By KARAN MINNIS, Guardian Lifestyles Reporter

When Deidre Wong first got pregnant with her daughter Kayla over one year ago her first reaction was excitement. However as time went on, she developed many moments of concern. "My main concern was losing my baby," says Wong. "I had people around me who had lost their own and I didn't want that to happen to me.

I was excited but as soon as I found out I was nervous. I was nervous the whole time. I was concerned about my baby's health. I was worried if my child would be okay, if she would be able to hear and see properly and I was worked up about illnesses. I wanted my child to be normal and healthy. So I tried to read a lot of books and to get as much information as I could."

Wong also asked many questions.

"All of my questions were centered around my daughter's health," she says. "I knew I was doing everything I could to make sure she was healthy but I was still concerned. I didn't want to miss anything out. So if I had a question I asked. But in the end I didn't have any major problems and my baby is health."

Dr Leon Dupuch, a gynecologist/obstetrician, says Wong's reactions were all normal.

"It's very natural for mothers to get concerned about their unborn children," he says. "Once pregnant most women will take the time to pay closer attention to their bodies and will take better care of themselves as the pregnancy heightens their concern for themselves and for their baby."

He says that makes a big difference when it comes down to the health of your baby.

"Once pregnant, it is important for women get caught up by their body's transformation," he says. "This why they can be aware of any signs of trouble. This way when the unexpected occurs you can get prompt treatment to protect your baby. You see sometimes only you can recognize the first signs of trouble. With my patients the most common concern is the ability to become pregnant in the first place. Then comes the questions about sex, the possibility of abnormalities and the delivery process.

"However these are just some of the concerns," he says. "During pregnancy many things can go wrong. For example you have a miscarriage or you have a complicated pregnancy signaled by major back pains or even high blood pressure."

Stating that these issues could mean any number of things, Dr. Dupuch says when they occur patients should contact their doctor.

"These are all warning signs that something could be wrong," he says. "But sometimes mothers to be do jump the gun. For example some mothers get concerned about lack of baby movement too early. It isn't until after the 20th week of pregnancy that you should feel your baby kick. At 25 weeks you should feel it kick at least four times over a one-hour period. At that point if your baby ever seems unusually still, you may want to eat something and lie quietly on your side, paying close attention to your baby's movements. If you notice fewer than 10 movements in two hours, contact your doctor right away because the baby may be in distress. But before that point you really shouldn't worry.

"Another warning sign can be vaginal bleeding. However I don't think you should be alarmed if you have a little bit of spotting early in your pregnancy. This is common and could be insignificant, but still you should always tell your doctor about it because your doctor will need to evaluate you in case there is something wrong. Also if your bleeding is accompanied by cramps or if you're bleeding as heavily as you do when you have your period, contact your doctor immediately. You may be having a miscarriage.

"However in early pregnancy, it's not uncommon for women to experience a small amount of bleeding, cramping or low abdominal pain, nausea, breast tenderness, or back pain. But, in some cases, these may also be signs of an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs in one of the fallopian tubes instead of in the uterus. Ectopic pregnancies are considered a medical emergency, so if you have irregular vaginal bleeding, pain in the lower abdomen (often on one side) followed by severe pelvic pain, and/or shoulder pain, it's important to call your doctor right away."

Stating that it is common for women to spot a little in the second trimester, especially after sex, Dr Dupuch says this is more concerning during this point.

"Bleeding late in the second trimester or in the third trimester is especially concerning, because it may be a sign of placenta previa, a potentially dangerous condition in which the placenta covers the cervix," he says. "If the bleeding is accompanied by cramping or stomach pain, the placenta may have separated from the uterine wall [causing] a serious condition called placental abruption. Depending on the diagnosis, you may urgently need hospitalization."

Another major concern is cramping.

"In most cases cramping is normal because your uterus has to expand early in your pregnancy, so a little cramping is completely normal. Therefore you shouldn't worry about cramps in the first month or so unless they cause severe pain or are accompanied by bleeding. This is because severe cramping and bleeding in the first trimester may signal an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage."

Stating that after the 20th week, menstrual-like cramps or stomach cramps, with or without diarrhea, may mean you're going into premature labor, which is a medical emergency Dr. Dupuch says other signs of premature labor include contractions that are less than 15 minutes apart, a dull backache, a feeling of pressure in the pelvis, and a change in vaginal discharge.

"This one is major," he says. "So if you think you're going into labor, get medical help immediately.

"Another serious complication can be high blood pressure. If your blood pressure is over 140/90, or if you have a sudden, dramatic increase in blood pressure -- that is, either an increase of 30 millimeters in the top number of your blood pressure (systolic), or 15 millimeters in the bottom number of your blood pressure reading (diastolic) — you may have preeclampsia, which is pregnancy-induced high blood pressure. Other signs or symptoms of preeclampsia may include elevated protein levels in your urine, visual changes and abdominal pain. A weight gain of more than five pounds in one week may also be an important first clue that you might be developing preeclampsia. However you don't have to have all of these symptoms, to be diagnosed with preeclampsia. Therefore it's important to call your doctor immediately if you have one or more of these signs."

Adding that you can never be too careful in pregnancy, Dr. Dupuch says if you are concerned about anything as a patient and a mother to be you should call your doctor and/or report immediately to the hospital for assistance.

"You never want to put you or your baby's life in danger," he says. "So to avoid it be proactive and if you notice anything alarming, no matter how small, report it to your doctor. It can save your life."

Here are a few other signs of trouble that mothers to be should watch out for. Dr. Dupuch says if any of the listed occurs, please contact your doctor or report to the hospital immediately:

* Vaginal discharge, itching, genital sores, or warts. These could be signs of a treatable vaginal infection.

* Severe headache or blurry vision. This could be a sign of high blood pressure or preeclampsia.

* Fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit. A high temperature, especially with chills or fever, can be a sign of an infection.

* Severe nausea or vomiting. These symptoms can also be a sign of preeclampsia. Vomiting can also lead to dehydration.

* Burning sensation or pain when urinating. These are possible signs of a bladder infection, which can lead to premature labor. Urinating smaller amounts than usual is also a warning sign that something may be wrong.

* Constant, severe headache.