Pregnancy Complications-Identify Common Pregnancy Complications and Treatments
The following pregnancy complications are routine problems that may or may not be experienced. They are not life threatening to you or your child, but you should be aware of what you may experience. Current pregnancy information reveals that any of these can occur and are not cause for alarm.
Back Pain
It is very common throughout pregnancy, but especially in the last trimester, when your center of gravity has changed.
Treatment is: massage, heating pads and mild exercise. I found the best exercise to relieve back pain was to use a floaty board in the water, hold it out in front of you, and kick your legs so that you go from one side of the pool to the other. Do this at least for 4 laps and you'll find it works wonders for the lower back!
This is caused by elevated progesterone impeding water absorption.
Treatment: increase fiber intake by eating fiber enriched foods or fiber that mixes in with juice. They have some great brands out now that do not turn the juice into a lump of jello that you have to choke down your throat.
Tablets, like “FiberCon”, or powder mixes like “Konsyl” are great products. Natural vegetable stool softeners which have “senna" (Sennosides) as the main ingredient are the only type of laxative you should take.
Topical anesthetics help with the pain.
Drink lots of water. A couple of glasses of fruit juices a day is fine, but any more will be raising your intake of sugar. Herbal teas are good.
Common pregnancy complications include “Braxton Hicks” contractions and occur occasionally, sporadically or several times per day. These will occur as a healthy pregnancy sign, but too many too soon is caused by dehydration.
Treatment: increase your fluids
Edema
If you’re feet are getting bigger and your shoes don’t fit,or your legs are swelling- you are experiencing edema, or swelling of the legs and/or feet.
Treatment: Raise your legs above your heart (laying down) with pillows, and sleep on your side.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
If you get heartburn or any pain after eating, this is a common pregnancy complication. As your baby grows bigger inside you,your organs get pushed up higher and acid from your stomach easily backs up. That's why in your last trimester you may have trouble breathing, as your lungs cannot expand fully because the baby is right there.
Treatment: take antacids, eat multiple small meals a day, and don’t lie down within an hour of eating.
Hemorroids
These can occur from out of nowhere and be bigger than anything you could imagine, especially after you give birth. After birth, that's when mine ocurred, and I was shocked and horrified at their size, but the doctor just said, "Oh, that's normal."
Pica
If you are craving unusual things to eat that are NOT food, this is one of the pregnancy complications and pregnancy information indicates this does occur, although they are not sure why.
Treatment: eat ice chips (or anything else that is part of a healthy diet), but for goodness sake, don’t eat the dirt or the paper!
Increased Need to Urinate
The growth of your child inside you will press against your bladder, causing the urge to urinate more frequently. This is a healthy pregnancy sign that you’re child is in fact growing larger, and that you are reacting normally. You just have to go when you’ve got to go!
If there is any pain when urinating, or just before urinating, check with your doctor to see if you have a bladder infection.
Varicose Veins
Some women get a whole leg full and others don’t get them at all. It is one of those nasty pregnancy complications that is caused by muscle changes in the veins.
Treatment: Elevate your legs as much as you can; wear pressure stockings-tights that are very heavy and really hug your legs.
The above pregnancy complications are all very common and pregnancy information indicates it is normal if you experience any or all of the above symptoms.
