Common Discomforts of Pregnancy
Discomforts Contributing Factor or Cause Hints for Relieving Discomforts/ Nursing
1. Bleeding gums Some women get swollen and sore gums, which
may bleed, during pregnancy. Bleeding gums are
caused by a build-up of plaque on the teeth.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can make
your gums more vulnerable to plaque, leading to
inflammation and bleeding. This is also called
pregnancy gingivitis or gum disease.
2. Nasal stuffiness A pregnant woman may be dealing with a stuffy
nose that doesn’t seem to go away. This hassle is
called pregnancy rhinitis. Pregnancy rhinitis is an
inflammation of the mucus membranes lining the
nose. This causes nasal congestion. Increased
blood flow to the nasal passages and
enlargement of the nasal veins also play a role.
The cause of this condition isn’t really clear.
However, it may be caused by hormonal
changes. Having a history of allergies or asthma
does not raise your risk of getting pregnancy
rhinitis.
3. Nose bleeds Pregnant women are more prone to nosebleeds
because the blood vessels in the nose expand
due to the pressure of all the new blood moving
throughout the body. The blood supply of a
pregnant woman increases by as much as 50%.
For that reason, the blood vessels in the nose are
incredibly delicate and break easily. In addition,
hormone changes during pregnancy can make
the nose feel stuffy and congested that
contribute to nosebleeds.
Responsibilities
For a pregnant woman, it is very important to
maintain a good oral hygiene by keeping the
teeth and gums healthy and clean.
Many women use non-prescription, over-the-
counter (OTC) decongestant sprays to open up
their nasal passages. Know that these medicines
don’t work for pregnancy rhinitis. These
medicines may give you temporary relief.
However, they may actually make your symptoms
worse and lead to a complete nasal blockage.
As a nurse, it is good to instruct the patient to lie
in a supine position. It is widely known to increase
nasal resistance to the passage of air. Thus, the
pregnant patient can be advised to raise the head
of the bed at least 30 degrees, and perhaps as
much as 45 degrees to obtain greater patency of
the nostrils. She may also be advised to engage
in light-to-moderate exercise, an activity that also
opens the nasal passages.
Sometimes nosebleeds are unavoidable, despite
the best efforts. However, there are some
interventions to be considered to prevent getting
a nosebleed such as drinking plenty of water,
using a humidifier to moisten the air when
sleeping, positioning the head upright. If the flow
is very heavy, you might need to lean forward so
you don’t choke on blood or apply an ice pack or
a cold bag of vegetables to help constrict the
blood vessels.
4. Breast tenderness Like so many pregnancy symptoms, tender
breasts are due to surging hormones. The
hormones estrogen and progesterone, as
well as prolactin boost blood flow to the
breasts and cause changes in breast tissue
to prepare for breastfeeding.
5. Nausea Morning sickness, also called nausea and
vomiting of pregnancy is a common condition. It
may be caused by low blood sugar or the rise in
pregnancy hormones such as human chorionic
gonadotropin HCG or estrogen. It may also be
worsened by stress, being overtired, eating
certain food, or having sensitivity to motion.
6. Feeling faint or about to faint Feeling dizzy or faint is very common during
pregnancy. It generally doesn't mean something is
wrong. It's most common during the first
trimester, but it can happen anytime during
pregnancy. Dizziness and fainting (syncope) are
often caused by a drop in blood pressure. This is
from the hormones released during pregnancy
that relax the body’s blood vessels. Too little
blood is then pumped up to the brain. When this
happens, a patient lose consciousness (faint).
Fainting is not dangerous to you or your baby
unless you fall and hurt yourself.
7. Fatigue Fatigue during pregnancy is very common. Some
Breast pain and tenderness does not necessarily
need a prescription unless the pain is really
intense. The best thing to do is to deal with this
normal phenomenon during pregnancy.
Instructing the patient to talk to her partner is
important for her partner to be aware of the
situation and to let him know what is okay to
touch and how to deal with it. Wearing a
comfortable nursing bra is also good because it is
a maternity must-have. Cold packs on the breasts
can relieve discomfort as well or warm water
from the shower can ease the pain too.
Treatments for morning sickness include vitamin
B-6 supplements (pyridoxine).Continuing
symptoms might require prescription anti-nausea
medications. Since nausea is often associated
with increased salivation and vomiting, helping
the patient to establish routine oral care will
decrease unpleasant feelings and odors in the
mouth. Furthermore, strong odors can make
nausea worse so eliminating offending smells
from the room will help.
When getting up from sitting or lying down, it is
important to do is so slow by clenching and
releasing the leg muscles before and during
standing. Standing for a long period of time must
be avoided. If a patient really needs to stand for
prolonged periods of time, wearing compression
stockings will be helpful because it help keeps in
keeping the blood flowing toward the heart.
Lying on the back must also be prevented after
the first trimester.
In dealing with fatigue as a discomfort during
 women may feel exhausted throughout their
pregnancy, while some may hardly feel tired at
all. During early pregnancy, hormonal changes
are likely the cause of fatigue. Your body is
producing more blood to carry nutrients to your
growing baby. Your blood sugar levels and blood
pressure are also lower. Hormones especially
increased progesterone levels, are responsible
for making you sleepy.
8. Shortness of breath According to a 2015 study, an estimated 60–
70%Trusted Source of women experience
shortness of breath during pregnancy. Another
name for the condition is dyspnea. Causes
include the growing uterus pushing upward on the
lungs, and hormonal increases. Pregnancy
dyspnea is usually harmless. However, in some
cases, more serious pregnancy complications can
lead to difficulty breathing.
9. Heart burns Heartburn, despite its name, has nothing to do
with the heart. It's a burning feeling in the throat
and chest when the stomach's contents move
back up into the esophagus. It is common
during pregnancy. Pregnancy hormones can
make the valve at the entrance to the stomach
relax so that it doesn't close as it should. This lets
acidic stomach contents move up into the
esophagus, a condition known
pregnancy, a patient needs to make sure to get
extra bed rest during the times you feel fatigued.
This can be accomplished by going to bed earlier
or taking a nap during the day, if possible. If the
patient’s current commitments or activities prove
to be too draining during pregnancy, she may
have to temporarily adjust her schedule to be less
busy. Eating nutritious meals will go a long way
toward supporting the patient’s energy levels.
Make sure you get enough iron, protein, and
calories. Fatigue can become worse if you are not
getting the proper nutrients. Also, you will need to
ensure you stay hydrated during your pregnancy.
Although you may feel like you do not have the
energy to exercise, if you incorporate moderate
activity, such as a 30-minute walk, this will
actually make you feel more energized. Exercise
is beneficial in pregnancy unless your healthcare
provider has advised otherwise.
Feeling short of breath can be uncomfortable and
limit a person’s physical activity. There is not
enough research to support specific treatments
for dyspnea during pregnancy. However, there
are several general steps pregnant people can
take to make breathing more comfortable such as
practicing good posture, sleeping with pillows
supporting the upper back, practicing breathing
techniques commonly used in labor, and listening
to the body and slowing down when needed.
To help ease heartburn, it is necessary to skip
foods and drinks that can make it worse such as
citrus, spicy, fatty foods, and caffeine or
carbonated drinks.
 as gastroesophageal reflux (GER), or acid reflux.
It can get worse later in pregnancy when the
growing uterus presses up on the stomach.
10. Striae Stretch marks are narrow, streak-like lines that Some creams claim to remove stretch marks
can develop o the skin. They can be pink, red, once they’ve appeared, but there is no reliable
purple or brown depending on a woman’s skin evidence that they work. There is also limited
color. This is common in pregnant women. evidence about whether oils or creams help
Hormonal changes in pregnancy can affect a prevent stretch marks from appearing in the first
woman’s skin and make her more likely to get place.
stretch marks.
11. Low back pain It is very common to get backache or back pain A pregnant woman must be very careful during
during pregnancy, especially in the early stages. the time of pregnancy. She has to be very
During pregnancy, the ligaments in the body
sensitive to her physical activities.
naturally become softer and stretch to prepare for
labour. This can put a strain on the joints of the
lower back and pelvis, which can cause back
pain.

12. Round ligament pain A woman’s body makes hormones during A pregnant woman must avoid lifting heavy things
pregnancy to make ligaments loose and stretchy. and standing for long periods of time during
This helps the body adjust to the growing baby. pregnancy. This will help lessen the stress on the
As a baby grows in the womb, it stretches the uterus and round ligaments. It is very important to
uterus and the round ligaments. This stretching get enough rest to avoid stress in the body of a
can cause spasms in the round ligaments, pregnant woman.
leading to the pain.
13. Leg cramps
14. Varicose veins
15. Ankle edema
16. Flatulence
17. Constipation and haemorrhoids
18. Trouble sleeping
1. https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/related-conditions/common-symptoms/bleeding-gums/#:~:text=Some%20women%20get%20swollen%20and,pregnancy
%20gingivitis%20or%20gum%20disease.

2. https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/family-resources-library/pregnancy-rhinitis-relief-for-ongoing-nasal-congestion-is-
possible#:~:text=Pregnancy%20rhinitis%20is%20an%20inflammation,Symptoms%20occur%20during%20pregnancy.

https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/selfcare-of-rhinitis-during-pregnancy

3. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/22342-nosebleeds-while-pregnant#:~:text=Pregnant%20people%20are%20more%20prone,incredibly
%20delicate%20and%20break%20easily.

4. https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/symptoms-and-solutions/breast-tenderness.aspx#:~:text=it'll%20last.-,What%20causes%20breast%20pain
%20during%20pregnancy%3F,blood%20flow%20to%20the%20area.

5. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16566-morning-sickness-nausea-and-vomiting-of-pregnancy#:~:text=It%20may%20be%20caused
%20by,to%20motion%20(motion%20sickness).

6. https://www.fairview.org/patient-education/116807EN#:~:text=Dizziness%20and%20fainting%20(syncope)%20are,you%20lose%20consciousness
%20(faint).

7. https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-concerns/fatigue-during-pregnancy/#:~:text=During%20early%20pregnancy%2C
%20hormonal%20changes,responsible%20for%20making%20you%20sleepy.

8. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322316#management

9. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/heartburn.html#:~:text=Heartburn%20is%20common%20during%20pregnancy,GER)%2C%20or%20acid%20reflux.

10. https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/related-conditions/common-symptoms/stretch-marks/

11. https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/related-conditions/common-symptoms/back-pain/

12. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21642-round-ligament-pain#:~:text=A%20woman's%20body%20makes%20hormones,ligaments%2C
%20leading%20to%20the%20pain.
13.