PREVENTING COMMON

DISCOMFORT DURING
PREGNANCY
FIRST TRIMESTER (FIRST 3
MONTHS)
 1. Nausea and Vomiting/
Morning Sickness

- common discomfort found in

about 60-65% of all pregnant
women; usually in the morning
but may be experience any time
during the day.
Nursing Intervention/Prevention

Take dry carbohydrates 30 minutes

before getting up in the morning
Refrain from taking fatty foods.
Take small, frequent meals.
Increase fluids, but best tolerated b/w
meals.
2. Frequency of Voiding/ Urinary
Frequency
Urge to urinate
compared to
normal
increases.
Nursing Intervention/Prevention

Increase fluids
Use perineal pad to absorb leakage
Flush perinuem every after voiding
Void as necessary, encourage
regular emptying
Kegels exercises
 3. Breast Tenderness
Symptoms:
- increase in breast size
- noticeable veins crisscrossing the breast
- highly sensitive nipples
- burning or throbbing pain in the breast
- heaviness in the breast
- tingly or itchy breast nipples
- throbbing or tingling breast during
intercourse
Nursing Intervention/ Prevention
Encourage to wear
supportive bra
Take a warm bath
Apply a cool
facecloth to the
area if hot or
throbbing feels.
Try to wear cotton
bras.
4. Leukorrhea/ increase in Vaginal
Discharge
A whitish, viscous vaginal discharge
or an increase amount of normal
vaginal discharge occurs in response
to the high estrogen levels and
increased blood supply to the vaginal
epithelium and cervix in pregnancy.
Nursing Intervention/ Prevention

Daily bath or shower

Wearing cotton underpads and
sleeping at night w/o underwear
Avoid using panty host
Consult doctor if infection suspected
 5. Nasal Stuffiness

Over 30% of pregnant women report

frequent or constant nasal problems
Nursing Intervention
- steam inhalation
- avoid allergens
- massage the sinuses
- increase fluid intake
 6. Fatigue
Common in early
pregnancy,
probably due to
increased
metabolic
requirements
Nursing Intervention/ Prevention

Increase amount of rest and sleep

Regular exercise
Avoid stimulants
 7. Ptyalism

More secretion of saliva than

necessary
Nursing Intervention/ Prevention:
- Use mouthwash as needed
- Chew gum or suck on hard candy
SECOND AND THIRD
TRIMESTER (NEXT 6
MONTHS)
 1. Backache

Cause by lumbar lordosis and

postural changes necessary to
balance
Nursing Intervention/ Prevention
Wear flat or low-heeled shoes
Encourage to walk with her pelvis tilted
forward
Advice to squat rather than bend over to
pick up objects
Wear firm supportive maternity girdle
Apply local heat
Avoid prolong standing
Use firm comfortable bed to support sacro-
iliac joint
 2. Leg Cramps
Refer to a painful, involuntary
contraction of single or a muscle
group.
Decrease serum calcium levels,
increases phosphorus levels
Nursing Intervention/ Prevention
Increase calcium in the diet
Avoid fatigue of muscle; frequent change
position
No constricting garters
Avoid pointing the toes
Treatment
- lies on her back momentarily and extends
her involved leg while keeping knee
straight and dorsiflexing the foot until the
pain disappear
 3. Leg Varicosities

Development of tortuous leg

veins.
Largest ropey veins seen in the
leg and spider veins are the
smaller, often red or blue colored
veins
Nursing Intervention/ Prevention

Extend leg and dorsiflex foot affected

Wear support or elastic stockings
Rest in a sim’s position or on the
back with the legs raised against the
wall or elevated on a footstool for 15-
20 mins.
Avoid prolong standing and sitting
Avoid wearing round garters
 4. Heartburn/ Pyrosis

A painful burning sensation in the

chest caused by gastroesophageal
reflux
Nursing Intervention/ Prevention

Take small, frequent meals

Refrain from taking indigestible fatty
and spicy food
Maintain an upright position
Refrain from taking gas forming food
 5. Constipation

Defined having a bowel

movement fewer than three
times per week.
Nursing Intervention/ Prevention

Increase fluid intake

Increase roughage or bulk in the diet
Defecate regularly
Have regular exercise
Mild laxatives is the last resort as
prescribe by doctor
 6. Hemorrhoids

Refers to a condition in which

the veins around the anus or
lower rectum are swollen and
inflamed
Nursing intervention/ Prevention

Prevention; avoid straining when

defecating
Avoid spicy food
Warm water sitz baths may be tried to
help promote comfort
Prolapsed hemorrhoids are lubricated
and may be replaced gently
Knee- chest position
 7. Headache

Nursing Intervention
- change in the position slowly
- apply cool cloth to forehead
- analgesic as prescribe
- avoid eye strain
8. Pedal Edema/ Swelling of the leg
9. Uterine contractions/ Braxton
Hicks
10. Difficulty of sleeping
11. Shortness of breathing
12. Supine Hypotension Syndrome/
Vena Cava Syndrome / Faintness