Sometimes it can be hard to tell when you’re overreacting, especially when the OBGYN’s make comments like, “You’re pregnant, of course you’re ____ (swollen, uncomfortable, etc.)”…it makes it hard to want to tell them something just doesn’t feel “right”. But, I agree with you 100%, always tell the doctors when something feels “off”!

The only thing I would add to Sara’s excellent summary is this: if you are pregnant, and you just feel terrible overall, even without being able to name a specific problem like a headache, please, please contact your doctor right away. Don’t worry about overreacting: it could save your life. I had a type of preeclampsia called HELLP syndrome that would normally produce significant abdominal or upper body pain–which I never had. I just started to feel truly awful while giving a business presentation (in a very warm room, in July). To this day I still can’t describe it very well–a little short of breath, but mostly just a feeling like my body was going to stop functioning, which was about exactly the case. Then I felt better after resting. If my doctor had not been a very careful person who ordered some blood tests, I don’t think I would be here to tell this story. Please don’t hesitate, make that call!