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Problems During Normal Pregnancy
Translated by Olja Arsic - Graduated translator English, Italian and Serbocroatian oljaarsic@hotmail.com
Pregnancy is a physiological moment in woman's life. During this period the woman's body will go through some important changes. As a consequence, even if it is not pathological, the pregnancy can cause different kinds of problems. We should not forget that any pregnancy causes psychological problems as well. These problems are related to the physical and social changes the woman undergoes and to the concern of every mother for the baby's well-being.
Nausea and Vomiting
During the first trimester of pregnancy, especially in the morning, many women will often suffer nausea and vomiting. Consequently they will probably eat less than usual and will lose weight. Strong food odours or other smells often provoke these problems. Even though there are various hypotheses about the origin of these problems (psychological, hormonal causes etc.), we cannot say with certainty why these symptoms occur. In most cases it will not be necessary to use any pharmacological treatment to resolve the problems. It will be enough to follow some advice in order to eliminate symptoms, hence avoiding contact with strong smelling food and eating easily digestible food in small quantities; eating dry food, having small and frequent meals throughout the day and avoiding drinking too much liquid. In extreme cases the frequent vomiting and irregular eating may cause severe problems to the woman's metabolism and to her health in general. These problems can be revealed by the altered haematochemical parameters. In these cases the woman will have to be hospitalized for observation and will receive intravenous hydration.
Sialorrhea and Ptyalism
During pregnancy some women may suffer from sialorrhea and ptyalism, which are the consequence of difficulty in swallowing or excess production of saliva. The causes of sialorrhea are unknown and there is no efficient therapy for it. The problem will disappear spontaneously.
Tender and leaking breasts
During the first weeks of pregnancy the woman's breasts are getting larger and consequently often become tender and painful. From the middle of pregnancy many women may find that their breasts are leaking a milky fluid. This sign is not to be considered pathological; it is the consequence of initial preparation of the breasts for nursing.
Skin pigmentation changes
During this period of pregnancy an increase of pigmentation will occur on some parts of the skin (abdominal linea alba, breast areolas and parts of the face). This sign is not to be considered pathological and normally it will disappear spontaneously, after the birth.
Varicose veins and haemorrhoids
Overweight women or women with a familial predisposition are more prone to suffer varicose veins and haemorrhoids. Other related factors are hormone action of Progesterone and the habit, or necessity at work of standing for long periods. In order to help the blood circulation of the varicose veins of the lower limbs, it is recommended to use elastic support stockings and to put the legs up whenever possible. Haemorrhoids are very frequent during pregnancy. The reason is not only the action of Progesterone on the vein walls, but also the frequent tendency towards constipation during this period.
Lumbago (low back pain)
To help maintain a stable upright position and as a consequence of the increase in uterine volume during pregnancy, excessive lumbar lordosis may appear. The work of the lumbar muscles, in particular the paravertebral muscles, will increase, provoking a distressing lumbago. Sometimes this may provoke very painful sciatica as well. The symptoms regress spontaneously, after birth.
Osteitis pubis
As a consequence of the increase in ligament laxity, during pregnancy, the pubic symphisis loosens. Sometimes this may provoke pain of varying intensity, especially when you walk or change position, for example in bed. There is no reason to worry about this, as the problem is functional and disappears spontaneously, after childbirth.
Gastroesophageal Regurgitation
During the third trimester of pregnancy, transitory hiatal hernia occurs. It has purely functional significance and is caused by the increase of the uterine volume with a consequent distension of the diaphragm. As a consequence stomach acid may easily travel back up into the oesophagus, causing the burning sensation of acid regurgitation (Acid reflux). To prevent this problem woman should not lie down after meals, as the supine position may provoke regurgitation. If necessary use anti-reflux medication.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
During pregnancy fluid retention can be considered physiological within certain limits. It can increase the pressure, compressing the median nerve running through the carpal canal. This may provoke pain in the hands, numbness and a tingling sensation. Usually the symptoms disappear gradually, after the birth, as they are a consequence of physiological changes during pregnancy.
CONCLUSIONS
As we already mentioned, pregnancy, even when physiological (normal), may provoke some problems which can be of great concern to many women. Although those problems are usually not serious, if the woman is concerned about them she should talk to her doctor, who will reassure her, by explaining the meaning of each problem.