Medicine today 

Poor health during pregnancy - ailments of pregnant women. Feelings that occur in early pregnancy

Since the expectation of a child is associated with numerous changes in the female body, pregnancy is often accompanied by various ailments. In some way, they contribute to the fact that all systems and organs begin to adapt to the new state of the body. They also help the expectant mother learn to cope with the increasing workload.

Most of the ailments during early pregnancy should not disturb the expectant mother, although they cause her a lot of inconvenience. The presence of unpleasant symptoms in early pregnancy can be explained by the body's response to an increase in physiological stress. However, it is impossible to ignore such dangerous symptoms as high fever, severe dizziness, vaginal spotting, severe pain. They require a mandatory referral to a specialist.

Very often, toxicosis begins in pregnant women in the early stages. If its course occurs without complications, then such a reaction of the body to pregnancy can be considered a completely normal manifestation. The main symptoms of toxicosis include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, drowsiness, changes in food preferences, apathy. With toxicosis, skin diseases often occur, as well as pain in the muscles. Toxicosis in the form of a response of the female body to the development of the fetus, causing discomfort during pregnancy in the early stages, is most often provoked by such factors:

  • active development of the placenta;
  • hormonal changes;
  • chronic diseases of the expectant mother;
  • psychological state of a pregnant woman.

The duration of toxicosis is approximately 20 weeks from the moment of conception, and usually does not pose a danger to the future woman in labor and her baby. Abuse of alcoholic beverages and smoking can increase its manifestations, and can also lead to violations of the course of pregnancy. If the toxicosis is too severe, then the woman needs hospitalization.

Possible types of discomfort in early pregnancy

  1. Fatigue, frequent dizziness, and manifestations of varicose veins are the result of a woman's circulatory system responding to pregnancy.
  2. For the gastrointestinal tract, such manifestations are characteristic: nausea, loss of appetite, sudden intolerance to previously favorite foods, bloating and heartburn.
  3. The genitourinary system is characterized by changes such as a variety of secretions and frequent urination. If these manifestations are painless, and the discharge is not accompanied by an unpleasant odor, then they are completely harmless and temporary.
  4. Pigment spots may appear on the skin in early pregnancy, and the hair on the head begins to get oily very quickly, causing dandruff.

Also during this period, a woman begins to feel soreness and high sensitivity of her mammary glands. This is a kind of preparation for lactation, which is also included in the list of causes of malaise during early pregnancy.

How to feel better

A woman who is expecting a child should walk in the fresh air as much as possible. You should carefully consider the diet, giving preference to protein foods. In general, the menu of a pregnant woman should be useful and varied. It’s good to sometimes perform simple physical exercises that will help oxygenate the blood in the body of the expectant mother.

With frequent dizziness, a woman should be guided by the following tips:

  • refrain from sudden movements;
  • get out of bed very slowly;
  • drink plenty of fluids, use special vitamins prescribed by the doctor;
  • avoid the sun in hot weather.

In order to reduce the manifestations of toxicosis, a woman is recommended immediately after waking up, without leaving the bed, to eat drying or biscuit cookies. Unpleasant symptoms are relieved by decoctions of valerian or mint, as well as hot tea with a slice of lemon.

What ailments can lie in wait for a pregnant woman, should they be feared and how to deal with them?

Nausea during pregnancy

Nausea is one of the first signs of early toxicosis. This condition occurs in the middle of the second month of pregnancy (6-7 weeks), and the disappearance of symptoms occurs by 12-14 weeks. It is believed that the main cause of early toxicosis is the immune response of a woman's body to a developing pregnancy, because the fetus is half foreign to her body.

A pregnant woman suffering from early toxicosis needs to rest more, refrain from exertion and stress. The stomach should not be either empty or full, for this try to eat more often (5-6 times a day), but in small portions and preferably cool food. Breakfast is best eaten in bed (dairy products are preferred), and dinner is best before bed. Drink plenty of fluids, eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, the amount of table salt should not exceed 8-10 g. Completely exclude fried foods, pickles and marinades from the menu. After each meal, you should lie down a bit. It is necessary to periodically ventilate the room and spend more time in the fresh air.

If an attack of nausea begins, try to eat something, it is recommended to carry some dry toast, crackers with you. Many women benefit from frequent brushing with toothpaste, chewing gum, or rinsing their mouth with special refreshing liquids. Sour fruit drinks, juices, and mint and ginger tea also provide some relief. If vomiting occurs up to 3-5 times a day, you should contact an obstetrician-gynecologist.

If vomiting is repeated more than 10-15 times a day, it can lead to dehydration and metabolic disorders. In this case, hospitalization is required.

Weakness and dizziness during pregnancy

In the first trimester of pregnancy, the blood pressure of the expectant mother may drop slightly. Therefore, slightly reduced pressure, which does not interfere with the normal life of a woman before pregnancy, can turn into a sharp and strong decrease in it after its onset. The condition is aggravated by the fact that at the beginning of pregnancy there is a physiological decrease in blood glucose levels. This leads to weakness and dizziness, which can worsen to fainting if the pregnant woman stands for a long time, is in a stuffy room, or is simply hungry.

In order to cope with weakness, you need a balanced diet. It is necessary to have breakfast, in the morning strong tea, especially green tea, or coffee with the addition of a teaspoon of sugar or candy are useful. Good rest is very important: at least 10 hours of sleep at night and 1-2 hours of rest during the day are recommended. At home, to tone up, you can use a cool shower or contrast baths for hands or feet.

If, nevertheless, there is an attack of poor health or fainting associated with a sharp decrease in pressure, it is necessary to lie down in a cool room without a pillow, eat a little and drink a glass of strong sweet tea with lemon. It is recommended to carry chocolate or mint candies in your purse, which can be absorbed in case of feeling unwell.

Fatigue, insomnia during pregnancy

During pregnancy, a woman may experience rapid fatigue, which results in increased drowsiness. Try to rest as much as possible. The duration of a pregnant woman's sleep should be at least 9 hours, and the most optimal time for sleep is from 22 pm to 7 am.

Walking in the fresh air, swimming contribute to restful sleep. Make sure that the bedroom is not stuffy, ventilate the room well before going to bed.

Take a warm shower in the evening to help you relax. A warm glass of milk before bed can help with insomnia during pregnancy. Before going to bed, read, do relaxation exercises. Ask your husband or someone close to give you a light massage before bed. Look for a comfortable position in which you can fall asleep. Experiment with extra pillows. You can put another pillow under your head and under your hip.

Breast pain during pregnancy

The mammary glands are part of the female reproductive system, which undergoes changes during pregnancy and prepares for lactation. Due to the increased production of prolactin and progesterone, from the first months of pregnancy, the mammary gland begins to increase in size due to the development of glands inside it and the opening of the mammary passages. You can feel "goosebumps" and even pulsation in the mammary glands, slight pain.

With increasing gestational age, the sensitivity usually decreases, and the swelling continues, the nipples and areola increase in size and darken.

If the breasts increase in size very quickly, stretch marks may appear on it. It is very important that the mammary glands are supported by a comfortable bra with round cups that does not compress both the glands themselves and the nipples. Special creams for breast skin care can prevent the appearance of stretch marks.

Sweating during pregnancy

The cause of excessive sweating is hormonal changes in the body of the expectant mother, as well as a rush of blood to the skin during pregnancy, which increases the activity of the sebaceous and sweat glands. These phenomena stabilize by the middle of pregnancy, but they do not completely disappear, because during this period the body increases the volume of circulating blood by 30--40%. Such phenomena are safe, although they require additional hygiene procedures.

To cleanse the body during pregnancy, doctors recommend preferring a shower to a bath. After a shower, you can wipe yourself with a sponge moistened with any drying decoction. To do this, boil two tablespoons of oak or willow bark, horsetail or hazel with boiling water and let the broth brew.

Increasing secretions

The main reason is the same - hormonal changes during pregnancy. An increase in the amount of vaginal discharge during pregnancy is not considered a sign of a disease, but a completely normal phenomenon that helps to cleanse and moisturize the vagina. Light, translucent discharge from the genital tract should not cause discomfort, irritation, or smell sharp. You can help yourself by following simple rules. Just in case, temporarily exclude scented soaps, scented pads, and deodorants from everyday life. Unfortunately, the composition of these funds can include quite strong irritants. The use of tampons is not recommended, as they increase the risk of infection in the genital tract.

External genitalia should be washed with warm water at least twice a day. For daily care of the genitals, it is recommended to use special products for intimate hygiene, the composition of which is designed taking into account the impact on the microecology of the vagina and does not violate it. At the end of the hygiene procedure, thoroughly dry the external genitalia with a personal towel. Remember: a humid environment is a provoking factor for the development of a fungal infection.

If during pregnancy the discharge changes color, begins to cause irritation, burning or itching, and is also accompanied by an unpleasant odor, this indicates the onset of some kind of disease, therefore an urgent appeal to a gynecologist is required.

Frequent urination

A significant increase in the size of the uterus in the third trimester leads to mechanical compression of the bladder, which contributes to an increase in the number of urination. It is not recommended to limit the liquid in the diet - on the contrary, it is recommended to drink more (if there are no medical contraindications, such as edema) to prevent a deficiency of fluid excreted in the urine.
Drink most of the liquid in the morning, and drink less in the evening. It is recommended to drink water and cranberry juice, which contains substances that prevent the growth of certain pathogenic bacteria in the urinary tract.

Do not wait until you feel like going to the toilet - go there "prophylactically".

At the end of pregnancy, it is very difficult to control the degree of filling of the bladder, because it is quite squeezed by the uterus. Therefore, the first urge to urinate often requires immediate action, even if the situation does not allow it. Overflow of the bladder and stagnation of urine in it contributes to the development of the inflammatory process in the urinary tract.

Constipation during pregnancy

Often during pregnancy, the intestines of the expectant mother become “lazy”, its peristalsis (contraction) slows down, and therefore, its contents move slowly. The result is bloating and constipation. This is facilitated by hormonal changes in the body during pregnancy, leading to an increase in blood supply to the vessels of the abdominal cavity, and as a result, to a slight swelling of the intestinal walls. Constipation in itself is unpleasant, besides, they can provoke the development of hemorrhoids - varicose veins of the rectum.

Do not rush to take laxatives - try to cope with constipation by following certain rules. Drink at least 1-1.5 liters per day of pure non-carbonated water. Since the intestines work more actively in the morning, try to accustom it to work after breakfast. You can drink a glass of cold water in the morning before breakfast. You can replace water with a glass of kefir. Do not miss any, even weak, urge to defecate. Enrich your food with plant fiber and foods that make the intestines move. It is recommended to increase the amount of fresh or lightly boiled vegetables and fruits in the diet, wholemeal bread enriched with bran; buckwheat, oatmeal, barley, wheat groats, beets, figs, dried apricots, prunes. These products help to increase intestinal motility and facilitate its emptying. Vegetable oil also helps this (1 teaspoon or 1 tablespoon 30 minutes before meals or adding to salads, main courses). Exclude from your menu coffee, rice, semolina, smoked meats, canned food, whole milk, as they can increase the symptoms of constipation. It is not recommended to use legumes and other foods that cause increased gas formation in the intestines (cabbage, cauliflower, radish, grapes, pears).
Move more: Hiking, swimming, exercise, allowed during pregnancy, activate the work of the intestines.

If all the previous tips do not help, consult a doctor, he will select a laxative that is safe during pregnancy.

Heartburn during pregnancy

During pregnancy, the level of the hormone progesterone increases, which helps to relax smooth muscles, including the sphincter (circular muscle between the stomach and esophagus), which does not allow it to cope with the usual load during nutrition (the sphincter acts as a barrier, which, by contracting, closes the hole between stomach and esophagus). Also, the uterus, as pregnancy develops, increases, supports the diaphragm and stomach. Due to the pressure of the growing uterus on the stomach, the relaxation of the esophageal sphincter and the decrease in peristalsis (contractions), there is a reverse reflux of the acidic contents of the stomach into the esophagus, which is felt as heartburn.

In most women, heartburn is not very pronounced. It can be dealt with by eating often and in small portions, not overeating, avoiding downward bending and horizontal position of the body immediately after eating. There should be 5-7 times a day, the last meal - 3 hours before bedtime. It is also important to avoid tight and uncomfortable clothing and tight belts. It is better to sleep on a bed with a head end raised by 15-20 cm (you can put an extra pillow).

Try to avoid foods that stimulate the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach (coffee, carbonated drinks, tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, sour berries, fresh bread, fried, spicy and pickled dishes, spices). It is recommended to switch to boiled vegetables, meat, fish and poultry. Foods that help manage heartburn include milk, carrot juice, wheat toast, water-based oatmeal, bananas, and fresh cucumbers. Mineral water to neutralize the increased amount of acid must be consumed without gas.

Avoid baking soda, as baking soda reacts chemically with hydrochloric acid, releasing carbon dioxide, which inflates the stomach, releasing more hydrochloric acid, further aggravating heartburn.

If you can’t cope with heartburn with the listed remedies, then acid-neutralizing agents (antacids) can bring relief. Before using such drugs, be sure to consult your doctor so that he recommends you a drug that is allowed during pregnancy.

Leg cramps

Many have painful cramps in their calves during pregnancy; most often they occur when stretching the legs while stretching in bed. Seizures are often caused by a lack of calcium in the blood, which is so necessary for both mother and baby.

There are many foods that contain enough calcium, but it is also important to help the body absorb it. Milk and dairy products (with minimal fat) combined with vegetables (cabbage, especially broccoli, legumes), greens and fruits are the most digestible sources of calcium. These products are recommended for daily use. In order to prevent a deficiency of this mineral, it is advisable to additionally take special preparations containing calcium, which, if necessary, will be prescribed by a gynecologist.

If a cramp cramps your leg while you are standing, you need to sit or lean on something and bend your leg at the knee. Lie down at home. Massage the muscle of the bent leg quickly and deeply, as if you were kneading dough. When the pain subsides, try walking to improve circulation. If possible, prepare a warm bath or a warm compress on your feet.

Shortness of breath in pregnant women

During pregnancy, an additional load is borne by the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, which are inextricably linked, due to an increase in the volume of circulating blood, displacement of the heart and lungs by a rising diaphragm due to the pressure of an enlarged uterus in the third trimester of pregnancy, increased oxygen consumption and increased excretion of carbon dioxide. In the last weeks of pregnancy, the growing fetus presses especially on the diaphragm, making it difficult to breathe. During pregnancy, breathing quickens from 16-20 to 22-24 movements per minute.
If you feel short of breath, sit on a chair or just squat down. To reduce shortness of breath, you must try to do all movements smoothly, without rushing. Sleep preferably on high pillows, in a semi-sitting position in a well-ventilated area. Clothes and underwear for pregnant women should be free, not restricting movements, comfortable and made from natural materials.

The blood is especially actively saturated with oxygen during walks in the fresh air. Therefore, walks must be included in your daily schedule. It is advisable to be outdoors for at least 2-3 hours a day, and it is not necessary to walk for a long time - it is enough to go outside several times and walk for an hour.