Download - Discomforts of Middle to Late Pregnancy
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Discomforts of
Middle to LatePregnancy
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Backache
As pregnancy advances, a lumbar lordosis occurs and
postural changes necessary to maintain balance maylead to backache
Wearing shoes with low to moderate heels reducesamount of spinal curvature necessary to maintainupright position
Backache can be initial sign of a bladder or kidneyinfection
To avoid back strain, advise a women to squat ratherthan bend over to puck up objects
Sliding a board under the mattress is a cost-effectivealternative for achieving a firmer sleeping surface
Backache can be initial sign of a bladder or kidneyinfection
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Headache
Many women experience headache duringpregnancy, apparently from their expandingblood volume, which puts pressure oncerebral arteries.
Although a few women who have migraineheadaches find these worsen duringpregnancy
If a headache is unusual intense or continuousit may be a danger sign of pregnancy cause byhigh blood pressure
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Dyspnea
As the expanding uterus puts pressure on thediaphragm, it causes lung compression and
shortness of breath.
A woman will notice this primarily at nightwhen her body is flat.
To relieve night time dyspnea, advise her to:
1. Sleep upright2. Sleep with two or more pillows
3. Limit her activities
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Ankle Edema
Most women experience some welling of the anklesfeet during late pregnancy, most noticeably at the endof the day.
As long as proteinuria and hypertension are absent,ankle edema of this nature is normal occurrence of
pregnancy. It is probably caused by reduced blood circulation in
the lower extremities due to uterine pressure andgeneral fluid retention.
This simple edema can be relieved best by resting in aleft side-lying position because this increases thekidneys glomerular filtration rate and allows goodvenous return.
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Braxton Hicks Contraction
Beginning as early as 8
th
to 12th
week ofpregnancy, the uterus periodically contractsand then relaxes again.
By middle or late pregnancy, the contractionsbecome stronger, and a woman who tenses atthe sensation may even experience someminimal pain, similar to hard menstrual
cramp. A rhythmic pattern of even very light
contractions can be a beginning sign of labor.
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Vaginal Bleeding
A woman should report vaginal bleeding, nomatter how slight, because some of theserious bleeding complications of pregnancybegin with only slight spotting.
If she discovered it on toilet paper following abowel movement, shes probably reportingspotting from hemorrhoids
Until the bleeding is found to be innocent,however, all women with spotting needfurther evaluation.
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Persistent Vomiting
Once-or-Twice daily vomiting is notuncommon during the first trimester ofpregnancy.
Frequent vomiting is not normal
Vomiting that continues past the 12
th
week of pregnancy is also extendedvomiting
Persistent or extended vomiting
depletes the nutritional supply availableto a fetus and is a danger to thepregnancy
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Chills and fever may indicate an
intrauterine infection, a serious
complication for both a woman and a
fetus.
These also may be a symptoms of a
relatively benign gastroenteritis
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Sudden escape of clear fluid from the vagina
When a gush of clear fluid is discharged suddenly
from the vagina, it means the membranes haveruptured and mother and fetus are now boththreatened, because the uterine cavity is nolonger sealed against infection.
If a fetus is small and the head does not fit snuglyinto the cervix, the umbilical cord may prolapsefollowing membrane rupture.
If the cord is then compressed by the fetal head,
oxygenation is compromised and a fetus will be inimmediate and grave danger.
Occasionally, a woman confuses stressincontinence for this.
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PHI refers to a potentially severe and even fatalelevation of blood pressure that occurs duringpregnancy
Symptoms:
1. Rapid weight gain (over 2 lb per week in the 2nd
trimester, 1 lb per week in the 3rd trimester)
2. Swelling of the face or fingers
3. Flashes of light or dots before the eyes
4. Dimness or blurring of vision5. Severe, continuous headache
6. Decreased urine output
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Increase or Decrease Fetal
Movement
A fetus normally moves more or less the
same amount everyday, an unusual
increase or decrease in movementsuggests that a fetus is responding to the
need for oxygen.