Pregnancy
Discomforts during Pregnancy
Physical and emotional changes are continuous during pregnancy, from those causing hormonal changes and mood swings to the most evident changes, your body shape and the size of your uterus. However, those shifts in your hormonal levels and overall metabolism contribute to other physical and emotional discomforts.
Discomforts of pregnancy are common, but not all pregnant woman experiences them. You can suffer from one, several or none of them. Eating well can lessen any discomfort helping your body cope with the daily stress that pregnancy produces, so pay special attention to good nutrition for a healthy and comfortable pregnancy.
The most common discomforts reported by a large number of pregnant women include:
- Backache
- Hormonal changes
- Mood swings
- Stress and anxiety
- Depression
- Breast changes
- Muscle cramps
- Flat or inverted nipples
- Nausea and vomiting (morning sickness)
- Constipation
- Nose bleeds
- Bleeding gums
- Hemorrhoids
- Sciatica or pelvic discomfort
- Frequent urination
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty sleeping
- Skin changes
- Fatigue
- Stretch marks
- Headache and migraine
- Sleep disorders
- Stuffy nose
- Food or chemical allergies
- Heart pounding
- Feet, legs and hands swelling
- Heartburn and indigestion
- Intestinal gas
- Vaginal discharge
- Vaginal yeast infections
- Dizziness (Lightheadedness)
- Varicose Veins
- Spider Veins
- Braxton Hicks contractions
Most of these and other discomforts occur only during one trimester of pregnancy, while others may appear only during the last stage, or remain all the time and until after delivery. Discomforts may be relieved by observing your doctor's advice or practicing good posture and habits, adjusting your lifestyle, following an exercising program, wearing supportive shoes and lose clothing, etc…
Some discomfort can be prevented by avoiding standing for long periods of time or eating determined food that triggers the discomfort. Rest during pregnancy can alleviate many of those related to hormonal changes, affecting your emotional well-being. Avoid all medications if they are not prescribed by your health care provider.
During pregnancy, there is no medicine that can be recommended as 100% safe, including those over-the-counter medications that could seem harmless, such as ibuprofen and aspirin. Skin care is important to prevent or relieve related discomforts, so avoid soap in sensitive areas of your body, because soap tends to dry out the skin.
Drinking plenty of fluids and water during pregnancy to help keep healthy skin, and also to maintain your body's hydration, which will alleviate a large number of discomforts and preventing other conditions such as gestational diabetes. If you suffer from this or any other chronic health condition or your discomfort is severe or does not go away, contact your doctor right away. |
