Along with being one of the most wonderful phases of a woman’s life, pregnancy is also the time when a woman encounters a number of physiological and hormonal changes. These changes often result in many physical discomforts which can throw a pregnant woman’s life a little out of gear. Many pregnancy problems are easy to tackle.
So if you’re a mom-to-be who is struggling with some most embarrassing pregnancy problems, give this post a read to find out their symptoms and the best possible solutions! So, let’s start!
In This Article
8 Most Blush-Worthy Pregnancy Problems And Their Solutions
Even if you have a healthy pregnancy, you may endure some pain or health complications. These are an annoyance for some women, but they may be severe for others. Many of them you should be able to handle on your own.
Problem #1: Morning Sickness or Nausea
Nausea or Morning sickness is probably the most common problem that all pregnant women face, particularly during the first trimester. This discomfort is the result of a huge increment in the levels of pregnancy hormones like Estrogen, Progesterone, and hypoglycemia. While pregnant women call it morning sickness, it can haunt you at any time of the day – including bedtime.
Symptoms
Feeling and being sick, tiredness, vomiting tendency
How to Tackle It
- Stay in your bed for a few minutes after you wake up
- Start your day by eating toast, biscuits, or crackers rather than drinking fluids, like water or juices
- Eat small but frequent meals
- Avoid tea, coffee, alcohol, spicy or greasy foods
- Keep yourself hydrated throughout the day
- Take plenty of rest
- Consult your doctor and take some anti-sickness medicine
Problem #2: Constipation
You may also suffer from constipation due to many hormonal changes that take place in your body during pregnancy. While Iron supplements are considered the main cause of constipation, an increased level of Progesterone can also cause you to become constipated when you’re pregnant. If not treated in time, constipation can even lead to Haemorrhoids (piles)
Symptoms
Facing trouble while passing stools, painful bloating and gas, having lumpy or hard stools
How to Tackle It
- Exercise regularly to keep your muscles toned
- Reduce dietary iron intake
- Keep your intake of fluids, high-drink at least 8-10 glasses of water and 1-2 glasses of fresh fruit juice every day
- Avoid spicy and heavy foods because they are hard to digest
- Eat foods that are high in fiber, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole meal slices of bread and cereals, beans, and lentils.
Problem #3: Fatigue
As your pregnant body is doing an enormous amount of work to hold and nurture the unborn baby, you might feel a lot more tiredness, dizziness, and hotness during pregnancy. And if the level of fatigue is very high, you can sometimes also feel faint. Fatigue is usually caused by Iron deficiency, hormonal changes, and sleeplessness.
Symptoms
Headache, muscle weakness, irritability, appetite loss, poor concentration
How to Tackle It
- Get plenty of rest – take several naps during the day
- Avoid doing things that tire you
- Eat a well-balanced diet
- Avoid long-distance travel
- Exercise to feel refreshed and keep energy levels high
Problem #4: Backache
This is quite common among pregnant women. The extra weight of growing a baby puts a strain on the lower muscles and ligaments of your back, which alters your posture and eventually causes you a backache. If your backache continues to get worse over time, it’s recommended you immediately visit an expert physiotherapist.
Symptoms
Back muscles tenderness, back stiffness, muscle spasms, leg numbness or weakness
How to Tackle It
- Try to maintain a good posture
- Avoid lifting heavy objects
- Wear comfortable flat-heeled shoes
- Avoid sitting or standing for a long period
- Do some light exercises, like brisk walking
- Use a cushion to support your lower back
- Try to take a warm bath if the pain is severe
Problem #5: Breast Tenderness
With the progress of your pregnancy, you’ll notice that your breasts become larger and heavier in preparation for breastfeeding. As your breasts grow, they start feeling full and tender, which can trigger several breast discomforts like itchy nipples, leaky breasts, etc. This problem mostly occurs during the first and last trimesters of pregnancy.
Symptoms
Soreness, heaviness, tightness, swelling, and pain in both breasts.
How to Tackle It
- Wear a comfortable maternity bra that fits well and has good support. Make sure the bra you’re wearing is larger than your normal breast size
- Stick breast pads inside your bra to absorb leaking fluid. Change the pads at regular intervals to avoid skin irritation
- Moisturize your nipples to prevent and relieve itching
Problem #6: Varicose Veins
Cramps, swelling, and varicose veins are some other well-known issues experienced by every woman during pregnancy. Caused by the extra pressure and weight of the growing uterus on the blood vessels, these pregnancy problems primarily affect veins in the leg, hand, and genital areas. There are no certain ways to prevent them, but you can still reduce their impact on your pregnant body.
Symptoms
Swelling, throbbing, cramping, numbness, heaviness, achiness, bruising, itching and burning
How to Tackle It
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle
- Avoid foods high in salt
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time
- Elevate your legs and feet high when sitting – avoid sitting with your legs crossed
- Avoid moving quickly, especially at the waist
- Stretch your legs before going to bed
Problem #7: Frequent Urination
Urinating a lot in pregnancy is caused by several factors, including increased production of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) and the growing uterus compressing the bladder. While this is one of the extremely embarrassing problems faced by women during pregnancy, it’s important not to limit the amount of water and other beverages just to avoid frequent urination. After all, you both need plenty of fluids to stay well-hydrated.
Symptoms
Feeling like you need to urinate – even if your bladder is almost empty, sudden leakage of urine while sneezing, coughing, and laughing
How To Tackle It
- Avoid drinking coffee, tea, alcohol, and cola
- Lean forward when urinating to empty your bladder as much as possible
- Avoid the consumption of fluids in the early evening and one hour before bedtime to reduce the frequency of urination overnight
- Consult your doctor for some pelvic floor exercises
Problem #8: Vaginal Thrush, Discharge, and Bleeding
Almost all women face vaginal discomforts – like bleeding from the vagina, increased vaginal discharge, getting vaginal thrush – during pregnancy. These discomforts are quite normal and usually occur to help prevent any infections that can travel up from the vagina to the womb. However, if you think your vaginal issue is getting too serious, talk to your doctor immediately.
Symptoms
Increased vaginal secretions, vulvar itching, soreness, and irritation
How to Tackle It
- Maintain vaginal hygiene
- Apply a cold compress to the itchy, inflamed area
- Wear a cotton underwear
FAQs
1. When Is A Pregnancy High-Risk?
Many of the health concerns seen during pregnancy may be treatable with over-the-counter medications. Taking medication during pregnancy should be done with caution. It is important to get professional guidance before beginning or discontinuing any medication.
2. When Do Pregnancy Problems Start?
Pregnancy-related health issues, or “complications,” may arise at any point throughout the nine months. Issues might affect either the mother or the infant.
3. What Is Abnormal Pregnancy?
Ectopic pregnancy is a kind of abnormal pregnancy. A fertilized egg generally implants itself in the uterus after exiting the Fallopian tube. When a fertilized egg comes into contact with a barrier on its journey to the uterus, it may implant anywhere along the journey, most often in a Fallopian tube, resulting in an ectopic pregnancy.
