Pregnancy is a beautiful period and process that every mother should enjoy while looking forward to welcoming her babies. However, it does come at a price.
Several women experience different forms of discomfort during pregnancy, leading to anxiety. While some may be fleeting, others may last for longer periods. Some could be experienced early in pregnancy, some later or even closer to delivery, and others may emerge earlier, go away and later return.
In this article, we will be highlighting several discomforts a pregnant woman may experience, causes, and simple relief measures.
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Types of Pregnancy Discomforts
The are several discomforts that pregnant women experience. 25 of them are listed below but are not limited to the following:
- Morning sickness (nausea and vomiting)
- Breast swelling and tenderness
- Fatigue
- Frequent urination
- Headaches and migraines
- Abdominal pain
- Backaches
- Wrist pain
- Leg cramps
- Constipation
- Reflux/heartburn/indigestion
- Varicose veins
- Hemorrhoids
- Bloating
- Edema (swelling/fluid retention)
- Mood swings
- Chloasma (mask of pregnancy or skin color changes)
- Stretch marks
- Insomnia
- Pica
- Yeast infections
- Bleeding gums and toothaches
- Dizziness
- Body aches
- Nasal congestion
Causes of Pregnancy Discomforts
Discomforts may be experienced in all the trimesters. Hence, their causes vary depending on the age of the pregnancy. Additionally, some discomforts may lead to other discomforts.
The following are causes of the various pregnancy discomforts mentioned above:
- Hormonal changes- morning sickness (nausea and vomiting), frequent urination in the first trimester, headaches and migraines, constipation, mood swings, chloasma, insomnia, yeast infections, and nasal congestion.
- Increased energy requirements of growing baby- fatigue
- Anemia- fatigue, dizziness
- Increased pressure by growing baby on several parts of the body- abdominal pain (ligaments of the uterus and groin), backaches(back), leg cramps (legs), constipation (intestines), reflux/heartburn/indigestion (stomach and intestines), hemorrhoids (rectum), varicose veins (legs and pelvic veins), edema (blood vessels), frequent urination later in pregnancy (bladder),
- Increased breast size and milk ducts- breast swelling and tenderness
- Weight gain- stretch marks
- Increased blood flow- bleeding gums, congested and bloody nose
- Constipation- abdominal pain
- Stress and fatigue- headaches and migraines, mood swings
- Insomnia- headaches and migraines
- Braxton Hicks contractions- abdominal pain
- Increased vaginal discharge- yeast infections
- Dehydration- headaches and migraines, body aches
- Nausea- insomnia
- Frequent urination at night- insomnia
- Heartburn- insomnia
- Low blood pressure- headaches and migraines, dizziness
- Fluid retention- wrist pain
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level)- headaches and migraines, dizziness
- Nutritional deficiencies- pica
- Medications- constipation
- Pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure and protein in the urine)- severe edema, strong headaches
Recommendations
The following measures help prevent and relieve the pregnancy discomforts you may feel.
- Modify your diet and dietary habits
- Eat dry foods like crackers, cereal, and toast to prevent nausea
- Add the BRAT (bananas, rice, and tea) and bland food to your diet if you feel extremely nauseated.
- If you always feel nauseous in the morning, eat a high-protein snack before going to bed.
- Avoid spicy, fried, fatty, and oily foods.
- Avoid foods high in salt/sodium.
- Eat foods high in fiber, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to prevent bloating and constipation.
- Eat small meals and snacks every 2-3 hours.
- Eat slowly.
- Avoid coffee, tea, colas, and other caffeinated drinks to help reduce frequent urination.
- Drink warm fluids.
- Drink lots of fluid at least 6-8 glasses of water and 1-2 glasses of fruit or prune juice. Don't rush them, instead sip on fluid throughout the day. This helps to prevent nausea, dehydration and constipation, and headaches.
- Get plenty of rest and sleep. Lying on your left side, a warm shower, elevating the head of the bed, and using extra pillows to support your abdomen, back and knees can help you get better sleep. Eat 2-3 hours before sleeping and do not lie down immediately after eating. Ensure you sleep on a firm bed as well.
- Get adequate exercise and be physically active.
- Avoid staying in a position (standing or sitting) for too long. Elevate your legs when possible.
- Maintain good posture when sitting, standing, and sleeping.
- Wear light, loose-fitting, and comfortable clothes and underwear.
- Wear well-fitting (not tight or loose), comfortable, and low-heeled shoes.
- Apply ice to relieve pain.
- Avoid sudden movements.
- Brush your teeth, floss regularly, and rinse daily with an antiseptic mouthwash.
- Bathe daily and apply lotion to prevent dryness and irritation.
- Apply heat (warm compress, hot water bottle, or heating pad) where necessary.
- Try massage for pain.
- Practice good vaginal hygiene. Do not douche and wipe from front to back.
- Medications may be prescribed by your physician. Please consult with your doctor before using any medication.
- See your doctor if symptoms are severe or worrisome.
Worried about something? Contact us
At My Virtual Physician, we help you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. We are also available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise.
Additionally, we are in network with many insurance health plans including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
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