest hospital when such symptoms occur, even if it is not their usual health facility, so that urgent care can be provided before they continue to their main hospital.
Midwife Assan also cautioned women to pay close attention to fluid leaking from the vagina, particularly when they notice their underwear becoming wet unexpectedly. She explained that the fluid could be the water surrounding the baby and may lead to complications if medical attention is delayed. She further mentioned reduced or unusual fetal movement, signs of labour, and excessive swelling of the legs as other situations that should be reported to a health facility. She further advised pregnant women to monitor their baby’s movements, noting that they should pay attention to the baby’s kicking and report any unusual reduction or change in movement. She stated that by around 20 weeks, a pregnant woman should begin to feel the baby move, and encouraged expectant mothers to monitor the baby’s movements regularly. She advised women to seek medical attention even when they experience a worrying symptom that was not specifically mentioned during the discussion.
She further stressed that fits, convulsions or seizure-like episodes during pregnancy are medical emergencies and require immediate transportation to a hospital. She urged family members and anyone around a pregnant woman experiencing such symptoms to act quickly rather than waiting for the condition to resolve. She also reminded expectant mothers that their health directly affects the wellbeing of their unborn babies, making it important to avoid unnecessary stress and report anything that makes them feel uncomfortable or concerned.
Midwife Assan encouraged pregnant women to adhere to their antenatal appointments. She also advised them to keep their pregnancy record book with them and, when necessary, use it to seek care at the nearest health facility. Her key message was simple: when in doubt, seek medical attention rather than waiting for a condition to become serious.
By: Anita Arthur
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