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Common Complaints during Pregnancy

• Backache • Bleeding Gums • Constipation • Oedema • Flatulance • Heart Burn
• Insomnia • LegCramps • Piles • Anemia and Weakness • Stretch Marks • Other

Backache
Causes
• Increase in body weight, gradual enlargement of uterus, which puts pressure on the spine, causes backache during the second and third trimester of pregnancy.
• Women, who do not take calcium supplements during pregnancy, also suffer from bone pain and backache.
• Muscle relaxing effects of the female reproductive hormone progesterone also causes backache.
Therapy
• Be sure your diet contains enough calcium and proteins.
• Increase your intake of foods rich in Vitamin C, as a deficiency in this vitamin could contribute to bleeding gums.
• Quit smoking completely during pregnancy, for smoking reduces the oxygen supply to the developing fetus and also drains Vitamin C from the body.
• Oral hygiene should be maintained by brushing teeth 3-4 times a day.
• Ayurveda mentions the use of Hridya (sour and tasty) herbs such as tamarind, lemon, and embelic myrobalan (amalaki / gooseberry) in the form of cold infusion in pregnancy.


Bleeding Gums
Causes
During pregnancy, increased estrogen levels cause the gums to swell and become somewhat softer than normal and the circulation of blood to them increases. This makes the gums more prone to bleeding and infection, especially if good oral hygiene is not maintained.
Therapy
• Be sure your diet contains enough calcium and complete proteins.
• Increase your intake of foods rich in Vitamin C, as a deficiency in this vitamin could contribute to bleeding gums.
• Smoking should be quitted during pregnancy, for smoking reduces the oxygen supply to the developing fetus and also drains Vitamin C from the body.
• Oral hygiene should be maintained by brushing teeth 3-4 times a day.
• Ayurveda mentions use of all the Hridya (sour and tasty) herbs such as tamarind, lemon, and embelic myrobalan (amalaki) in the form of cold infusion in pregnancy.


Constipation
Causes
• Hormonal changes during pregnancy have a relaxing effect on the muscles, including those of the digestive tract. The increasing level of progesterone in the body system makes the bowels less efficient. The normal rhythmic contractions of the intestines slow down, resulting into constipation.
• Also, the increasing size of the uterus exerts pressure on the rectum, making passing stools difficult.
Therapy
• The treatment mainly includes dietetics, since LAXATIVES AND PURGATIVES SHOULD BE STRICTLY AVOIDED IN PREGNANCY.
• Fresh and dried fruit such as prunes, raisins and figs, fresh vegetables and salads containing a variety of vitamins, green and leafy vegetables, cereals, and bran should be included in daily diet.
• Plenty of fluids should be taken, including six to eight glasses of water every day.
• The feet and legs should be elevated at night to relax the anal muscles.
• Simple home remedial measures such as drinking a glass of plain hot water immediately after getting up in the morning helps to evacuate bowels without causing any adverse effect.
• Hot milk should be taken along with ½ teaspoonful of pure ghee every night, to facilitate the easy passing of stools.
• Dishes made from pulses, such as black gram, horse gram, and very pungent and dry food items should be avoided.


Oedema
Causes
The rise in estrogen in the body during pregnancy causes fluid retention, marked by swelling on the hands and feet. If this happens, the consulting gynecologist should be informed. When swelling is associated with presence of proteins in the urine and a rise in blood pressure, it requires immediate treatment and constant observation by a gynecologist. If these symptoms are ignored, the woman might suffer from convulsions, known as ecclemptic convulsions, which in turn could prove fatal for the growing fetus.
Therapy
• If the swelling is not associated with any other above-mentioned problems, salt intake and water intake should be restricted, and extra salt from meals should be stopped.
• Loose, comfortable clothing and properly fitting shoes should be used.
• Feet should not be kept in dangling position for a long time, as it increases the swelling of feet.
• Walking for ½ hour each day is good exercise, which keeps bowel habit regular and also keeps the circulation in the feet active.
• For uncomplicated swelling, Ayurvedic preparations, such as decoction of fruits of puncture vine (Gokshur), or Boerhaavia diffusa (Punarnava) should be taken in the dose of 30 ml. thrice daily.


Flatulence
Causes
• In pregnancy, gradual enlargement of uterus causes shifting of the bowels, causing flatulence.
• Food items such as cold rice, pulses like black gram and horse gram cause flatulence.
• Long periods of physical immobility also sometimes cause gaseous distension of abdomen.
Therapy
• Dishes should contain a little amount of asafoetida, which acts as a powerful anti flatulent.
• In severe cases, hot fomentation with hot water bag over abdomen should be employed.
• Local application of the paste of asafetida powder in water also helps in relieving the flatulence.
• A mixture of cumin seeds and salt should be taken in the dose of 1-2 gms.
• Spicy and pungent food should be avoided.
• As far as possible, fresh and hot food should be eaten. It should be easy to digest and also prevents the formation of gases.


Heart Burn
Causes
Heartburn or hyperacidity is a very common symptom right from first month, and is known as hyperemesis gravidarum. It can be very severe at times, making it impossible for the patient to retain any fluid or food. The exact cause is unknown in most of the cases, and most often, it stops at the end of first trimester of pregnancy.
Therapy
• Foods such as oily or spicy food, coffee, baking soda, aerated soft drinks, as well as alcohol and cigarettes, which irritate the inner lining of stomach, should be avoided.
• Frequent and small meals along with large quantities of juices are often helpful.
• Generic Ayurvedic formulations such as a powder of pearls and conch shell should be taken after consulting the Ayurvedic physician.
• Cold drinks and milk products like milk shakes, and sweet yogurt should be taken to soothe the burning sensation of stomach.
• In severe cases, intra venous supplement of the fluids should be given after hospitalization.


Insomnia
Causes
This is another common complaint during the last few weeks of pregnancy, when finding a comfortable sleeping position is difficult. Vitamin B deficiency can also cause insomnia. Emotional changes that accompany pregnancy, also contribute to sleeping disorders.
Therapy
• Foods rich in Vitamin B should be taken in plenty.
• Do not force yourself to sleep if you are not tired. Read or do non-strenuous chores until you feel sleepy.
• Drinking a cup of hot herbal tea with honey and lemon juice before going to bed helps in getting better sleep.
Caution
Do not use chamomile tea on a regular basis you may develop ragweed allergy. The causes, such as discomfort after having food or breathlessness, should be tackled by arranging pillows behind the back so as to elevate the head and chest.


Leg Cramps
Causes
Leg cramps are often the result of nutritional deficiency and / or electrolyte imbalance; in addition to the strain placed on the legs by extra weight gain.
Therapy
• Intake of calcium and potassium by eating foods such as almonds, bananas, grape fruit, low-fat cottage cheese, oranges, soy products, and sesame seed should be increased.
• Standing for a very long time should be avoided to avoid the strain on the legs. Also, shifting of weight from one leg to another every few minutes is advisable.
• During acute leg cramps, application of hot fomentation by using hot water bottle or applying a heating pad to the cramping area, or massaging should be employed.

Piles
Causes
Hemorrhoids / piles are common during pregnancy. They are formed due to engorgement (filled with excessive blood) of the veins in the rectal / anal area. This is caused due to:
• The main cause behind this is the increased pressure within the abdomen due to gradual enlargement of uterus.
• Constipation also plays a major role in causing piles.
Therapy
• All the measures, described in the treatment of constipation should be followed.
• Intake of foods high in roughage should be increased.
• Plenty of raw vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, bran, and whole grain bread should be included in the daily diet.
• Six to eight glasses of liquid each day, including water, juices, and herbal teas should be taken, to avoid hard stools, which might cause bleeding during the passing of motion.
• For bleeding piles, powder of Nagkeshar (Messua ferra) and Lodhra (Symplocos recemosa) should be taken in the dose of 2 gms thrice daily.
• Tablets containing Suran (Amorphophallus) should be taken in the dose of 2 to 3 tablets thrice daily.


Anemia and Weakness
Causes
• The main cause of weakness during otherwise normal pregnancy is anemia.
• It is mainly observed in the women who are malnourished, or those who are deficient in Vitamin B.
• Moderate to severe bleeding due to any cause also causes iron deficiency anemia.
• Severe vomiting during first trimester of pregnancy causes under nourishment and results in magaloblastic anemia.
Therapy
• Food items, which are rich in iron and vitamin B, such as leafy vegetables, milk, beetroot, etc., should be taken in large amounts.
• Tablets containing the purified calx (medicinal ash of metals prepared by incineration) of iron, three myrobalans, piper root, etc., should be taken in the dose of 500 mg., thrice daily, after consulting the Ayurvedic physician.

Stretch Marks
Causes
These are the whitish marks formed on abdomen due to gradual enlargement of abdomen caused by developing baby. These if not treated during pregnancy, cause permanent cosmetic impairment. The main signs are moderate to severe itching over abdomen, redness and whitish thickened scars over lower abdomen. In case of severe itching, secondary infection of skin is caused due to injury caused by nails, while scratching.
Therapy
• A mixture of licorice powder, red sandalwood powder and turmeric should be applied on the abdomen. This not only subsides the itching, but also inhibits hyper pigmentation of abdominal skin.
• Paste of sandalwood, jasmine and vetiver grass should be applied on the abdomen.
• Powder of Rubia cordifolia (Manjishtha), Indian sarsaparilla (Sariva / Hemidesmus indicus) and turmeric should be mixed in sesame oil and applied on the lower part of abdomen.


Diseasaes, which need constant monitering of the Expert:

Diabetes || Hypertension || Fever and Infections.

Pregnancy is a complex procedure and it causes many temporary as well as permanent metabolic changes / diseases in the woman's body.


Diabetes mellitus
This is a complex metabolic (affecting the overall metabolism of the body) disease, characterized by high levels of blood sugar. It might have its onset during pregnancy. Some times, it subsides on its own after delivery, and is known as gestational diabetes. It requires no treatment after delivery of the baby. Sometimes, it remains, and requires life long treatment and monitoring, along with dietary restrictions.

During pregnancy, all drugs for diabetes are contraindicated and the only treatment is a strict diet control and artificial insulin in injectable form, depending upon the blood sugar levels. The treatment should be taken very regularly; otherwise, it can cause many problems, which include an abnormally large amount of amniotic fluid, severe damage to the fetus, and uncontrolled bleeding from uterus during delivery.

Some Ayurvedic measures, which should be taken along with the allopathic drugs, are as follows:
• Diet restrictions, such as restricted sugar and carbohydrate intake, should be followed strictly. This includes restriction in the intake of rice, fruits, sweets and chocolates, pastries, and any other food that is high source of glucose.
• Regular check ups for blood glucose levels and urine sugar are mandatory.
• Powder of seeds of Jamun should be taken in the dose of 1 gm daily.
• Fresh juice of fruit of bitter gourd (Karela) should be taken in the dose of 20 ml. twice daily.


Hyper Tension
High blood pressure is another disease, which might have its onset during pregnancy and remain throughout life, or it might be limited to pregnancy and disappear after delivery. During all the nine months of pregnancy, blood pressure check up should be done routinely. If it is found to be on the higher side, immediate treatment should be started by the consulting gynecologist. If it is not brought under control, it can cause many adverse effects on the mother as well as the fetus, which includes swelling, passing of proteins in urine, and even complications like convulsions / fits during pregnancy, resulting in severe morbidity (severe impairment of functionality of various body systems)/ death of the fetus and severe bleeding during or after delivery.
Simple measures to avoid the complications are as follows:
• Regular check up of blood pressure is mandatory in all the cases of pregnancy.
• Adequate rest should be taken and excessive physical exertion and mental tension should be avoided.
• Salt intake should be restricted and extra salt should be stopped from the diet.
• Special diet and medicines prescribed by Ayurvedic scholars to have a normal pregnancy should be followed.


Infections and Fever
During pregnancy, if proper diet and adequate rest are not taken, the pregnant woman becomes susceptible to many infections, which can harm both the mother and fetus. Therefore, fever, which is the main symptom in almost all the infections, should be investigated and appropriate treatment should be started at the earliest. However, self-medication must not be practiced and only the drugs prescribed by the consulting gynecologist should be taken, since most of the drugs are contraindicated in pregnancy.

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