Common Pregnancy Discomforts Explored

Each woman's pregnancy is different from another's and even each pregnancy that the same woman may have can also be different. Common discomforts can be shared however giving certain continuity to pregnancy and of course many opportunities to swap stories and give out advise. Some of the most talked about discomforts of pregnancy include back pain, breast changes, constipation, dizziness, headaches, heartburn, hemorrhoids, insomnia, leg cramps, morning sickness, round ligament pain, sciatic nerve pain, skin changes, swelling, and dental and mouth issues.

Back pain is a very common complaint during pregnancy. In fact, 80% of those who are pregnant will experience and talk about back pain. A pregnant woman can experience back pain in many different locations including the pelvic region, the groin area, the coccyx (tailbone), the pubic symphysis anterior, and the upper legs nearest the buttock and pelvis. The famous waddling gait of pregnancy or posture is often the two culprits blamed for back pain.

Breast changes especially early in pregnancy can cause discomfort that often is a telltale sign that the woman is pregnant including tenderness and hypersensitivity of the nipples or breast tissue, growth and enlargement of breast tissue and of the nipples which can become more pronounced.

Constipation is a pregnancy discomfort that can be embarrassing and can cause abdominal discomfort due to difficult passage of stool that has hardened. There are many factors that contribute to constipation in pregnancy including anxiety, worry, and lack of adequate physical exercise, low-fiber diet, and pregnancy hormones. Pregnant women also consume prenatal vitamins that often contain iron, a mineral, which can contribute to constipation.

Nothing destroys the joy of pregnancy more than a persistent or nagging headache. Pregnant women tend to get headaches more during the first trimester and then again during the third trimester. Many things including the famous lack of sleep due to size of the abdomen or activity of the unborn baby, low blood sugar, dehydration, stress, and also caffeine withdrawal if the woman is trying to cut down or avoid caffeine during pregnancy can cause headaches during pregnancy.

Leg cramps are common in pregnancy due to the fact that the additional weight gain and the changes in circulation as well as pressure of the baby on certain nerves and blood vessels that go down to the legs can all add up to pinching or pressure that can be the source of leg cramping. If the woman exercises on a regular basis, takes frequent rests with her legs up, massages or has her legs massaged for her, or can wear supportive stockings she can hope to avoid some of the leg cramping.

Gums can become swollen and become more susceptible to bleeding while pregnant and the mom-to-be can easily get gingivitis due to hormonal changes that cause blood flow to increase to many parts of her body including her mouth. It is advisable to make a visit to the dentist part of her pre-pregnancy health check to ensure that everything is healthy with her mouth and gums and to reinforce good dental habits if necessary. She is at risk for pregnancy gingivitis especially in the second trimester of pregnancy so a healthy mouth before pregnancy will increase her chances for minimum dental discomforts during her pregnancy.