Everyone hopes for the pregnancy ‘glow’ or ‘bloom’. A lot of women look and feel great through their whole pregnancy. For many women there will be some pregnancy symptoms that make them feel unwell at times.
These pregnancy health problems usually come and go. You would be really unlucky to not get some times in the nine months when you feel good and can enjoy being pregnant.
The health problems that come with pregnancy can make life feel more difficult. There are steps you can take that will ease them. Remember most of these problems will disappear as soon as your baby arrives if not before.
Some of the common symptoms, and some ideas to help, are below. If you have other things that are troubling you, or you are struggling with any of the symptoms below, then you can talk to your health team for support and advice.
Morning Sickness
Morning sickness doesn’t just happen in the morning – feeling sick or being sick can happen at any time in the day. For many people it is worse in the morning.
Morning sickness can happen from quite early in pregnancy and it tends to be worse in the first trimester when pregnancy hormones are rising fastest.
There are lots of suggestions on how to help with morning sickness. Most people manage to get through their morning sickness and find what works for them. For example:
If you don’t get morning sickness you should not worry – it really varies from person to person and pregnancy to pregnancy.
If your morning sickness is extreme meaning that you are not able to keep any drinks or food down in a 24 hour period you should see your GP. If you are passing very dark, or no urine it is a sign you are dehydrated and you need to be seen by a health professional.
One of the side effects of the hormones release in pregnancy can be the slowing down of movement in the gut. For some this can cause constipation – when it becomes difficult to have a poo. This can become uncomfortable causing tummy aches and ‘hard to pass’ poo.
You can help your bowels to open more easily by:
If constipation is causing you a lot of discomfort and you are struggling to poo a lot of the time then talk to your GP or midwife; sometimes medicine is needed to help.
Heartburn
Heartburn is a common problem in pregnancy – a burning feeling in your chest and throat.
It is caused by:
You can help ease the heartburn by:
Different people find different things make the symptoms worse – writing down what you are eating, and when, might help you work out what makes it worse and what helps.
If you are finding heartburn a big problem then you can talk to your pharmacist (tell them you are pregnant) and your midwife to see what medication might help.
Backache In Pregnancy
Backache is common in pregnancy. The ‘ligaments’ (the tissue that connects bones to bones) are made softer by pregnancy hormones. This can make strains and pulls more likely. This along with the weight of carrying a baby in your womb can cause backaches in pregnancy.
You can help by:
When your back is aching:
If your back pain is there a lot of the time and is making life hard then talk to your midwife. You may be referred to a physiotherapist for an assessment to see how best to help you.
Sore Breasts
Hormone changes can make breasts sore. Your breast tissue is stretching, growing and preparing for the important job of milk production for your baby. This explains the increase in size and the tenderness – some people have painful breasts throughout pregnancy but for many people it gets better later in pregnancy.
You can help ease the pain by:
Vaginal Discharge
All women have vaginal discharge – how much varies and there is usually more before a period.
During pregnancy you will notice you have more discharge than usual – increasing as the weeks go by. It is one of the ways the body protects the baby from infections getting in to the womb.
Normal vaginal discharge is:
There is no need to worry about this discharge.
If you notice that your discharge is:
This could be a sign of an infection and you should see your GP. Vaginal infections in pregnancy can cause early labour so you should not ignore this.
At the end of your pregnancy as your due date gets close you may notice a ‘jelly like’ discharge sometimes streaked with blood – this is called a ‘show’. Although not everyone has a show, it can be a sign that labour will begin soon.
If you have any vaginal blood loss in pregnancy you should call your GP, Midwife or 111 straight away. If it is a large amount you should get emergency help by calling 999.
Haemorrhoids (Piles)
Although any one can get piles they are quite common in pregnancy and after birth.
Haemorrhoids are swellings around the anus (back passage) they are caused by enlarged blood vessels. Pregnancy hormones make veins ‘relax’ and this makes piles more likely.
You will notice:
Being constipated can make your piles worse so drink plenty of fluids and eat a high fibre diet.
Vulvar Varicosities
Vulvar Varicosities are varicose (bulging) veins on the vulva (outside parts) of a woman’s genitalia. The vulva can have a blue/purplish appearance. This can happen any time but is more common during pregnancy.
This is because of the increased blood flow and the hormones that occur in pregnancy. They can cause discomfort, pain, pressure.
It can be uncomfortable but the good news is they are usually gone by six weeks after the birth.
Back and pelvic pain
Pelvic pain in pregnancy is caused by a stiff pelvic joints or uneven movements at either the back or front of your pelvis.
Some people have mild symptoms but for some women it can cause severe pain and affect their mobility.
If you are struggling to get around and / or if you have pain, talk to your midwife or GP about this. Exercise and physiotherapy can help and there are pain relief options that are safe in pregnancy too.
Leaking
During pregnancy it is quite common to leak wee or poo. This is known as incontinence.
40-50% of women will experience leakage of wee (urine) during pregnancy and immediately after birth. 25% might have leakage of wind and poo (anal incontinence). 10% can have problems with this after birth.
Leaking can be due to your baby placing pressure on the bladder, bowel and the pelvic floor muscles as they grow. This can make everyday activities difficult and you might feel embarrassed, but there are things you can do to help:
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
A prolapse is when either the bladder, womb, or bowel draws down into the vagina causing the feeling of a ‘bulge'.
Pelvic organ prolapse affects one in three women who have had children. In pregnancy the growing baby places pressure upon the bladder, bowel and pelvic floor muscles as it grows bigger. Hormonal changes and a vaginal delivery can also affect the pelvic floor muscles.
A prolapse is not harmful to you, however it may affect how comfortable you feel about going to the toilet or being sexually active. If you think you have a prolapse it is recommended that you:
Itching In Pregnancy
Itching in pregnancy is usually normal and caused by dry ‘stretching’ skin. If you usually suffer with eczema it may be worse in pregnancy.
Itching can be helped by:
Very occasionally itching can be a sign of a very serious illness called obstetric cholestasis - this affects the liver. If you experience any of the following symptoms, please contact the maternity assessment unit via the contact number on your notes in order to be seen by the Midwife and Doctor.
Some symptoms are:
Swollen Fingers, Feet & Ankles
Some swelling is normal during pregnancy especially in the later months. It is because of the extra water you carry in pregnancy and a pregnancy bump can affect the circulation to your lower limbs to.
If the swelling is gradual it is usually nothing to worry about.
You can help reduce swelling by:
Sometimes swelling can be a sign of a condition called pre-eclampsia – which can be dangerous if not treated.
Get advice straight away if:
If you feel worried and would like more advice you can speak to your midwife throughout your pregnancy and up to 28 days after the birth of your baby.
If you live in Norfolk
If you live in Suffolk
For a referral to physiotherapy services please follow the routes below:
James Paget Hospital - perinatal and pelvic health physiotherapy - referral via your GP, Midwife or Consultant.
Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital - self-referral via 24 hour answer phone on 01603 287 130. Please leave your name, hospital number, contact number and a brief description of the problem. You will receive a call back to speak about the problem. This service is for women who are planning to have their baby at NNUH, during pregnancy or up to three months after birth.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital - Women and men’s health Physio: 01553 613389. Referral via GP, midwife, or consultant. 24/7 answerphone available.
Also in this section...