When the elation of finding out that you are finally pregnant wears off and you start to feel your body changing right under your skin, you may also have a slight sense of panic. What can you do to make sure this pregnancy starts and stays healthy? Will you know when to get help and if you really need it?

Recognizing a true emergency is not the hard part; learning to listen to your body for clues to prevent becoming ill is far more difficult.

Why? Stated simply, busy women who are used to doing at least four things at a time – and you know who you are – often do not take the time to really listen to their own bodies. Working through meals, pushing ourselves harder and faster when working out, ignoring fatigue to accomplish one last thing, we expect our bodies to forgive us. During pregnancy, however, our bodies' limits become starkly palpable. And disobeying those limits can become dangerous. So start listening – your body is saying something.

Your body communicates its limits with you by raising a few red flags. These are the symptoms you have to watch out for, because they mean you need to slow down and pay more attention to your body:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Shortness of breath or feeling like you can't catch your breath
• Chest pain
• Lightheadedness
• Muscle weakness
• Vaginal spotting or bleeding
• Back or pelvic discomfort
• Belly pain
• Contractions or tightening across your belly
• Decreased fetal movement

Take a break, drink some water and feel if the symptoms are persisting or easing off. Simply not feeling quite right is enough of an excuse to take a breather and listen more closely to your body.

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