Common symptoms and signs during pregnancy

During pregnancy, a woman may notice the development of a number of new symptoms. Many of these are widely accepted as a normal part of uncomplicated pregnancy but others may be of more concern. The anatomical and physiological changes that accompany normal pregnancy are profound, and it is therefore not surprising that as the various systems adapt, which can result in changes that overlap with those seen in disease. Additionally, sub-clinical disease can be unmasked during pregnancy, when the physiological adaptation to pregnancy provides an additional stress test.Common symptoms may include palpitations, dyspnoea, peripheral oedema, nausea, vomiting and pruritus. Underlying alterations in major organs can explain a large number of symptoms and signs, which are benign. It is prudent that clinicians are aware of those symptoms and signs that warrant further investigation and that may be associated with disease. Furthermore, biochemical and haematological variables may also be altered in pregnancy, and this should be taken into account when interpreting blood results.