10 pain that pregnant women need to know how to handle

During the nine-month and ten-day journey, there will inevitably be many changes in the mother's body, which can sometimes manifest in discomfort. Therefore, pregnant women need to know the information they need to have a way to "cope" with these pain effectively and safely.

The pain that develops during pregnancy is usually harmless and is of no concern unless they are associated with symptoms of pre-eclampsia or prenatal labor. In fact, these aches and pains are often caused by internal changes as well as an increase in body weight.

Common pain during pregnancy

Although having a child is boundless happiness for pregnant mothers, but during pregnancy, women experience body aches very often. Below are some common issues that pregnant women need to know in order to soothe and make themselves feel more secure each time the pain "hits".

1. Abdominal pain

Abdominal pain during pregnancy is a common and completely normal phenomenon. The cause can be gas, heartburn, constipation or even the development of the fetus in the body. Pain also develops when an egg starts to nest in the uterus or from the stretching of the circular ligament that supports the uterus. False labor or Braxton-Hicks contractions, a pain that occurs in the 8th month of pregnancy is also a cause of abdominal pain in pregnant women. Of course, during real labor, too, most pregnant women feel abdominal cramping pain.

Treatment

If your stomach aches during pregnancy for simple reasons, you can ease the pain by avoiding strong lumbar movements. When you feel pain, lean over to the affected side, drink as much water as you can, do some gentle stretches or walk around to help release the gas that builds up in your stomach.

When should you see a doctor?

If the pain persists, whether or not you may have vaginal bleeding or white blood, you should still see your obstetrician for a checkup as soon as possible.

2. Back pain

There are two common sites of back pain in pregnant women. One is lumbar or back pain and the other is posterior pelvic pain. The reasons for this may be weight gain, standing or sitting in the wrong position, hormonal changes, and muscle separation due to an enlarged uterus. Another cause that can also cause back pain in pregnant women is psychological stress.

Treatment

You can control back pain by adjusting your posture when sitting and standing, and practicing exercises for each stage of pregnancy. When sleeping, pregnant mothers should also equip themselves with a pillow between their legs and sleep on the left side. Acupuncture is also an effective way to reduce back pain during pregnancy. In addition, applying cold and hot compresses to the sore area can also make you feel better.

When should you see a doctor?

If you have back pain with a fever, it could be a sign of an infection. When the pain gets worse or the pain is so severe that it makes it difficult for you to go to the bathroom, see your doctor as soon as possible.

3. Vaginal pain

Vaginal pain is one of the most common pain in early pregnancy. This may be due to the enlarged uterus and increased blood volume in the pelvic region. Constipation (due to the influence of hormones and iron prescribed in pregnancy) is also capable of causing vaginal pain in pregnant women.

Treatment

If you frequently experience constipation during pregnancy , include plenty of fiber-rich foods in your daily diet and drink as much water as possible. You should also consult your doctor about safe ways to soften stools during pregnancy. Practicing pelvic-related exercises will also help ease your pain.

In addition, a gentle massage as well as a soak in hot water can help soothe your vaginal pain. Wearing clothes that support the abdomen can also reduce the pressure on the pelvic area, hips and waist.

When should you see a doctor?

Watch out for dangerous signs of vaginal pain such as vaginal bleeding, severe pelvic pain that makes walking difficult, severe headache, dizziness, body swelling, fever or chills. . At that time, see a doctor immediately for prompt treatment.

4. Carpal tunnel syndrome

Pain in the wrists and knuckles, along with a feeling of numbness or tingling, are common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. During pregnancy, this syndrome usually occurs in the second and third trimesters and continues even after birth. Sometimes the pain is so severe that it is almost impossible to hold the baby.

Treatment

To relieve the pain and numbness caused by carpal tunnel syndrome, you can try the following:

Massage by a trained therapist.

If you do actions that may make the pain worse, apply cold and warm compresses to the area where it feels pain, rotate and shake your wrist or wear a brace.

When should you see a doctor?

It is of concern if you experience severe pain in your wrists or are so numb that it is difficult to hold or hold an object in your hand. If that happens, you need to inform the obstetrician of the situation to be followed up and treated promptly.

5. Headache

This is also a phenomenon that women often experience during pregnancy. However, pregnant mothers usually do not have constant headaches or will go away completely in the last trimester. The main cause of this condition is still hormonal changes in the body. Other causes of headaches are fatigue, stress, or nervous breakdown.

Treatment

You can use a cold compress, head massage, drink plenty of water, get enough sleep, take a walk and relax to relieve stress. These are all simple ways pregnant women should know how to get rid of a headache. If you feel tired and want to take some painkillers, consult your obstetrician.

When should you see a doctor?

Sometimes a headache during pregnancy can be the sign of a serious problem. If you experience severe headache, blurred vision, pain below your ribs, nausea, and swelling in your body, you should consult your doctor. That could be a sign of pre-eclampsia.

6. Leg cramps

A leg cramp is a throbbing pain caused by a sudden muscle contraction. Sometimes you will need someone to help straighten your legs. The cramps usually cause pain in the calf or the back of the thigh. The reason behind the sudden cramp may be due to poor blood circulation to the legs.

Treatment

As soon as you have a cramp, get up and try to stretch your legs slowly or ask someone for help. Then, try to move your legs and feet while the armrest is on some support. You can get more magnesium with magnesium- rich foods to reduce your risk of cramps instead of taking supplements .

When should you see a doctor?

You should see your doctor if the cramping is frequent and every time it causes extreme pain.

7. Sciatica pain

To help prepare the pelvis for childbirth, the body begins to secrete the hormone relaxin. As a result, the ligament relaxes and the sciatic nerve is pinched in the middle. At that time, pregnant mothers can feel the throbbing pain spreading down the buttocks and the back of the legs.

Treatment

Homeopathy (homeopathy) can relieve sciatica. Alternatively, you should also try massage (by trained and licensed professionals), take a warm bath or use heating pads and place on the sore area. Plus, swimming can also help alleviate sciatica during pregnancy.

When should you see a doctor?

As soon as you feel pain spread down your buttocks and the back of your legs, notify your doctor immediately.

8. Hemorrhoids

When you are pregnant, you are more likely to get hemorrhoids because the dilated uterus puts pressure on the pelvic and lower extremities. This can decrease blood circulation in the lower half of the body, increase pressure on the abdomen and cause hemorrhoids. In addition, another common cause of hemorrhoids during pregnancy is severe constipation due to hormonal changes.

Treatment

The first thing pregnant women need to know to prevent hemorrhoids is to limit constipation. Drink plenty of fluids, and eat plenty of fiber-rich foods every day. Establish a healthy diet with little use of spicy spices. A warm bath with a little baking soda can help increase blood circulation in the anus. To ease the itchiness associated with hemorrhoids, you can also apply baking soda to the lower buttocks area. Witch Hazel has the ability to treat swelling and bleeding when suffering from hemorrhoids.

Non-surgical treatment solutions for hemorrhoids include bipolar hemostasis, hemorrhoidal hemorrhoidal stitching / hemorrhoids stitching (HAL), rubber banding ... Doctors also sometimes ask you to surgery if bleeding is caused by uncontrolled hemorrhoids or if there are many internal and external hemorrhoids.

When should you see a doctor?

Tell your doctor right away if you experience severe pain and bleeding from hemorrhoids.

To learn more about hemorrhoids during pregnancy, you can refer to the article:  Causes and prevention of hemorrhoids during pregnancy .

9. Rib pain

This usually occurs in the last trimester of pregnancy. However, that could be a good signal because the pain can be caused by the growing fetus and the impact on the ribs when moving.

Treatment

You should feel less pain after 36 weeks of pregnancy, when the uterus and fetus have moved slightly downwards. Before that, however, you should relieve pain by dressing up, maintaining correct posture, using pillows while sleeping, walking, yoga and bathing with warm water.

When should you see a doctor?

If your rib pain is getting worse, see your doctor and ask to take pain relievers if necessary.

10. Breast pain

Breast pain can occur during some or all of your pregnancy. Do not worry! This is primarily due to hormonal changes that take place during pregnancy. The pain comes in the third trimester because the milk glands are preparing to produce breast milk.

Treatment

Pregnant women need to know that this is a normal phenomenon and that there is no way the pain will go away completely. For relief, you can wear a special-use bra for pregnant women and gently massage your breasts while bathing.

When should you see a doctor?

If you experience severe breast pain with a rash or red spots on your skin, see your doctor as soon as possible.

Almost any pain that you experience during pregnancy is normal and doesn't need to be overly concerned. However, pregnant women need to be aware of unusual signs that require medical attention to prevent anything unfortunate to happen. If you still feel fear, please share your concerns with your obstetrician!