Contents
Acne
Nasty back to adolescence! On the face or on the back, you are covered with pimples. The increased secretion of sebum is another effect of hormones. Then there is inflammation of the sebaceous gland by a germ. Acne is more common in women who had acne-prone skin before expecting a baby.
What to do?
Thoroughly cleanse your face morning and night, and don’t apply foundation – so you don’t clog skin pores even more. If your acne is severe enough, make an appointment with a dermatologist. Above all, no self-medication! Some anti-acne treatments are strongly contraindicated because they can lead to malformations in the fetus.
Hemorrhoids
At the festival of less glamorous ailments, hemorrhoids undoubtedly have the gold medal! These are varicose veins that form around the rectum and anus. They occur under the combined effect of hormonal changes, which soften the blood vessels, and the increase in the size of the uterus, which presses on the veins. They can be internal or external. Sometimes they can rupture and bleed. It is not a serious pathology, but above all it is particularly uncomfortable and sometimes even painful. So, glamorous or not, we take care of it quickly!
What to do?
In case of a crisis, take an oral pain reliever, such as paracetamol. The doctor or midwife will prescribe ointment and suppositories that contain anesthetics. If the hemorrhoids are large, it may add a venotonic medication to decrease the tension of dilated veins. The treatment is short-lived and safe for the baby.
Be careful, the phenomenon gets worse if you are constipated, which is common during pregnancy. In that case, drink water (up to 2 liters per day) and eat fruits and vegetables, rich in fiber. To avoid irritation, also cut out spicy foods. Hemorrhoids can also occur after birth, following efforts to expel. It will take several days to several weeks before the veins are put back in place.
Urinary leakage during pregnancy
In short, the baby’s weight presses on your perineum, and the hormonal impregnation tends to relax your muscles. As a result, at the slightest effort, you can hardly hold back your urine. Which can cause leaks sneezing, laughing, lifting or running to catch the bus.
What to do?
During pregnancy, you can not really strengthen your perineum, only try to feel the area and its reactions to have the reflex to “tighten” at the right time. Other ways to cope with these inconveniences include going to the bathroom often, wearing discreet panty liners, and providing a re-education in due form with a midwife or physiotherapist a few weeks after childbirth.
Tingling
During the last trimester of pregnancy, some women experience tingling sensations or even pins and needles in the legs or hands, mainly at night. We also talk about “restless legs” syndrome, or “carpal tunnel syndrome”, when it concerns the hands. This phenomenon is often due to edema of the tissues caused by excess water, which compresses the nerves. It can also result from a loss of magnesium.
What to do?
Taking magnesium is a real relief for some expectant mothers. You can also wear compression stockings or elevate your legs and hands. Another anti-heavy leg technique: soak the limb in cold water with salt. It stimulates circulation, decreases edema and eliminates tingling. If these become painful, see your gynecologist, he will refer you to a rheumatologist to consider other treatment. Normally, everything is back to normal after childbirth.
Genital yeast infection
Itching, burning, tingling in the vulva are the symptoms of a yeast infection, a very common condition during pregnancy. You may also have white discharge like sour milk. Yeast infection is caused by a yeast from the fungal family, Candida albicans, which is usually present on the body. During pregnancy, the pH of the vagina changes from acidic to basic. In addition, when you are expecting a baby, the immune system weakens, and the fungus takes advantage of all these changes to proliferate …
What to do?
This yeast infection is treated with eggs to be inserted into the vagina, on medical prescription. The obstetrician gynecologist who follows you (or your midwife) will also prescribe an ointment to reduce the itching. If the yeast infection is linked, we talk about it with your midwife or your gynecologist, maybe it is necessary to rebalance the vaginal and / or intestinal flora, with probiotics?
Cravings
One of the most common inconveniences of pregnancy is cravings. With his crazy and surprising cravings for sardine pickles, ice cream, sweet and savory. Most often during pregnancy, women want to eat everything they need. For example, a craving for salt can be a sign of dehydration. In the same way, we can be disgusted by certain foods.
What to do?
It’s rather surprising, but pregnancy cravings and cravings are still poorly understood. To avoid them, however, there are a few tips: drink water to fill the hunger pangs, eat proteins, foods containing slow sugars but also calcium.
Hypersalivation or “pstyalism”
The salivary glands become active and become very productive. Rather unrecognized, this condition affects women of African origin more frequently than white women. The hormone ß-HCG is suspected to act on the salivary glands, but the reason for this is not really known. Some patients may spit up to a liter per day. This phenomenon does not reveal anything abnormal in relation to the course of the pregnancy, but it is rather uncomfortable!
What to do?
There is no miracle treatment for hypersalivation due to pregnancy. Future mothers affected by this disorder therefore walk around with a handkerchief (see a small pot!) To evacuate excess saliva! Medicines are not recommended. To try to reduce the symptoms, you can turn to acupuncture, homeopathy or even osteopathy, even if there is no proof of their effectiveness. Often, hypersalivation decreases as the pregnancy progresses, except for some future mothers who will suffer to the end!
The increase in hairiness
Horror, a line of coarse hairs appeared on our pretty round belly! In some women, an increase in hair growth can also appear on the legs, or even the face. It’s the fault of the placenta, which makes androgenic hormones during pregnancy (whether you are expecting a baby girl or a baby boy).
What to do?
Depilate, or do with it! There is nothing more that can be done, as the fetus needs these hormones to develop. If hairs appear on your face, no bleaching products are applied. This is because chemicals could pass into our body and have effects on the fetus. Patience…
L’hyperpigmentation
Under the effect of progesterone, the sensitivity of the skin changes. Melanin accumulates under the epidermis. A brown line is drawn along the belly, dark spots appear on the body. Exposure to the sun accentuates the phenomenon. One of the most dreaded ailments is “chloasma”, or pregnancy mask, on the face. Dark-haired women are more often prone to it.
What to do?
We protect ourselves from UV rays by all means: by avoiding exposure in the hottest hours, by wearing a T-shirt, hat and glasses, not to mention sunscreen (SPF 50). The pigmentation subsides on its own a few months after pregnancy. If this is not the case, we make an appointment with a dermatologist to deal with it.
Awkwardness linked to relaxin
Spilling milk, falling keys… Many pregnant women explain that their clumsiness is one of the first visible signs of their pregnancy. Indeed, the more weight we carry forward, the more our center of gravity shifts. Thus, pregnant women easily stain their clothes while eating or preparing their meals. A stain of sauce on their T-shirt quickly arrived.
The clumsiness is also explained by the fact that during the first weeks, the levels of relaxin increase quickly. This is the hormone that helps the joints, ligaments and muscles to relax. Since relaxin causes the muscles of the wrist, hand and fingers to relax, it may help to loosen the grip, although there is no study on the subject.
What to do?
We remain vigilant, it’s the only thing to do. Being aware of our clumsiness will help us! And we laugh about it, or at least we play down. After all, it’s not that bad.
Petechiae
Under the effect of progesterone, the blood capillaries are weakened. Some erupt under the skin tissue. These red spots are found on the face or on the neckline. This most often occurs in the middle of pregnancy, when hormone levels are at their highest.
What to do?
Nothing at all ! These spots disappear after a few days, as the hemoglobin gradually disappears under the skin. If the phenomenon is repeated too often, we talk about it with your gynecologist. There is no treatment, everything should be fine after pregnancy.
Dry eyes
Pregnant, I can no longer wear my contact lenses? Are my eyes stinging? Some future mothers have, under the effect of hormones, problems with dryness of the mucous membranes. It can affect the eyes, but also the mouth and the vagina. Other eye disorders include reduced visual acuity and worsening myopia.
What to do?
There is no cure, but the symptoms can be relieved perfectly. The pharmacist can provide you with an ophthalmic solution. Another option: until childbirth, we prefer glasses to contact lenses. If you have vaginal dryness, it can also lead to pain during sex. In this case, buy a lubricating gel to use with each report.
Stretch marks
The stretch marksare scars caused by rupture of the deep elastic areas of the skin (collagen fibers) and replaced by thinner and disorganized fibers. As soon as they appear, stretch marks form slightly swollen red-purple welts. Gradually, they lighten up and become pearly white. During pregnancy, stretch marks can appear from the 5th month on the stomach, hips, thighs and breasts. They are partly caused by a hormone, cortisol, which weakens elastic fibers, in particular collagen. Stretch marks are favored by too rapid weight gain.
What to do?
We try not to gain weight too quickly. Better to prevent stretch marks quickly by using an anti-stretch mark cream. Foods rich in fiber are preferred. You can also massage the affected areas with a specific moisturizer or vegetable oil (sweet almond oil, argan oil).
Itching
Can’t stop scratching! At the end of pregnancy, from the 8th month on, you have an itchy belly. Depending on the woman, it can affect the whole body. This “gestational pruritus” is caused by hormones.
What to do?
Your doctor will prescribe local treatment. For your part, remove anything that can irritate the skin: certain allergenic toiletries (shower gels, perfumes). Instead, opt for hypoallergenic products. Ditto for clothes, prefer cotton. If the itching increases and wakes you up at night, talk to your doctor. This can be “cholestasis of pregnancy”, a condition that requires special measures and treatment, as it can be dangerous for the fetus.