Although pregnancy is a stage that fills us with excitement and excitement, it is also a process in which we can experience some discomfort. Hormones and the various changes in our body, are generating some things that can make us feel uncomfortable.
Today we review three of the complaints that usually appear in the first trimester of pregnancy: dizziness, headache and nasal congestion .
Dizziness in pregnancy
It is normal for dizziness to occur during pregnancy, especially during the first months in which the body’s cardiovascular system is adapting to the new situation, as it usually occurs when there is a drop in blood pressure.
Dizziness can appear at any time of the day , but dizziness is more likely after eating (because more blood is concentrated in digestion), when standing up suddenly, or from standing for a long time.
What to do about dizziness and how to prevent it
It is very common for dizziness during pregnancy to occur when making certain movements , such as getting out of bed or from a chair, so one of the most basic measures that we can adopt at this stage is to avoid sudden changes in position.
If you are going to get out of bed or out of a chair, be careful and do so gently. When you wake up, stay semi-sitting in bed for a few minutes before standing up.
Another factor that can influence dizziness is diet. One way to prevent them is by avoiding the feeling of having an empty stomach. To do this, eat small portions of more frequent food throughout the day and avoid carbonated drinks and coffee (which can also have negative effects at this stage), as well as foods with fats.
Include foods with iron in your diet, as they help increase the number of red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen, and drink water several times a day to stay hydrated.
In case you feel dizzy , here are some things you can do:
- Lie down with your legs up and relax by taking slow breaths (inhaling through your nose, exhaling gently through your mouth). Lying on your left side also helps increase blood flow to your heart and brain.
- If you cannot lie down, sit with your head between your knees so that the blood flows to the brain.
- Always carry a candy or candy in your bag to have on hand when you feel dizzy. It will help raise your blood sugar level.
- If you feel sick, always ask for help , so you will avoid falling and hurting yourself. If you are driving, stop and follow the advice I have given you before.
Headache in pregnancy
Hormonal changes that occur in the first trimester can also lead to a headache. In women who previously suffered from headaches on a regular basis, these are accentuated during pregnancy, while others suffer them for the first time.
The increased volume of blood circulation and the decrease in blood glucose contribute to a very severe and characteristic headache that is concentrated on both sides of the head and on the nape of the neck . In the last trimester they can be repeated due to postural problems, produced by the weight of the gut.
What to do about a headache and how to prevent it
As in the case of dizziness, nutrition and hydration can help us prevent its appearance . Try to eat small amounts of food several times a day to avoid a lack of sugar and drink water to avoid dehydration.
Doing moderate exercise will also help us reduce its probability or frequency, because by activating yourself you help to facilitate blood circulation, in addition to providing multiple other benefits. In this case, walking or swimming can help.
Do your best to relax . Although it is not necessary that you stop doing your daily activities because you are pregnant, it is good that you lower the level of demand and find moments of relaxation. Getting a good night’s rest and rest is essential to avoid a headache during pregnancy.
If you have a headache during pregnancy , here are some things you can do:
- Rest in a dark room , away from light.
- Put cold compresses on the forehead or where there is pain.
- Lie on the left side, to facilitate blood circulation.
- Gently massage those points of the head where there is pain (temples, inner part of the eyes, nape, etc.)
- Take a shower or bath with lukewarm water. Steam helps decongest the airways, sometimes the cause of headaches.
- Ventilate the house and let in fresh air.
If the pain is very intense and persistent and does not subside after the first trimester, it is advisable to consult your doctor as it could be a symptom of pre-eclampsia.
Nasal congestion
By the second month of pregnancy, a woman may have the sensation of having a cold without having a cold. This is the so-called rhinitis of pregnancy , caused by the dilation of the blood vessels and the inflammation of the nasal mucosa due to the high level of estrogens.
In some cases, rhinitis of pregnancy can persist throughout the entire pregnancy, which can be quite uncomfortable. It is also possible that the congestion itself causes nosebleeds.
Rhinitis can affect your night’s rest and lead to snoring (which is one of the embarrassing complaints during pregnancy). These, in addition to being very annoying, prevent a good rest , although there are also other factors that increase the risk of snoring in pregnancy (excessive weight gain, hypertension).
You should pay attention to nasal congestion, because if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as a sore throat or swollen glands it could be a cold, and if your eyes or nose are also itchy, it could be an allergy.
What to do about nasal congestion and how to prevent it
Feeling a stuffy nose can be very annoying and, as with other pregnancy discomforts, there are certain medications that we cannot use at this stage, such as nasal drops that are contraindicated .
One of the things that causes nasal congestion are dry environments, so having a humidifier at home will be very useful to help raise the humidity of the environment if necessary.
In this case, water is once again our ally, since drinking plenty of fluids helps us both to prevent and relieve nasal congestion.
If you have a stuffy nose during pregnancy , you can try one of these tips:
- Take steam baths by filling a bowl with hot water and breathing in the fumes.
- Flush your nostrils only with saline to clear the passages in your nose.
- Drink plenty of fluids and sleep with your head higher than your body.
- Avoid any irritating substance such as perfumes, smoky places, alcohol and sudden changes in temperature.
- Don’t blow your nose too hard and sneeze with your mouth open to avoid bleeding.
As always, we remember that if you feel any of these or other discomforts, it is important to consult your doctor , especially if the ones we have named today are very frequent and intense.
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In Babies and more | What will I feel? The most frequent discomforts in the first trimester of pregnancy, what will I feel? The most frequent discomforts in the second trimester of pregnancy, what will I feel? The most frequent complaints in the third trimester of pregnancy
