Symptoms of Minor Pregnancy Complaints

Posted on January 1, 2008
Filed Under Pregnancy |

Most women experience some discomforts during pregnancy, and often these are worse in the later stages. There is nearly always something you can do or take to ease these problems. However, it is important to remember that certain commonly used over the counter medications should not be used in pregnancy. Always ask your doctor before taking over the counter remedies.

Headaches

Some women have headaches that are often aggravated by hormonal changes with their menstrual cycles. These women may notice an increase in headaches during pregnancy, but this is uncommon.

The first line of treatment for a headache in pregnancy should be a product that contains pure acetaminophen. Products that contain aspirin or nonsteroidal anti inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen should be avoided because of the risks of harming the baby. If you have migraines, you may need prescription medication. However, don’t take serotonin receptor agonists such as sumatriptan because these can reduce blood flow to the placenta. If necessary, severe migraine pain can be treated safely with opioid analgesics such as oxycodone and codeine. Beta blocking agents can be continued to be used to prevent migraines if necessary. In general, migraines tend to improve during pregnancy and most women have complete remission from headaches or a significant decrease in symptoms. If you have a severe headache in the last trimester of pregnancy and you don’t normally suffer from severe headaches, you should call your care provider right away, especially if you also have visual changes such as flashes of light or blurry vision. This could be a sign of preeclampsia.

What’s safe to take

Acetaminophen some beta blocker drugs, opioid analgesics.

What to avoid

Aspirin, ibuprofen and other nasids.

Nasal Stuffiness

Many women notice increased nasal congestion when they are pregnant. This stuffiness is due to the increase in blood flow to the mucous membranes in the nose. The hormone estrogen causes an increase in mucous secretion during pregnancy. Increased blood flow to the fragile blood vessels in your nose also makes nosebleeds very common. While the increased congestion is annoying, it is quite normal and will not interfere with the amount of oxygen that your baby receives. Avoid using of nasal sprays (except pure saline) because they tend to cause even more nasal stuffiness if you do not use them constantly. If you find it hard to sleep, you may get some relief by using a humidifier at night.

What’s safe to use

Diphenhydramine phenylephrine

What to avoid

Nasal sprays.

Dizziness

During pregnancy, most of your blood vessels dilate (widen) to allow unrestricted blood flow to the uterus and your baby. This produces a small drop in blood pressure and may increase the chances that you feel dizzy. Pregnant women are especially sensitive to changes in position, and you are most likely to feel dizzy when you stand up too quickly. Try to avoid rapid change, in position, and sit back down if you feel dizzy. Dizziness on its own is not a sign of a health problem. As your pregnancy progresses, you may also notice you feel dizzy when you lie on your back. This is because thc uterus presses down and cuts off blood returning from your lower body to your heart. Lying on your side should alleviate this dizziness, If your dizziness comes on after heart palpitations, or if it is not relieved by lying on your side, consult your doctor.

Bleeding Gums

Most women notice that during pregnancy their gums are much more likely to bleed after being brushed. This is normal and results from the increase in blood flow to the gums in pregnancy. However, it’s important you look after your teeth properly. Gum disease, for example may be associated with problems such as preterm labor. If you have not seen your dentist recently, it is safe to have your teeth cleaned or cavities fixed, but try to avoid dental x-rays unless necessary.

Palpitations

Heart palpitations, recognizable by the feeling that your heat has missed a beat or flip-flops inside your chest, seem to be more common and more noticeable during pregnancy. Generally, palpitations are not serious if they only happen occasionally and you don’t have other symptoms like dizziness. If you do have other symptoms, discuss them with your provider right away.


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