6 Common health problems during pregnancy
Help for Common health problems during Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a beautiful time, despite the physical, mental, and emotional constraints that go with it. The key to overcoming common pregnancy complaints is to eat right. Exercise safely and regularly, drink enough water, and don’t be afraid or embarrassed to call your doctor. Whenever you feel something wrong. And, above all, just always remember that in the end, it will all be worth it.
1- Nausea and vomiting: first as Common Pregnancy Complaints
About half of all pregnant women experience nausea and sometimes vomiting in the first trimester. Also called morning sickness because symptoms are most severe in the morning. Some women may have nausea and vomiting throughout the pregnancy. Morning sickness may be due to the changes in hormone levels during pregnancy. Morning sickness seems to be aggravated by stress, traveling, and certain foods, such as spicy or fatty foods. Eating small meals several times a day may help lessen the symptoms.
A diet high in protein and complex carbohydrates (such as whole-wheat bread, pasta, bananas, and green, leafy vegetables). May also help reduce the severity of nausea. If vomiting is severe, causing a woman to lose fluids and weight, it may indicate a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum. Hyperemesis can lead to dehydration and may require hospitalization for intravenous fluids and nutrition. Call your physician or midwife if you are having constant or severe nausea and vomiting.
2-Backache: second as Common Pregnancy Complaints
As your body compensates for the additional weight of your growing baby at the front of your body. A combination of pregnancy hormones causes muscles and ligaments to relax and poor posture. They can result in your back muscles over-compensating, causing a dull backache. Which can spread to the buttocks and down the legs. Taking care of your back during pregnancy is very important.
keep your pelvic floor and abdominal muscles strong by attending regular, specialized pregnancy exercise classes don’t lift heavy objects if you can avoid it, but if you do have to lift things (such as your older children), ensure that you use a good technique, bending your knees and keeping your back straight as you lift
if you have children already, get into the habit of sitting or squatting down at their level to comfort or cuddle them instead of picking them up, or sit on a chair and bring them up onto your lap. Don’t wear high-heeled shoes as these just make your posture worse. A visit to a pregnancy masseur and/or specialist physiotherapist may also help. Any sharp pains should be discussed with your healthcare provider as these may be a sign of other conditions
3- Incontinence: third as Common Pregnancy Complaints
Because of the combined effect of hormones and the baby's weight, your pelvic muscles become weak leading to stress incontinence (involuntarily peeing yourself when you sneeze, jump, cough, or laugh) and general incontinence. Weak pelvic muscles reduce the support received by your internal organs, negatively affecting your bowel and bladder function. This is also known as pelvic floor dysfunction, wherein the muscles of your pelvic floor lose control due to strain or damage.
To avoid and reduce your risk of developing incontinence or pelvic floor dysfunction:
Strengthen your pelvic ligaments, muscles, and joints by doing regular pelvic floor exercises, consulting a physiotherapist, or attending specialized pregnant exercise classes.
4- Cramps
Experiencing muscle cramps in your feet, thighs or legs is 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; ask your partner to help, if you need it. Little moments like this are a good way to stay bonded over your pregnancy and get him involved in what you're going through. Standing up to let your leg stretch may also offer some relief.
If the painful cramps persist, convince him to give you a massage, or book a professional massage and enjoy the relaxation time, the rest will do you good. Diet can make a difference, too. Some nutritionists believe that calcium, potassium, and phosphorous supplements can relieve 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 yogurt, will also help.
5- Faintness
Been feeling slightly dizzy or faint? There are a number of reasons that you can feel faint in pregnancy; these can be hormonal changes, low blood pressure, you may become overheated, or having low iron levels. Some useful tips to help are:
- Get up slowly after sitting or lying down.
- As soon as you feel faint, find a seat quickly - if the faintness doesn’t pass, lie down on your side.
- If you feel faint while lying on your back, turn on your side.
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
- If you experience feeling faint or dizzy then please contact your GP or midwife.
6- Indigestion
The hormone progesterone relaxes the muscle that seals off the esophagus from the stomach, allowing acid backwash to irritate the chest. Heartburn worsens in the third trimester as the enlarged uterus pushes the stomach upward. What helps: Eat small, frequent meals, and avoid spicy, acidic, or fatty foods and carbonated or caffeinated beverages. Sleep on your side, with your head elevated. Remain upright for 30 minutes after meals.
For more information watch this video :