Treating Common Ailments during Pregnancy

When you're pregnant, reaching for your normal, over-the-counter cure may not be the best idea. Most of these problems are caused by hormonal changes and the extra strain your body is under. Dr. Lima K Pattani, Specialist Gynecologist at KIMS Bahrain Medical Center, point outs the common ailments during pregnancy. According to her, “these ailments are usually temporary, cause minor discomfort and can be treated simply”. Your body has a great deal to do during pregnancy. Sometimes the changes taking place will cause irritation or discomfort, and on occasions they may seem quite alarming. There is rarely any need for alarm but you should mention anything that is worrying you to your doctor, she added. Some of the common ailments are:

1.                   Constipation: This is very common during pregnancy due to hormonal changes in your body.  Ensure a diet of fibre, fruits & Vegetables and drink plenty of water. Exercise, talk to your doctor about stool softness or a bulk-formary agent. Do not take laxatives during pregnancy.

2.                  Nausea or Morning Sickness: This is very common. 50-60% of women have Nausea during healthy pregnancy. There is not one remedy that will work for everyone. Nausea is worse when a person is tired, so get plenty of rest. Eat lightly and try bland foods around the clock, drink enough fluids especially when queasy. Try eating solids then waiting a while before drinking anything. Eating and drinking at the same time may make nausea worse. If you have persistent vomiting, talk to your doctor about medications that may help.

3.                  Heartburn: Best way to treat heartburn is to prevent heartburn. Try eating Six small meals instead of three large meals. Eat slowly and chew your food well. Drink small amounts of liquid with your meals. Avoid foods that trigger the heartburn like fried, greasy, fatty foods, fizzy drinks and foods with a lot of acid, like citrus fruits or juices. If you are still having trouble, talk to your care provider about antacids.

4.                  Headaches: This is very common during pregnancy. Pregnancy hormones can be one cause. Try to prevent headaches by eating right, drinking enough fluids and getting adequate rest. If you have a headache, apply cold washcloth on your forehead and gently massage your temples. Rest in a dark, quiet room. If headaches are affecting your daily life, discuss safe treatment options with your doctor.

5.                  Backache: This is a common complaint during pregnancy. Stay active; walking is a perfect exercise during pregnancy to maintain strength. Avoid sharp twisting movements at the waist and use your legs to lift. Change positions often and avoid standing or sitting for long periods. Avoid wearing high heels and maintain good posture. If back pain is affecting you daily, keep an open mind and look for options that will help. Many women have found backache relief from options provided by a doctor, prenatal exercise programs, chiropractic care, massage, and physical therapy.

6.                  Exhaustion: If you are expecting a child, you are bound to feel exhausted much sooner than you did earlier. This is a natural phenomenon, do not fight it. Weakness, lethargy and tiredness are normal symptoms in early pregnancy and are nature's way of slowing down the pregnant woman to help in preserving the foetus.  Rest for a couple of hours in the afternoon and an extra hour or two in the night will be useful.  The symptom is usually severe in the early months of Pregnancy and it is important for your spouse and family members to understand your problem. If you are working and cannot rest in the afternoon, you should try to get at least 10 hours of rest at night.

7.                  Varicose Veins: If you are on your feet for a long time during the day, the veins in your legs will get distended and look like zig-zag nodules. These are called varicose veins. The hormone progesterone which is secreted during pregnancy is responsible for it. As the pregnancy advances, the growing uterus presses on the pelvic veins & block the passage of blood from the legs to the heart and thus increases the pressure in the veins of the legs.  Another reason is overweight; some gain a lot of weight during pregnancy. And some inherit it.

Varicose veins can be prevented by 1. Avoid excessive weight gain, 2. Avoid crossing your legs while sitting, 3. Avoid standing still for long, 3. Try some moderate exercises, 4. Avoid high heeled shoes, 5. Keep your feet raised while sitting.

8.                  Frequent Urination: It is more during early & late pregnancy. Pregnancy hormones affect the muscle tone of the bladder, causing you to make frequent trips to the loo. As the uterus grows, it puts pressure on the bladder as well. Drink plenty of water anyways; avoiding them won’t help the problem and could create some new ones.

9.      Oedema: It is more during mid-to late pregnancy. Some fluid retention is normal in pregnancy. The Uterus puts pressure on the blood vessels which carry fluid from the feet and ankles, causing them to swell. Too little protein can also cause swelling.

This can be prevented by 1. Avoid tight clothing, especially around the ankles or calves, 2. Try not to stand for long periods. Sit with your feet elevated whenever you can, 3. Moderate exercises can help, 4. Try a pillow under the feet , at bed, 5.  Drink pleny of fluids, 5. Eat plenty of protein , such as lean meats, pulses, cheese and egg.

Dr. Lima K Pattani [MBBS, M.D] is a Specialist Gynecologist at KIMS Bahrain Medical Center.

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