Early pregnancy often brings fatigue and morning sickness, which can also be triggered by the excitement of pregnancy.
Digestive Issues: Most pregnant women experience nausea, vomiting, and indigestion in the early stages. Opt for easily digestible foods and eat smaller, more frequent meals. If needed, take 2-3 tablets of yeast or multienzyme supplements three times daily.
Traditional Chinese medicines that strengthen the spleen and stomach may also be taken. These symptoms generally resolve naturally by the second trimester.
Breast Tenderness: Starting around week 8 of pregnancy, increased estrogen and progesterone stimulate the growth of mammary alveoli and lobules, causing the breasts to gradually enlarge. Pregnant women may experience mild breast tenderness and nipple soreness, which is more pronounced in first-time mothers.
Anemia: During the latter half of pregnancy, iron requirements increase significantly. Dietary intake alone is insufficient; routine iron supplementation is necessary. Take ferrous sulfate 0.3g, 1-3 times daily, to prevent anemia.Relief can be achieved through local massage or straightening the leg during an episode. Calcium supplements, cod liver oil, and vitamin B1 may also be taken.
Back and lower back pain: As the uterus enlarges, the pregnant woman's center of gravity shifts backward, causing excessive lumbar lordosis and sustained tension in the back extensor muscles. Combined with joint laxity, this leads to back and lower back pain. Sometimes this is a sign of calcium deficiency, which requires timely supplementation. Symptoms may lessen with rest; severe cases may require bed rest.
Hemorrhoids: During late pregnancy, increased abdominal pressure and uterine enlargement compress and impair venous return, making hemorrhoidal veins prone to varicosity. This exacerbates the occurrence and progression of hemorrhoids, with pronounced symptoms.Compounded by constipation common during pregnancy—particularly aggravated in habitual constipation sufferers—this may disrupt rest and sleep. Therefore, constipation should be addressed by increasing vegetable intake, avoiding spicy foods, and using laxatives to soften stools. Apply tannic acid ointment after local warm water cleansing. For prolapsed hemorrhoids, wear clean gloves or finger cots, apply lubricant, and gently reposition the hemorrhoid.
Lower Limb and Vulvar Varicose Veins: During pregnancy, the enlarging uterus, increased pelvic blood vessels, and reduced vascular smooth muscle tone progressively compress the inferior vena cava. This leads to pelvic and lower limb venous hypertension, causing varicose veins in the legs to worsen, particularly in the afternoon. Symptoms may be relieved by lying down and elevating the legs.Supine Hypotension Syndrome: During late pregnancy, the enlarged uterus compresses the inferior vena cava when the mother lies supine, reducing venous return to the heart and decreasing cardiac output, resulting in hypotension. Typically no special treatment is required; symptoms resolve with the mother lying on her left side with her head slightly lowered.
Psychological: Doubts, joy, worries, or complex feelings; restlessness; mood swings; crying; indecisiveness; even difficulty making simple decisions.