Signs and Symptoms to Worry About at 14 Weeks Pregnant

When you are 14 weeks pregnant, you have just completed your first trimester.

While more miscarriages occur in the first trimester than at any other time, pregnancy complications can still develop after this time. Recognizing signs of potential problems can help you decide if medical help is necessary and when to seek it.

Bleeding

Bleeding at any point in a pregnancy can be a sign of possible miscarriage and should be reported to your physician. The risk of miscarriage drops dramatically, however, after 12 weeks; 10 to 20 percent of recognized pregnancies end in miscarriage, but only 1 to 5 percent occur after week 13, according to the November 2007 issue of "American Family Physician." Report any red bleeding at 14 weeks to your physician immediately to rule out miscarriage.

Upper Abdominal Pain

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Causes of Pain in the Upper Abdomen While Pregnant

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Several disorders can cause upper abdominal pain in pregnancy, but gallstones are a likely cause, especially if the pain occurs after eating a fatty meal and affects mostly your right upper abdomen. Gallstones form more often in pregnancy because of increased cholesterol production and decreased motility of the gallbladder, which creates a sludge that can eventually lead to stone formation. Between 4.5 to 12 percent of pregnant women have gallstones, according to a March 2000 article published in "Surgical Endoscopy."

As many as 33 percent of these will require surgical removal after developing abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or complications, such as acute pancreatitis from gallstones. If surgical treatment becomes necessary, it can lead to pregnancy loss or preterm labor.

Severe Nausea and Vomiting

Let your doctor know if you are losing weight or not able to keep food or water down at 14 weeks of pregnancy. Many women experience some nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, but when it becomes severe, the condition is referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum, which is characterized by dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and weight loss. It affects up to 2.3 percent of women in pregnancy, "Reviews in Obstetrics and Gynecology" reports. In up to 5 percent of cases, hospitalization is required to maintain adequate hydration and nutrition.

Pain While Urinating

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Cesarean Wound Complications

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Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are common in pregnancy. Approximately 8 percent of pregnant women experience at least one, according to the February 2000 issue of "American Family Physician."

Because your immune system is suppressed during pregnancy, you are at greater risk for infection in general. The bladder and ureters, which carry urine from the bladder to the urethra, also lose muscle tone during pregnancy, which means the bladder empties less effectively. This allows bacteria to multiply more easily. Urinary tract infections can increase the risk of preterm delivery; let your doctor know immediately if you have burning or pain upon urination or pressure over the pubic bone.

An untreated UTI can also lead to a kidney infection, which may require hospitalization. Antibiotics are used to treat UTI.

Ectopic Pregnancy Symptoms

An undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy -- a pregnancy that grows outside the uterus, most often in the fallopian tubes -- can rupture between 12 and 16 weeks into a pregnancy, according to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy include abdominal pain, weakness or fainting from internal blood loss and low blood pressure, shoulder pain or vaginal bleeding. A ruptured ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency, so seek immediate medical attention for these symptoms.

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