It is common to suffer from various discomforts during pregnancy. Therefore, we have here collected various pregnancy related problems to guide you through its cause and effect.

Symptoms


During pregnancy, the amount of blood in the body increases, causing the mucous membranes to swell, become thicker and even bleed more easily. The mucous membranes in your nose, mouth and vagina are affected. 

For example, you may suffer from a stuffy nose or nosebleeds. If your nose is congested, use a saline nasal spray. This is preferable to over-the-counter nose drops that can actually make the problem worse if used more than one week. Many pregnant women suffer for several months which is why saline is preferable (the other drops are good for a shorter cold, for example).

The swelling in your nose often becomes worse when you lie down, and it is common to snore more during pregnancy. Try elevating your head with a couple of extra pillows if you have problems with snoring.

*Source:*

- *Lärobok för barnmorskor*. Faxelid, E. Course literature 2001.
- *Myles Textbook for Midwives*. Fraser, D. och Cooper, M. Churchill Livingstone 2003.

During pregnancy, the amount of blood in the body increases, causing the mucous membranes to swell, ...

Nasal congestion

AdobeStock_126248673


Nausea, or morning sickness, is a very common complaint. It usually starts at some point after the fourth week when the pregnancy hormones increase. Nausea is often worst between weeks seven and ten, and then subsides between weeks 12 and 14. Some women feel slightly nauseous, especially in the morning, while others really suffer and even vomit several times a day for a while. A few women continue to feel ill and vomit all throughout their pregnancy, and this is called severe morning sickness or hyperemesis gravidarum. If you suffer from severe morning sickness and persistent vomiting, you may be admitted to the hospital to receive fluids through an IV. Talk to your health care provider if you have severe symptoms.

You may find it reassuring to know that the body always ensures that the baby gets the nutrition it needs to develop. You don’t need to worry about the baby being affected if you vomit. 

While there are no guaranteed cures for nausea, there are many home remedies that are worth trying as they have helped many women manage their symptoms. Here are som tips:

- If the nausea is worst in the morning, it may help to eat something before you get out of bed
- Eat small portions of food often
- Avoid strong smells as these can increase feelings of nausea
- Try acupuncture, an alternative medicine form that works for some people. 

If you vomit, it’s important that you drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration. Take it easy and try to avoid stress. Always consult your health care provider before taking any medication for morning sickness. 

*Source:*

- *Lärobok för barnmorskor*. Faxelid, E. Course literature 2001.
- *Myles Textbook for Midwives*. Fraser, D. och Cooper, M. Churchill Livingstone 2003.

Nausea, or morning sickness, is a very common complaint. It usually starts at some point after the f...

Nausea

s_nausea


Pelvic pain is common in pregnant women and involves pain in the posterior pelvic joints (SI joint) and anterior pelvic joint (symphysis). Even today, the terms joint loosening or pelvic loosening are used when talking about pelvic pain, which unfortunately tends to frighten many women. 

## Nothing is breaking

When you experience pelvic pain, it’s important to remember that nothing is coming loose or breaking; pelvic pains aren’t dangerous. The pelvic joints have an incredibly stable construction together with strong ligaments and only allow movements of a few millimeters. People often relate pregnancy-induced pelvic pain or joint pain.

It is most common that the pain occurs between pregnancy weeks 12-24, but you can experience pain earlier and later since it’s individual. The pain often varies during pregnancy, and sometimes some women may experience reduced pain when the baby has fixed itself at the end of the pregnancy. The reason for this is increased stability in the pelvis.

Pelvic pain

## Symptoms of pelvic pain

If you experience pelvic pain, it often stems from far down one or both sides of the lower back or in the middle of the pubic bone (symphysis). The pain can radiate to the buttocks, groin, abdomen, and thighs, but never below the knees. The pain you might experience can both be sharp and grinding. An uneven load of the pelvis triggers this. The pain often occurs during regular daily activities such as standing on one leg, brisk walks, climbing stairs, turning in bed, or moving in or out of a car. You may also experience locking sensations in the pelvis/hip region and have difficulty lifting the legs when lying down or sitting. 

Pelvic pain usually recurs after activities and gradually during the day. All women experience different levels of pelvic pain. It’s enough for some to make slight changes to their routine to relieve pain, while other women must go to greater lengths and, in some cases, even need crutches or take sick leave. 

## Why does it hurt?

During the early stages of the pregnancy, the hormone relaxin is released, which, among other things, aims to soften the body’s joints and ligaments. This is so the pelvis can be widened slightly during childbirth and facilitate the baby’s passage. It is believed that relaxin contributes to reduced pelvis stability, increasing the risk of experiencing pain. However, a growing body of research continues to discuss how much effect relaxin has on the onset of pain from the pelvis. 

It’s probable that the hormone isn’t the sole determinant of whether a woman will experience pelvic pain or not. It’s also believed that altered posture due to the growing belly, increased body weight, altered movement patterns, increased tension, and degree of physical activity and exercise affect the onset of pain. 

## Treatment

There are plenty of options to reduce pelvic pain, but there are no guarantees to eliminate pain completely. Contact a physiotherapist with women’s health expertise to get an examination and individual advice. Many women become pain-free fairly immediately after childbirth, while some have persistent pelvic pain for some time, even after giving birth. 

## Consider the level of stress you put your body through daily

The first thing you should consider if you’re bothered by pelvic pain is what could trigger the pain, and in what situations is it prevalent? This doesn't mean that you have to exclude all activities that hurt, but it may be wise to slow down a little. Pelvic pain is closely related to overloading your body. For example, a woman may experience pelvic pain after walking for 5 km, but shortening the trip to 3.5 km may be completely painless. You need to feel out the body and see what’s right and causes the least pain. 

## Exercise for pelvic pain

Mobility training and exercise have been proven to relieve pain. However, in some cases, the workouts need to be modified not to trigger additional pain. The purpose of exercising is to make the pelvis more durable through increased circulation, strength, and stability. It can be helpful to, for instance, tweak painful exercises by making smaller movements or reducing the weight. It also usually feels better to keep the pelvis in a stable position during exercise, so be more careful with activities that require you to stand on one leg or make repeated lateral movements. 

Some women experience pelvic pain so strong that it prohibits them from training the muscles around the pelvis. Suppose this happens to be the case; the focus should then shift to finding exercises that relieve pressure from the pelvis and maintain the strength in the rest of the body. It could also be recommended to perform exercises when sitting rather than standing or lying down. Studies also show that water exercise can be suitable for pelvic pain as the pressure significantly reduces. 

## Pain relief

A well-used tool for pelvic pain is a pelvic belt. It’s an elastic belt with velcro straps used to stabilize the pelvis during activity and is experienced by many as a pain reliever. The belt should sit far down; it applies pressure over the glutes and pubic bone. Some women have also reported benefits from acupuncture or TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), which is a method of helping the body’s pain-relieving system do the work. 

## What can I do myself?

The first thing you can do is identify what triggers your pain and then start by reducing these activities, either by asking for help or, if you can, stop these activities altogether. If the things we list below work well for you, there is no reason to avoid these things in your daily life. You know your body best, so it’s up to you to determine what works and what doesn’t.

- Make sure you catch breaks regularly - don’t overload the body
- Sleep on your side with a pillow between your legs
- Use Log Roll when getting out of bed
- Walk with slightly shorter and slower steps
- Sit and stand with an even load on the pelvis. Vary positions often.
- Sit down when putting on clothes and shoes 
- Reduce one-leg exercises 
- Use a heating pillow or hot baths to relax more

*Sources:*  – Fysisk aktivitet i sjukdomsprevention och sjukdomsbehandling-FYSS 2021. YFA. Rekommendationer om fysisk aktivitet och stillasittande under och efter graviditet. – Svahn Ekdahl 2021. Maintenance of physical activity level, functioning and health after non-pharmacological treatment of pelvic girdle pain with either transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation or acupuncture: a randomised – Regberg Lundborg. Balkong Förlag 2017. Gravidkraft - Hälsa genom rörelse och träning – Gutke et al. Fysioterapeuterna 2016. Riktlinjer för behandling av patienter med graviditetsrelaterad ländryggs-, och bäckensmärta. – Vlemming et al. 2012. The sacroiliac joint: an overview of its anatomy, function and potential clinical implications. – Vlemming et al 2008. European guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic girdle pain

Pelvic pain is common in pregnant women and involves pain in the posterior pelvic joints (SI joint) ...

Pelvic pain - Why do I get it?

AdobeStock_707736666 (1)


Nighttime sleep is often affected as your belly grows, and many women wake up frequently which leaves them feeling tired. It is common to make more trips to the bathroom, and back and pelvis pain may cause you to change your sleeping position often. Sleeping on your side is usually the most comfortable. Use lots of pillows and make sure your bedroom isn’t too hot. If your nighttime sleep is very affected, try to take short naps to make up for lost sleep at night.

*Source:*

- *Lärobok för barnmorskor*. Faxelid, E. Course literature 2001.
- *Myles Textbook for Midwives*. Fraser, D. och Cooper, M. Churchill Livingstone 2003.

Nighttime sleep is often affected as your belly grows, and many women wake up frequently which leave...

Problems sleeping

AdobeStock_728110161


The pregnancy hormones affect the elastic tissue in the skin, and pink, red or purplish streaks often appear as the skin stretches. These are called stretch marks and often appear on the belly, breasts and thighs. Stretch marks fade after birth and become a silvery-gray, but they don’t usually disappear completely. You may also get more pigmentation in your skin during pregnancy and get brown patches on your face and body. You increase the risk of brown patches when you expose your skin to the sun, so be careful and take steps to protect you from the sun.

*Source:*

- *Lärobok för barnmorskor*. Faxelid, E. Course literature 2001.
- *Myles Textbook for Midwives*. Fraser, D. och Cooper, M. Churchill Livingstone 2003.

The pregnancy hormones affect the elastic tissue in the skin, and pink, red or purplish streaks ofte...

Skin changes

s_skin changes


Your legs, feet and hands may swell easily because you carry more fluid when you are expecting. Any extra fluid collects at the extremities of your arms and legs. The bigger your belly gets, the harder it can be to put on your shoes or wear rings. The symptoms are often worse after a long day at work or in the summer when the weather is warm. The swelling goes down if you wear compression stockings or rest with your legs raised. If you wear compression stockings, put them on early in the morning before the fluid has accumulated in your legs.

*Source:*

- *Lärobok för barnmorskor*. Faxelid, E. Course literature 2001.
- *Myles Textbook for Midwives*. Fraser, D. och Cooper, M. Churchill Livingstone 2003.

Your legs, feet and hands may swell easily because you carry more fluid when you are expecting. Any ...

Swollen legs and feet

AdobeStock_290115729 (1)


For many, experiencing tender breasts is one of the very first signs of being pregnant. The sensation of fullness, swelling, and tenderness in the breasts is due to the rising levels of pregnancy hormones. Primarily, it is the hormone oestrogen that causes breast tenderness. After a few months, the nipples and areolas also start to darken in pigment.

During pregnancy, the body prepares the breasts for breastfeeding, leading to increased fat tissue and growth of the milk-producing glands. Sometimes, breast tenderness occurs only in the beginning, while other times, it may persist throughout the entire pregnancy.

*Sources:*

- Abascal, G., & Huss, M. S. (2018). *Att föda.* Bonnier Fakta.
- 1177.se

For many, experiencing tender breasts is one of the very first signs of being pregnant. The sensatio...

Tedner breasts

AdobeStock_513773109


Your body is clever and signals when it’s thirsty and needs fluids, so there’s a very slight risk that you will drink too little during your pregnancy. If you engage in physical activity or expose yourself to extreme heat make sure to drink a bit more. Keep an eye on the color of your urine  which should be a pale yellow. Your urine will be more concentrated and have a darker yellow shade if you’ve had too little to drink.

However, if you notice an extreme thirst and urinate more than usual, speak with your healthcare provider since extreme thirst can be a sign of gestational diabetes. A simple blood test will be taken to check your blood sugar levels. 

*Source:*

- *Lärobok för barnmorskor*. Faxelid, E. Course literature 2001.
- *Myles Textbook for Midwives*. Fraser, D. och Cooper, M. Churchill Livingstone 2003.

Your body is clever and signals when it’s thirsty and needs fluids, so there’s a very slight risk th...

Thirst

AdobeStock_362493206


Feeling like you need to urinate and running to the bathroom more often are not necessarily a sign that anything is wrong. Urine production increases during pregnancy, and the growing womb puts pressure on your bladder. 

When you are pregnant, the risk of suffering from a urinary tract infection is somewhat higher than normal. Left untreated, an infection can cause premature contractions and, in the worst case, preterm labor. It is therefore important to get the right treatment for any infections. Contact your health care provider if you need to pee more frequently or if you feel burning or pain in your lower belly.

*Source:*

- *Lärobok för barnmorskor*. Faxelid, E. Course literature 2001.
- *Myles Textbook for Midwives*. Fraser, D. och Cooper, M. Churchill Livingstone 2003.

Feeling like you need to urinate and running to the bathroom more often are not necessarily a sign t...

Urinary tract disorders

s_urinary tract disorders


Abundant vaginal discharge is common in pregnancy and is due to increased blood flow to the tissues inside your vagina, which discharges fluid more easily. The discharge is usually milky white and has no particular smell. However, itching, burning or a strong odor may be a sign of infection. If you have any such symptoms, contact your health care provider.

*Source:*

- *Lärobok för barnmorskor*. Faxelid, E. Course literature 2001.
- *Myles Textbook for Midwives*. Fraser, D. och Cooper, M. Churchill Livingstone 2003.

Abundant vaginal discharge is common in pregnancy and is due to increased blood flow to the tissues ...

Vaginal discharge

s_vaginal discharge


Pregnancy puts extra strain on your veins, the vessels that carry the blood back to your heart. The muscular walls of your blood vessels relax during pregnancy, causing blood to pool and the vessels to swell, while the pressure on veins increases. A vein that is unusually swollen is called a varicose vein. Varicose veins are most common on the legs and calves, but they also occur around the vagina.

Compression stockings may relieve symptoms because they facilitate blood circulation in the body. You can also prevent swelling and make your legs feel lighter by regularly putting your legs up on a chair or a pillow on the couch. Some varicose veins completely disappear after pregnancy.

*Source:*

- *Lärobok för barnmorskor*. Faxelid, E. Course literature 2001.
- *Myles Textbook for Midwives*. Fraser, D. och Cooper, M. Churchill Livingstone 2003.

Pregnancy puts extra strain on your veins, the vessels that carry the blood back to your heart. The ...

Varicose veins

AdobeStock_539864600

Our experts were chosen for their extensive experience in order to give you the best knowledge during your pregnancy, postpartum and first 2 years of your baby

Preglife's experts team

Every pregnancy is divided in 4 trimesters. 3 of them happens with the baby inside the uterus and the 4th after birth. Learn more about your pregnancy and the time after here.

Follow your baby's development week by week and learn all the changes that are happening in your body, together with your partner.

If you have a question, suggestion or complaint, please send us and email and we will get back to you in 2-5 working days. If your app is misbehaving, please send us an email with phone model, os-version, app-version, and if you have an account in-app or not.

Company

Selecting a different region will change the language and content of Preglife.

Change region

Having researched and 100% fact-based information is our main goal. Meet all the great minds behind Preglife and our content.

Here you can find information about press releases, news, and more.

Here you will find product images, people working at Preglife, and our logos that you can use in communications related to Preglife.

Download out press material

Press information

Authors - Preglife

Contact - Preglife

FAQ - Preglife

Preglife is the number one pregnancy and baby app in the nordics with thousands of users in Europe and the US. Pregnancy is no walk in the park. It can be a series of highs, a series of lows, or a bit of both. One thing is for certain, though. Preglife will stand by you through it all - the good, the bad, and the ugly. We’ll be your safe space, we’ll read the latest research for you and we’ll break the stigmas - so that you can carry your pregnancy with pride, pleasure and peace of mind. 

Pregnancy tracker

Search results

Trimester 1 - 4 of the pregnancy, this is what happens - Preglife

Pregnancy week by week

All trimesters

Here we provide information about various diseases during pregnancy and their cause and effect.

Diseases

Complications

Here you can find articles about pregnancy-related symptoms and complications.

Change region

Symptoms

Symptoms

Nasal congestion

Symptoms

Nausea

Diseases and complications

Pelvic pain - Why do I get it?

Symptoms

Problems sleeping

Symptoms

Skin changes

Symptoms

Swollen legs and feet

Symptoms

Tedner breasts

Symptoms

Thirst

Symptoms

Urinary tract disorders

Symptoms

Vaginal discharge

Symptoms

Varicose veins

Change region