Second Trimester Red Flags: 9 Danger Signs of Pregnancy You Shouldn’t Ignore

You might face some danger signs of pregnancy in the second trimester.

The second trimester is typically one of the women’s best phases during pregnancy. It reduces vomiting and the risk of miscarriage. Also, they don’t feel the same pain that’s inevitable during the second trimester.

However, despite its positive scenarios, the second trimester can still raise some red flags and cause more than one physical issue. Sometimes, it can result in difficult health conditions.

9 Danger Signs of Pregnancy in the Second Trimester

A few common danger signs of the second trimester include a vaginal discharge, lower abdominal pain, pelvic pressure, or abdominal cramps.

In this article, we have explored the most common issues one may face during the second trimester of their pregnancy. Read for more

1. Bleeding

Typically, most women don’t face miscarriage in the second trimester of their pregnancy. However, it’s still possible. The first warning sign is vaginal bleeding.

Spotting, vaginal bleeding, and passing clots are among the most common symptoms of miscarriage at this point.

The most common signs that may cause pregnancy complications during the second trimester include the following –

Uterine Septum: is a wall inside the uterus that divides into two parts.

Incompetent cervix: when the cervix opens soon, it can cause early birth for the baby.

Autoimmune Disease: it’s also possible for women to develop lupus or scleroderma during the second trimester of their pregnancy. This condition starts when the immune system starts to attack the healthy cells.

However, there are other reasons why pregnant women may face bleeding during their second trimester. For example –

Early labor placenta-related problems are also among the reasons for some women to have bleeding issues in the second trimester. However, these issues are more common during the third trimester of pregnancy.

If you are having any bleeding problems during the second trimester of your pregnancy, it’s best to seek medical help as soon as possible. Your doctor might recommend bed rest until the bleeding stops.

2. Preeclampsia

Although preeclampsia develops in much later phases of pregnancy, it’s not impossible to have it during the second trimester. It typically happens around the time of the 20th week of gestation, which is typically the second stage of pregnancy.

However, in the third trimester, the chances of having preeclampsia are common.

Key points about preeclampsia and the second trimester:

• Preeclampsia is one of the dangerous signs of pregnancy in the second trimester. It’s less common, but it’s not impossible, especially when someone is dealing with a high-risk pregnancy.
• If there are any signs of preeclampsia during the second trimester, the healthcare providers must maintain a close monitoring practice.
• Some warning signs that you must watch out for are headaches, vision changes, sudden weight gain, and sudden and severe levels of swelling of the fingers, face, and ankles are part of this as well.

3. Preterm Labor

Preterm labor during the second trimester typically indicates going into labor early during pregnancy. It means that you are experiencing uterine contractions during this phase. It can appear during the 14th to 37th week of pregnancy, during the second trimester.

Here are some key points to remember if you are going into labor during the second trimester of pregnancy –

• Regular contractions with cervical changes happening before 37 weeks’ gestation.
• The pregnant woman might feel an abdominal tightening, pelvic pressure, and increasing levels of vaginal discharge.  Backache and mild cramps are also among some common symptoms.

Concerns

Preterm labor is one of the danger signs of pregnancy in the second trimester, and it can often be complicated. Babies may have other health complications that can prevent their normal growth with early delivery.

4. Premature Rupture of Membranes

Here’s one of the danger signs of pregnancy in the second trimester – PROM, Or Premature rupture of membranes, is a serious second-trimester pregnancy concern that significantly increases the chance of pregnancy loss.

This type of pregnancy complication deserves close monitoring from healthcare professionals. , making medically difficult decisions is Often part of the recovery and management process. Sometimes, it may come down to termination of pregnancy based on the fetal viability and gestational age.

Under such situations, a consultation with the perinatologist is critical.

5. Infection

Infections can also happen during the second trimester of pregnancy. It’s something that can affect both the mother and the baby. Some common infections that happen during pregnancy include–

Vaginal infection: it causes vaginal discharge, which has a strong smell and comes with unusual colors. It can also be accompanied by itching, vaginal infection, etc. Yeast infections are also quite common during this time.

UTI: Urinary Tract Infection is another infection that can cause discomfort during the second trimester of pregnancy. It can cause you to have a strong urge to urinate.  Urinating also isn’t easy with UTI. Women tend to have a strong and sharp sensation when trying to urinate with UTI. Fever and backache are also common. If left untreated, UTI can lead to kidney issues later on.

Hepatitis B: Another common infection during the second trimester is Hepatitis B. If you get this infection during the second trimester, there’s a chance for you to pass it on to the child as well.

6. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

One or more upper reproductive organs may get infected during the second trimester of pregnancy. It can infect the fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus, etc. PID is something that can cause permanent damage if it is kept untreated for a long time.

However, there are other infections like Bacterial Vaginosis or Sexually transmitted infections during pregnancy. Toxoplasmosis and Zika Virus are common types of infections that can interrupt pregnancy.

7. Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Hyperemesis gravidarum refers to a severe type of nausea and vomiting. It can continue during the second trimester of pregnancy and significantly affect the health of a woman.

It can meddle with their daily life and can potentially lead to conditions where they need medical intervention.

The signs and symptoms of the infection can cause women to face severe levels of dehydration and malnutrition. Women often experience their morning sickness improving during the second trimester. However, with Hyperemesis gravidarum, it can persist. Also, if it still stands in the later pregnancy stages, HG can cause serious complications.

Here are the key things you must know about HG –

• The most common symptoms of HG include morning sickness, frequent vomiting, and an inability to keep the food down. A significant level of weight loss is also possible due to constant vomiting and dehydration.
• Second-trimester HG can also lead to placental abruption and preterm delivery.

When someone is experiencing severe levels of nausea and vomiting in the second trimester, it’s best to get them checked for placental abruption.

8. Gestational Diabetes

Pregnant women can be at risk of developing gestational diabetes during the 2nd or third trimester of their pregnancy. This complication results from women producing less insulin during pregnancy than their body requires.

You can be screened for GD, especially during the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy.

9. Ectopic Pregnancy

It’s extremely rare for women to have Ectopic pregnancy during the second trimester. It’s a type of complication that carries significant chances of maternal mortality. Ectopic pregnancy is associated with severe levels of internal bleeding when the pregnancy site ruptures.

Most of the pregnancies are diagnosed and treated during the first trimester itself. Ectopic pregnancy can develop in this phase by a tiny percentage.

Conclusion

The second trimester shouldn’t bring difficult circumstances for pregnant women. However, that’s not always the case. Some women can face mild to severe health issues, mentioned in this article.

If you face any of the eight health issues discussed in this article, talk with your healthcare provider immediately. They should help you out with the right direction for your treatment. Thank you for reading.

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