Body aches as the uterus expands, may feel aches and pains in the back, abdomen, groin area, and thighs. Many pregnant women complain of dizziness and lightheadedness throughout their pregnancies.
Body aches as the uterus expands, may feel aches and pains in the back, abdomen, groin area, and thighs. Many pregnant women complain of dizziness and lightheadedness throughout their pregnancies.
Body aches as the uterus expands, may feel aches and pains in the back, abdomen, groin area, and thighs. Many pregnant women complain of dizziness and lightheadedness throughout their pregnancies.
Lie down. Rest. Apply heat. Body aches As the uterus expands, may feel aches and pains in the back, abdomen, groin area, and thighs. Many women also have backaches and aching near the pelvic bone due the pressure of the baby's head, increased weight, and loosening oints. !ome pregnant women complain of pain that runs from the lower back, down the back of one leg, to the knee or foot. "his is called sciatica #!$%&A"&ick&uh'. (t is thought to occur when the uterus puts pressure on the sciatic nerve. )ear a maternity bra with good support. *ut pads in bra to absorb leakage. Breast changes A woman's breasts increase in si+e and fullness during pregnancy. As the due date approaches, hormone changes will cause breasts to get even bigger to prepare for breastfeeding. "he breasts may feel full, heavy, or tender. (n the third trimester, some pregnant women begin to leak colostrum from their breasts. ,olostrum is the first milk that breasts produce for the baby. (t is a thick, yellowish fluid containing antibodies that protect newborns from infection. -rink eight to ./ glasses of water daily. -on't drink caffeine. %at fiber&rich foods, such as fresh or dried fruit, raw vegetables, and whole&grain cereals and breads. "ry mild physical activity. Constipation Many pregnant women complain of constipation. !igns of constipation include having hard, dry stools0 fewer than three bowel movements per week0 and painful bowel movements. 1igher levels of hormones due to pregnancy slow down digestion and relax muscles in the bowels leaving many women constipated. *lus, the pressure of the expanding uterus on the bowels can contribute to constipation. !tand up slowly. Avoid standing for too long. -on't skip meals. Lie on your left side. )ear loose clothing. Dizziness Many pregnant women complain of di++iness and lightheadedness throughout their pregnancies. 2ainting is rare but does happen even in some healthy pregnant women. "here are many reasons for these symptoms. "he growth of more blood vessels in early pregnancy, the pressure of the expanding uterus on blood vessels, and the body's increased need for food all can make a pregnant woman feel lightheaded and di++y. Lie on your left side. 3se pillows for support, such as behind back, tucked between your knees, and under tummy. *ractice good sleep habits, such as going to bed and getting up at the same time each day "ry to go to bed a little earlier. 4ap if you are not able to get enough sleep at night. -rink needed fluids earlier in the day, so you can drink less in the hours before bed. Fatigue, sleep problems -uring pregnancy, might feel tired even after had a lot of sleep. Many women find they're exhausted in the first trimester. this is normal5 "his is your body's way of telling that you need more rest. (n the second trimester, tiredness is usually replaced with a feeling of well being and energy. 6ut in the third trimester, exhaustion often sets in again. As you get larger, sleeping may become more difficult. "he baby's movements, bathroom runs, and an increase in the body's metabolism might interrupt or disturb your sleep. Leg cramping can also interfere with a good night's sleep. %at several small meals instead of three large meals 7 eat slowly. -rink fluids between meals 7 not with meals. -on't eat greasy and fried foods. Avoid citrus fruits or uices and spicy foods. -o not eat or drink within a few hours of bedtime. -o not lie down right after meals. Heartburn and indigestion 1ormones and the pressure of the growing uterus cause indigestion and heartburn. *regnancy hormones slow down the muscles of the digestive tract. !o food tends to move more slowly and digestion is sluggish. "his causes many pregnant women to feel bloated. 1ormones also relax the valve that separates the esophagus from the stomach. "his allows food and acids to come back up from the stomach to the esophagus. "he food and acid causes the burning feeling of heartburn. As your baby gets bigger, the uterus pushes on the stomach making heartburn more common in later pregnancy. -rink lots of fluids. %at fiber&rich foods, like whole grains, raw or cooked leafy green vegetables, and fruits. "ry not to strain with bowel movements. "alk to your doctor about using products such as witch ha+el to soothe hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids 1emorrhoids are swollen and bulging veins in the rectum. "hey can cause itching, pain, and bleeding. 3p to 8/ percent of pregnant women get hemorrhoids. 1emorrhoids are common during pregnancy for many reasons. -uring pregnancy blood volume increases greatly, which can cause veins to enlarge. "he expanding uterus also puts pressure on the veins in the rectum. *lus, constipation can worsen hemorrhoids. 1emorrhoids usually improve after delivery. 3se gentle soaps and moisturi+ing creams. Avoid hot showers and baths. Avoid itchy fabrics. Itching About 9/ percent of pregnant women feel itchy during pregnancy. 3sually women feel itchy in the abdomen. 6ut red, itchy palms and soles of the feet are also common complaints. *regnancy hormones and stretching skin are probably to blame for most of your discomfort. 3sually the itchy feeling goes away after delivery. :ently stretch muscles. :et mild exercise. 2or sudden cramps, flex your foot forward. %at calcium&rich foods. Ask your doctor about calcium supplements. Leg cramps At different times during your pregnancy, you might have sudden muscle spasms in your legs or feet. "hey usually occur at night. "his is due to a change in the way your body processes calcium. %at several small meals instead of three large meals to keep your stomach from being empty. -on't lie down after meals. %at dry toast, saltines, or dry cereals before getting out of bed in the morning. %at bland foods that are low in fat and easy to digest, such as cereal, rice, and bananas. !ip on water, weak tea, or clear soft drinks. ;r eat ice chips.
Avoid smells that upset your
stomach. Morning sickness (n the first trimester hormone changes can cause nausea and vomiting. "his is called <morning sickness,< although it can occur at any time of day. Morning sickness usually tapers off by the second trimester. 6low your nose gently. -rink fluids and use a cool mist humidifier. "o stop a nosebleed, s=uee+e your nose between your thumb and forefinger for a few minutes. Nasal problems 4osebleeds and nasal stuffiness are common during pregnancy. "hey are caused by the increased amount of blood in your body and hormones acting on the tissues of your nose. "ake fre=uent breaks to rest hands. Ask your doctor about fitting you for a splint to keep wrists straight. Numb or tingling hands 2eelings of swelling, tingling, and numbness in fingers and hands, called carpal tunnel syndrome, can occur during pregnancy. "hese symptoms are due to swelling of tissues in the narrow passages in the wrists, and they should disappear after delivery. tretch marks, skin changes tretch marks, skin changes !tretch marks are red, pink, or brown streaks on the skin. Most often they appear on the thighs, buttocks, abdomen, and breasts. "hese scars are caused by the stretching of the skin, and usually appear in the second half of pregnancy. !ome women notice other skin changes during pregnancy. 2or many women, the nipples become darker and browner during pregnancy. Many pregnant women also develop a dark line #called the linea nigra' on the skin that runs from the belly button down to the pubic hairline. *atches of darker skin usually over the cheeks, forehead, nose, or upper lip also are common. *atches often match on both sides of the face. "hese spots are called melasma or chloasma and are more common in darker&skinned women. -rink eight to ./ glasses of fluids daily. -on't drink caffeine or eat salty foods. Rest and elevate your feet. Ask your doctor about support hose. !elling Many women develop mild swelling in the face, hands, or ankles at some point in their pregnancies. As the due date approaches, swelling often becomes more noticeable. "ake fre=uent bathroom breaks. -rink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. -o >egel exercises to tone pelvic muscles. "rinary #re$uency and leaking "emporary bladder control problems are common in pregnancy. $our unborn baby pushes down on the bladder, urethra, and pelvic floor muscles. "his pressure can lead to more fre=uent need to urinate, as well as leaking of urine when snee+ing, coughing, or laughing. Avoid tight knee&highs. !it with your legs and feet raised. %aricose &eins -uring pregnancy blood volume increases greatly. "his can cause veins to enlarge. *lus, pressure on the large veins behind the uterus causes the blood to slow in its return to the heart. 2or these reasons, varicose veins in the legs and anus #hemorrhoids' are more common in pregnancy. ?aricose veins look like swollen veins raised above the surface of the skin. "hey can be twisted or bulging and are dark purple or blue in color. "hey are found most often on the backs of the calves or on the inside of the leg. introduction Pregnancy produces many physical changes. Aside from weight and body shape, other alterations in body chemistry and function take place. The heart works harder, temperature registers slightly higher, body secretions increase, joints and ligaments are more fexible and hormones are altered . ood changes are common, resulting from a combination of hormonal changes and greater fatigue, as well as normal anxiety o!er body image, sexuality, "nances, marriage roles and impending parenthood . The following is a list of the most common discomforts of pregnancy and some guidelines for coping with them