Common Side Effects of Pregnancy
Many expectant mothers have heard about the frequent pregnancy side effects and know what to expect.
Many of the hurdles that the body faces throughout pregnancy might manifest as symptoms and problems. Pregnancy can cause a wide range of unpleasant symptoms, including morning sickness, acid reflux, and constipation.
Many of these symptoms can be dealt with and perhaps become better as your pregnancy proceeds. However, you should consult your physician about any symptom that bothers or concerns you.
Clinical Side Effects of Pregnancy
In the early stages of pregnancy, it is not uncommon for women to experience the following signs and symptoms:
1. Morning Sickness
Pregnant morning sickness, especially in the early stages, is one of the most prevalent pregnancy side effects. Pregnancy morning sickness affects about nine out of ten women in some way, whether it’s nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting (being sick).
Most women begin experiencing this uncomfortable condition between weeks 6 and 7 of pregnancy and are free of it by week 14. The severity of the symptoms varies widely. It can be extremely mild in some ladies. Hyperemesis gravid arum, a severe form of morning sickness, affects others.
2. Discomfort and Diarrhea
This is due to the fact that symptoms are at their worst in the morning.
During pregnancy, nausea and vomiting are common symptoms for some women. Hormonal changes during pregnancy may be responsible for morning sickness.
Stress, travel, and certain foods, such as hot or fatty ones, appear to worsen morning sickness. It may be possible to relieve the symptoms by eating small meals throughout the day. Protein and complex carbs (such as whole-wheat pasta, bananas, and green leafy vegetables) may also help in decreasing the severity of nausea you are experiencing.
3. Frequent Urination
Even if you didn’t know you were expecting, you may have noticed that your bladder was getting more often before you found out. Pregnancy-related frequent urination is one of the first and most common symptoms, and it will most likely last until you give birth.
As a result of hormonal changes, your kidneys receive more blood, which causes your bladder to be filled more frequently. Your bladder is put under pressure as your uterus grows during the second and third trimesters of your pregnancy.
4. Fatigue
When a woman becomes pregnant, her body produces a hormone called progesterone, which helps in the pregnancy and increases breast milk production in the womb, making her more exhausted. In addition, the body pumps more blood during pregnancy in order to supply the fetus with nutrients. As early as one week following conception, pregnant women may begin to experience exhaustion.
5. Pregnancy-related Gum Bleeding
When brushing your teeth, do your gums seem to bleed? Gingivitis is a possible cause of bleeding gums during pregnancy. Plaque can cause swollen, bleeding gums when hormones are out of whack.
6. Pregnancy can cause Constipation
Pregnancy can cause constipation, which is a typical occurrence. There are occasions when it can be difficult to pass hard stools (feces). As a side effect, it may also necessitate fewer trips to the bathroom. Tummy (abdominal) discomfort, cramps, and gas can all result from constipation (flatulence). When passing stools, it may cause discomfort.
7. Discharge from the womb
Is there any further discharge from the cervix? You don’t have an illusion. You’re most likely experiencing leucorrhea, which is an odorless (or mildly scented) creamy discharge in your underwear that you may have experienced before becoming pregnant. Increased estrogen production and blood supply to the vaginal area are also factors contributing to the growth in its abundance today.
8. GERD and Heartburn
Reflux, indigestion, and heartburn are all terms used to describe the pain and discomfort caused by stomach acid ‘burning’ the esophagus.
Pregnancy-related indigestion is more common because of the increased pressure on the abdominal organs caused by the growing uterus and the relaxing effect of the hormone progesterone on the esophageal-gastric muscles.
9. Leg cramps during pregnancy
As a pregnant woman, you’re more likely to suffer from cramps. When you get a leg cramp, you feel a sharp ache in your lower leg.
During a cramp, moving your ankle up and down and stretching your leg may be helpful. Conscious efforts to avoid pointing your toes downward when lying down will help prevent cramps from occurring.
10. Acne Outbreaks
Acne is estimated to affect more than half of pregnant women. In the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, hormonal changes lead the skin to produce more sebum, a natural oil.
11. Breathing difficulties in pregnancy
There are many women who experience difficulty breathing as their wombs (uteruses) grow larger. Hyperventilation (over-breathing) can occur as a result of this, and it will also make you feel out of place.
In most cases, a pregnant woman’s breathlessness is caused by the expanding womb consuming space in her belly (abdomen). As a result, the diaphragm (the large muscle beneath your lungs, which pulls them open when you breathe) has less capacity to expand the lungs during exhalation. As the pregnancy progresses, this effect gets more pronounced.
12. Headache
Headache Pregnancy-related headaches, particularly in the first trimester, maybe the result of hormonal changes. Getting enough sleep, eating well, and drinking plenty of fluids can all help reduce headache symptoms. Before beginning any treatment for this disease, make an appointment with your doctor or midwife. Call your doctor if you have a severe headache or a headache that won’t go away. Preeclampsia may be the cause.
13. Hemorrhoids
The two previously stated pregnancy side symptoms, constipation, and hemorrhoids, regrettably go hand in hand. Hemorrhoids can form as a result of constipation and the pressure exerted by your baby on the big veins beneath your uterus.
Conclusion
Pregnancy doesn’t cause all of these symptoms. Some of these symptoms may be a sign of serious illness or the beginning of your period. In the same way, it is possible to be pregnant yet not display many of these symptoms. Talk to your doctor if any of these symptoms become problematic so that you can devise a plan to alleviate them.
FAQs
1. What are general warning signs that there could be complications with a pregnancy?
Signs of danger and difficulties include:
- Bleeding in the uterus.
- Convulsions
- Severe headaches with blurred vision.
- Fainting and unfit to leave the bed.
- Severe gastrointestinal distress.
- Rapid or difficult breathing
2. What exactly is a “false period”?
Abnormal vaginal bleeding is defined as bleeding that occurs outside of your monthly cycle, which is known as intermenstrual bleeding. Spotting can be caused by a variety of factors. It’s not always a warning indication, but when it is, it should raise red flags.
3. When do the first signs of pregnancy appear?
For pregnancy to occur, it takes about two to three weeks following sex. After the fertilized egg adheres to the wall of your uterus for the first time, some women experience pregnancy symptoms as early as a week after their cycle has begun. Some women don’t begin to feel the effects of pregnancy until they’ve been pregnant for a few months.
