There
are ranges of complaints when it comes to pregnancy, ranging from making you
uncomfortable to being quite painful. Understand that these complaints are all
very normal.
are ranges of complaints when it comes to pregnancy, ranging from making you
uncomfortable to being quite painful. Understand that these complaints are all
very normal.
·
Acne during pregnancy
Acne during pregnancy
·
Backache
Backache
·
Constipation
Constipation
·
Frequent urination
Frequent urination
·
Headaches and migraines
Headaches and migraines
·
Heartburn and reflux
Heartburn and reflux
·
Sciatic-nerve pain
Sciatic-nerve pain
·
Swollen ankles, feet and fingers
Swollen ankles, feet and fingers
·
Tiredness
Tiredness
1.
Backache
Backache
As your baby grows, your
ligaments loosen to prepare your body for the birth. This, combined with the
fact that the strain from altered posture can also exacerbate your discomfort.
Experiencing backache during pregnancy is very common and affects most pregnant
women at some stage. Backache will often feel worse at night.
ligaments loosen to prepare your body for the birth. This, combined with the
fact that the strain from altered posture can also exacerbate your discomfort.
Experiencing backache during pregnancy is very common and affects most pregnant
women at some stage. Backache will often feel worse at night.
The best ways to reduce
backache are to:
backache are to:
·
Avoid prolonged standing
Avoid prolonged standing
·
Make sure your chair is
comfortable and has good back support
Make sure your chair is
comfortable and has good back support
·
Rest regularly, even for a
short time, and try to keep your legs elevated
Rest regularly, even for a
short time, and try to keep your legs elevated
·
Avoid heavy lifting
Avoid heavy lifting
2.
Constipation
Constipation
Constipation
is also common in early pregnancy, brought on by two changes in your body.
Increased hormones, whereby your body produces progesterone, which relaxes the
smooth muscles of the intestinal wall and stomach, resulting in a slow down of
digestion, and your blood volume increasing. If you don’t drink enough fluids
to keep up with the increase in blood volume, you will experience dehydration
which causes constipation.
is also common in early pregnancy, brought on by two changes in your body.
Increased hormones, whereby your body produces progesterone, which relaxes the
smooth muscles of the intestinal wall and stomach, resulting in a slow down of
digestion, and your blood volume increasing. If you don’t drink enough fluids
to keep up with the increase in blood volume, you will experience dehydration
which causes constipation.
Speak to
the doctor if constipation continues; do not take laxatives with speaking to
your doctor.
the doctor if constipation continues; do not take laxatives with speaking to
your doctor.
3. Cramps
Experiencing
muscle cramps in your feet, thighs or legs are extremely common during
pregnancy. The exact reason for this is not known, although it is suspected
that the expansion of the uterus may put pressure on the nerves and blood
vessels in the leg, causing leg cramps and some occasional pain.
muscle cramps in your feet, thighs or legs are extremely common during
pregnancy. The exact reason for this is not known, although it is suspected
that the expansion of the uterus may put pressure on the nerves and blood
vessels in the leg, causing leg cramps and some occasional pain.
If a
cramp strikes, try stretching the affected limb or muscle. Straighten your leg
with your toes coming towards you. Diet can make a difference, too. Some
nutritionists believe that calcium, potassium and phosphorous supplements can
relieve the cramping but make sure you speak to your doctor before taking any
supplement. A healthy diet, including fresh fruit and green leafy vegetables,
plus enough calcium-rich foods, such as milk, cheese or yoghurt, will also
help.
cramp strikes, try stretching the affected limb or muscle. Straighten your leg
with your toes coming towards you. Diet can make a difference, too. Some
nutritionists believe that calcium, potassium and phosphorous supplements can
relieve the cramping but make sure you speak to your doctor before taking any
supplement. A healthy diet, including fresh fruit and green leafy vegetables,
plus enough calcium-rich foods, such as milk, cheese or yoghurt, will also
help.
4. Frequent Urination
During
the first trimester of your pregnancy, the need to go to the toilet regularly
is caused by hormonal changes. In later pregnancy, it will be because of the
increasing size and weight of your baby pressuring the bladder.
the first trimester of your pregnancy, the need to go to the toilet regularly
is caused by hormonal changes. In later pregnancy, it will be because of the
increasing size and weight of your baby pressuring the bladder.
5. Heartburn and Reflux
Heartburn
discomfort is one of the most common complaints of pregnancy. Heartburn is
defined as a burning sensation in the middle of your chest; it often occurs
after eating. One may also experience an acid or bitter taste in your mouth and
increased pain when you bend over or lie down. During the first trimester,
nearly 25% of all pregnant women have heartburn, increasing in the third
trimester.
discomfort is one of the most common complaints of pregnancy. Heartburn is
defined as a burning sensation in the middle of your chest; it often occurs
after eating. One may also experience an acid or bitter taste in your mouth and
increased pain when you bend over or lie down. During the first trimester,
nearly 25% of all pregnant women have heartburn, increasing in the third
trimester.
·
Try raising the head of
your bed by about 15cm by propping yourself up on pillows
Try raising the head of
your bed by about 15cm by propping yourself up on pillows
·
Avoid late nights meals/snacks
Avoid late nights meals/snacks
·
Avoid spicy and acidic
foods
Avoid spicy and acidic
foods
6.
Swollen Ankles, Feet and Fingers
Swollen Ankles, Feet and Fingers
Around 80
percent of women will experience swelling of this kind. With extra fluid in
your body during pregnancy.
percent of women will experience swelling of this kind. With extra fluid in
your body during pregnancy.
7.
Oedema/Water Retention
Oedema/Water Retention
During pregnancy, there is
increased fluids level in the body. This can present itself as swelling and
puffiness. Particularly around the feet and ankles. The likelihood of water
retention increases towards the end of the pregnancy. Water retention can be uncomfortable.
increased fluids level in the body. This can present itself as swelling and
puffiness. Particularly around the feet and ankles. The likelihood of water
retention increases towards the end of the pregnancy. Water retention can be uncomfortable.
8.
Stretch Marks
Stretch Marks
The skin around the abdomen
has to stretch during pregnancy to accommodate the growing baby in the uterus. The
skin fibres weaken as they stretch resulting in red spidery stretch marks which
can occur in the abdomen, thigh and breast.
has to stretch during pregnancy to accommodate the growing baby in the uterus. The
skin fibres weaken as they stretch resulting in red spidery stretch marks which
can occur in the abdomen, thigh and breast.
9.
Varicose Vein
Varicose Vein
Hormonal changes that cause
a relaxation of the valves within your veins together with an increased blood
volume and the additional weight of the baby can cause irreparable damage to
the valves in your veins particularly in the legs, but can also occur in the
anus and vulva.
a relaxation of the valves within your veins together with an increased blood
volume and the additional weight of the baby can cause irreparable damage to
the valves in your veins particularly in the legs, but can also occur in the
anus and vulva.
