Common Discomforts of Women during Pregnancy

One of the major turning points in a woman’s life is when she is ready to give birth. For nine months, women take care of themselves and their unborn baby by giving them all the nutrition they need, and making sure that the baby is born healthy. Unfortunately for some women, the weight of pregnancy and lack of experience may prompt them to drink alcohol. As most women know, alcohol use during pregnancy is a definite mistake, since it leads to FAS, or Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, greatly affecting the health of the fetus.



Besides alcohol, pregnant women must also avoid eating unhealthy food or anything with too much oil or grease. During the nine months of pregnancy, most women feel a variety of discomforts in their bodies. This is mainly due to the growth of the fetus, in which the woman’s body is trying to nurture. Several discomforts usually occur during these nine months.



Most women feel nausea and vomit during their first trimester. Also called the "morning sickness", most pregnant women tend to feel experience this symptom that is mainly due to the hormonal changes that the body undergoes during pregnancy. When this happens, they should try and make changes with their eating schedule and diet. Eating smaller meals several times a day and eating complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables can be extremely helpful.



Fatigue is also commonly felt by pregnant women, especially during their first trimester. This is most probably due to the adjustment stage of pregnancy, where the body adjusts accordingly to the new fetus it now nourishes. The body’s blood volume and fluids increase as the fetus grows, which may lead to anemia. Women can ask for a blood test in any of the Bakersfield hospitals to check for possible anemia.



Swelling is also considered a common discomfort among pregnant women. Most of them turn to their left side, wear support hose, elevate their legs, and wear comfortable shoes for relief. However, if the swelling still persists, this may indicate high blood pressure, or preeclampsia. Pregnant women should notify their physician or visit any Bakersfield San Joaquin hospital for medical help.



Pregnant women should always feel comfortable, healthy and happy. These natural discomforts are often felt by a lot of women during pregnancy, and should be no cause of alarm. Women can ask for health plan San Joaquin providers can cover for maternity care.