Breast Tenderness And Enlargement

Posted on January 5, 2008
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Over the course of pregnancy, you can expect that each breast will gain up to 1lb (0.5 kg) in weight. During pregnancy your breasts may be quite tender, especially in the first trimester. While all of these changes are normal, they mean that you should wear a good bra for support. Early in pregnancy you can wear a sports bra (even to bed). In the second trimester, it is a good idea to invest in a couple of pregnancy or nursing bras at around the same time as you move in to maternity clothes. Remember to continue your monthly self breast exams during this period, and bring any noticeable lumps to the attention of your care provider.

Breathlessness

The hormone progesterone affects how you breathe while you are pregnant, making your breaths deeper and more rapid than normal. A common side effect of these changes is a feeling of breathlessness. Shortness of breath increases with exertion, such as walking up a flight of stairs. This feeling is normal, and does not mean that you are out of shape, too old to have a baby, or that you have a problem with your heart or lungs. As your baby gets bigger, you are likely to notice you become more and more breathless, and may get worse when you try to lie flat. Some women find that they need to sleep partially sitting up toward the end of pregnancy.

Indigestion

Progesterone, the hormone of pregnancy, relaxes the smooth muscle of the uterus, allowing your pregnancy to grow. At the same time, other smooth muscle is relaxed. One of the unpleasant side effects is the relaxation of the opening between your stomach and your esophagus (the tube between your mouth and stomach). Combine this with slowly increasing pressure on your stomach from your growing uterus and you have the potential for raging indigestion. Contrary to common belief, what you eat has only a small effect, although eating a large meal may make your symptoms worse. The main factors that worsen indigestion are the acidity of your stomach contents and your position (for example, lying down or standing).

Antacids are good for reducing the acid content of your stomach. Most over the counter antacids are safe to take during pregnancy and products that contain calcium are especially good. However, many women need stronger antacids or histamine receptor antagonists which you can buy from drug stores or by prescription. You can also help ease indigestion by not lying down or bending over immediately after a meal.

What’s Safe to Use

Histamine receptor antagonists antacids containing calcium carbonate or magnesium carbonate.

Abdominal Plan

Almost all pregnant women will have some abdominal pains during pregnancy. The trick is knowing if the pain is a sign of something more serious. Early in pregnancy, many women feel uterine cramping, pelvic pressure, and generalized mild abdominal discomfort. This results from a combination of your uterus reacting to the pregnancy and the effects of the rising levels of the hormone progesterone on your intestines. As you enter the second trimester, nonspecific abdominal pains are common. Most are from gassiness and bloating. Pains along the sides of your uterus, caused by stretching of the uterine supports (round ligament pain), are also common. As you progress in your third trimester, it is common to have an increase in uterine activity, or braxton-hicks contractions. These contractions are felt as a tightening across your uterus and should not be particularly painful. If you have painful contractions across the front of your uterus, or you have lower back pain that comes and goes, call your care provider especially if you are less than 34 weeks in to gestation.

What’s safe to use

Acetaminophen

Gas Pains And Bloating

The action of progesterone slows down the workings of your intestines and can lead to bloating. Most of the gas comes from the action of bacteria on carbohydrate in your diet, the slower your intestines move food through, the more time bacteria have to digest the food and the more gas is produced. If you are having problems with gas, don’t eat foods that are more likely to produce gas, such as beans, cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage. If you are lactose intolerant but want to consume milk during pregnancy switch to lactose reduced products. Avoid carbonated beverages that may increase the amount of gas in your intestines, but increase the amount of water you drink. Taking a walk after meals may help to stimulate your digestive tract naturally.

What’s safe to use

Over the counter medications containing simethicone are thought to be safe.

Yeast Infections

Although pregnancy is not associated with an increase in vaginal yeast infection, many women who suffer from recurrent yeast infections are concerned about using antifungal medications during pregnancy. Over the counter yeast creams are safe during pregnancy. If your care proyider has asked you not to put anything into your yagina because YOU haye a placenta preyia, you can ayoid using the applicator and place the cream on the yulYar lips and the lower part of your yagina. If your yeast infection does not get better, your doctor may want to confirm a yeast infection and treat \v’ith stronger, prescription drugs.

Urinary Incontinence

Up to half of women have a problem with involuntary loss of urine during pregnancy. Certainly, in the first trimester you will notice you have the urge to urinate often. This urgency decreases by the second trimester, but you will , still have to use the bathroom more often than before you were pregnant. Incontinence is most common in the third trimester, especially if you have had problems with urine loss in the past or if you have been pregnant before. Usually the amount of urine lost is small and wearing a pad should be enough to catch any accidents. Women who have incontinence while pregnant are more likely to have problems later.

If you suddenly start leaking and have been fine before, make sure your care provider rules out a urinary tract infection, which may be causing the incontinence. If your symptoms don’t resolve by 3 months after delivery, consider seeing a specialist. In some cases of overactive bladder, medication to relax your bladder spasms can reduce accidents. In other cases, surgical or nonsurgical treatment is needed.

Constipation And Hemorrhoids

The slowing action of progesterone on your large intestine increases water absorption, leaving you with harder stools. Pressure from your uterus also slows blood flow from the blood vessels around the rectum and anus, increasing hemorrhoids. This is not a good combination. The best way to combat these problems is to decrease constipation because straining can make hemorrhoids worse. The first step is to soften your stools by increasing water intake and by taking bulking agents. If this does not work, you can add stool softeners, reserving laxatives for serious cases of constipation. If hemorrhoids develop despite maintaining normal stool consistency, try to clean carefully after each bowel movement with a pad soaked in witch hazel. Hemorrhoid creams may also help to reduce swelling and are safe in pregnancy.

What’s safe to use

Fiber or other bulking agents, stool softeners, most laxatives, creams for hemorrhoids.

Keeping hydrated

By drinking plenty of water is the best way to prevent constipation while you are pregnant.

Warning Signs


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