Pregnancy is an amazing time of growth—both for mother and baby. As a new life is growing within a woman, her body undergoes many changes due to hormones. Every pregnancy is different. But many women find that some bodily changes are uncomfortable. Fortunately, once the baby arrives, most women find relief from these symptoms. In the meantime, there are ways to decrease some of the discomforts.
The first trimester of pregnancy can be easy for some women. For others, these first three months can be the most challenging time of pregnancy due to the following common symptoms:
It is common for many women to feel very tired in the first few months of pregnancy. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep and take naps if needed.
As breasts change to prepare for breastfeeding, they often become tender within the first six weeks of pregnancy. Throughout the pregnancy, the tenderness may come and go, especially as breasts get bigger. Colostrum, an early form of breast milk, may even leak out in the second and/or third trimesters.
About 70% of women have feelings of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. It usually occurs between 6-16 weeks of pregnancy. Although it is often called “morning sickness,” women may have these symptoms at any time of the day.
Hormones cause the gut to slow down its normal movement, which can cause bloating and constipation . Iron supplements, which are often needed, may make constipation worse.
Hormones are to blame for frequent urination in the first trimester. As the pregnancy progresses, a growing uterus puts pressure on the bladder. Therefore, frequent urination is often a discomfort for many women throughout the pregnancy.
As pregnancy progresses, a large uterus puts pressure on the diaphragm, making it less able to move freely during breathing. This causes some women to feel short of breath.
Pregnancy hormones cause changes that lead to more rapid, shallow breaths. Many women also experience this as a feeling of shortness of breath. This can feel strange but usually will not endanger your health. However, if you are feeling like you are not getting enough air when you breathe, call your doctor.
During the second trimester, or months 4-6, many women feel much better than they had in the first trimester. However, some women notice uncomfortable bodily changes in the second trimester, including the following:
Blood volume increases by nearly 45% during pregnancy, which causes membranes in the nose to swell and sometimes bleed .
Gums become sensitive and often bleed during pregnancy due to estrogen. Use a soft toothbrush and gentle toothpaste and floss daily. Continue to receive routine dental care, but x-rays and certain pain medications should be avoided.
Weight carried in the abdomen in the later months of pregnancy affects balance and posture, putting strain on the lower back. Hormones also loosen joints and ligaments of the body, which can cause minor pains.
Many women are excited to enter the “home stretch” of months 7-9. But this is also an uncomfortable time because a large uterus is squeezing all the organs within the abdomen, causing some of the following symptoms:
The skin of the abdomen may itch as it expands and forms stretch marks, especially if weight is gained quickly. Skin discolorations, such as dark areas on the face or a dark line below the naval, can also appear. This is because hormone levels increase the amount of skin pigment, melatonin. Stretch marks are not preventable. Other skin color changes usually go away soon after the baby is delivered.
About 50% of pregnant women have heartburn in the third trimester. Hormones of pregnancy loosen the muscle that closes off the esophagus from the stomach. When this happens, stomach contents can back up into the esophagus, causing the burning sensation known as heartburn. A growing uterus also squeezes the stomach, which contributes to heartburn.
Leg cramps usually occur in the calf muscles during the night and are thought to be related to inadequate calcium or magnesium intake. Talk to your doctor about whether you need increased amounts of these nutrients.
Most pregnant women have some leg swelling due to the extra volume of blood providing circulation to the placenta and baby. The uterus puts pressure on the large blood vessels providing blood to the lower half of the body, which can cause fluid to pool in the legs.
Varicose veins on the legs and hemorrhoids , which are varicose veins that occur on the rectum, often occur during pregnancy due to increased blood volume.
Some women have trouble getting comfortable when sleeping in the last few months of pregnancy. In addition, it may be hard to relax when you are worried about the baby, childbirth, and being a mother.
Overall, keep in mind that once the baby arrives, all discomforts are typically forgotten.
RESOURCES:
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
http://www.acog.org/
Women's Health.gov
http://www.4woman.org/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index_e.html/
Women's Health Matters
http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca/index.cfm/
References:
Boscaglia N, Skouteris H, Wertheim EH. Changes in body image satisfaction during pregnancy: a comparison of high exercising and low exercising women. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol . 2003;43:41-45.
Common symptoms/signs and laboratory changes in pregnancy. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Accessed August 23, 2005.
Hueston WJ, Eilers GM, King DE, et al. Common questions patients ask during pregnancy. Am Fam Physician . 1995;51:1465-1470.
Murkoff H, Eisenburg A, Hathaway S. What to Expect When You’re Expecting. New York, NY: Workman Publishing; 2002.
9/16/2008 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : Kalus SM, Kornman LH, Quinlivan JA. Managing back pain in pregnancy using a support garment: a randomised trial. BJOG. 2008;115:68-75. Epub 2007 Nov 12.
Last reviewed June 2009 by Ganson Purcell Jr., MD, FACOG, FACPE
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2007 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.