Throughout the whole journey of pregnancy, your body has to deal with a lot of changes. These changes may cause different kinds of problems ranging from mild irritation to unbearable pain. At times, they might seem very alarming. But there is not much need to worry about, as these problems are common among more or less all pregnant women.
Below you will find a list of the 10 most common pregnancy problems that you should be expected at different stages of pregnancy, along with possible ways to solve them.
- Morning sickness
Morning sickness is one of the most common pregnancy problems and happens during early pregnancy due to the new hormonal changes. It is a feeling of nausea, which can or cannot be accompanied by vomiting. Although it is called “morning sickness”, it can happen during any time of the day.There is nothing to worry about though because this usually goes away by the end of the first trimester.
Solution:
- Don’t miss meals because of nausea because it will make it worse
- Eat a small amount of food at a time
- Avoid eating spicy and fried food.
- If the smell, taste or even appearance of any food makes you feel sick, avoid it completely
- Backache
While you are pregnant, your body starts preparing you for labor. As a result, ligaments become soft and starts to stretch. Moreover, the additional weight in the frontal part of your body puts pressure on your backbone. This results in mild to extreme back pain.
Solution:
- Don’t lift heavy objects
- Avoid picking things up from the floor
- Don’t wear high heels and try to wear completely flat shoes
- When sitting for long hours, make sure your back is straight and well supported
- Try to walk at least for 20 minutes along with some light exercise
- Bowel Problems
As a result of preparing your body for the digestion of two people, you will have to experience some rather unpleasant bowel problems. These problems include constipation, hemorrhoids etc.
Solution:
- Eat foods that have a high fiber content. For example, pulses, beans, wholegrain breads etc.
- Always drink plenty of water
- Keep your muscles toned by exercising regularly.
- Avoid taking iron supplements as they can result in severe constipation
- Don’t strain too much for passing stool, as it may rupture the walls and in case of hemorrhoids, make it worse.
- Avoid junk food
- Skin Problems
Once you are pregnant, you will start experiencing many kinds of changes to your skin. Changes in hormone levels can cause your skin to darken and sometimes even form dark patches at different portions. Moreover, problems like massive break out of acne, stretch marks etc. will also start developing on your once flawless skin.
Solution:
- Always use broad spectrum sunscreen while going out in the sun to avoid dark patches or Melasma.
- Don’t use any kind of medication for getting rid of acne or rash.
- Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated
- Don’t use any harsh chemical product on your skin. Rather use a mild baby soap of face wash to clean it.
- Keep your skin moisturized properly to avoid getting stretch marks
- Cramps
Having cramps are one of the most common problems during pregnancy. It is a sharp pain that usually occurs in your calf muscles or feet suddenly. It is suspected to be caused due to shortage of calcium and also because of the extra weight that your muscle has to carry.
Solution:
- Try to drink milk regularly. If not possible, then make sure your diet contains enough calcium
- Don’t stay in one position for too long
- In case you get a cramp, relax your muscles and rub them firmly
- Do some light exercise like, bending and stretching your legs up and down for 20 times in a row
- Swollen Feet, Ankles and Fingers
Feet, ankles and fingers usually tend to swell up during pregnancy because of the extra fluid that your body is holding. Especially towards the end of pregnancy, the fluid gathers around the lower portions of the body, making you feel very uncomfortable.
Solution:
- The best solution is to lay down for at least one hour a day by keeping your feet at a level higher than your heart
- Avoid standing or sitting for too long
- Avoid wearing tight and strappy shoes.
- Try to wear loose, flat and comfortable slippers
- Fatigue
Feeling tired and exhausted is one of the many common pregnancy problems. Some women also tends to faint due to increased fatigue. This is caused because of all the extra work and stress your body is going through. And also sometimes due to hormonal changes.
Solution:
- While getting up from lying or sitting position, do it slowly to avoid fainting
- If you feel like fainting while in a standing position, don’t panic and quickly find a place to sit
- Make sure that you get sufficient sleep, and if possible try to take a little nap in the middle of the day
- Eat healthy diet and eat whenever you feel even a little hungry
- Hot Flushes
Due to hormonal changes, your body might get hot flushes from time to time, causing you to get all sweaty. This might result in a feeling of discomfort, especially when everyone else around you is feeling cold and you are the only one sweating profusely.
Solution:
- Drink a lot of water to make sure you are cooled from within
- Wear loose and cotton clothes. Avoid clothes that are made of artificial fibers
- Keep your room cool and ensure that it is well ventilated
- If needed, take bath twice a day to make yourself feel fresh
- Headaches
Headaches can be common for women during pregnancy. It can be triggered by various factors such as, changes in hormone levels, stress, high blood pressure etc.
Solution:
- Make sure you get plenty of rest
- Avoid sleeping late at night
- Maintain a healthy diet and avoid indigestion
- Ask your doctor for a Paracetamol dosage that will be safe for you
- Headache during the second half of pregnancy can be caused due to high blood pressure, talk to your doctor in this case and try to avoid stress
- Indigestion
Dyspepsia or Indigestion is one of the most common problems that most women has to face throughout their pregnancy. It is a pain in the upper part of the abdomen accompanied by heartburn, bloating, and nausea.
Solution:
- Eat smaller meals and avoid any food that has caused indigestion even once
- Ask your doctor to prescribe you antacid which will be safe for you to take during pregnancy
- Avoid junk food and spicy meals
- Walk for 10 or 20 minutes after lunch and dinner
Most of the above mentioned problems are temporary. They keep coming and going throughout the nine months of pregnancy. However, if any of these problems get too severe and persists for a long time, talk to your doctor or midwife. Don’t take any medicine which has not been prescribed. Once the baby arrives, all these struggles will seem worth it!
