here - Health Promotion Agency

Problems
VAGINAL DISCHARGE
Almost all women have more vaginal
discharge in pregnancy. It should be
clear and white and it should not
smell unpleasant. If the discharge is
coloured or smells strange, or if you
feel itchy or sore, you may have a
vaginal infection. Tell your doctor or
midwife. The most common
infection is thrush, which your
doctor can treat easily. You can help
prevent thrush by wearing loose
cotton underwear.
If vaginal discharge, of any colour,
increases a lot in later pregnancy,
tell your doctor or midwife.
VARICOSE VEINS
Varicose veins are veins which have
become swollen. The veins in the
legs are most commonly affected.
You can also get varicose veins in
the vulva (vaginal opening).
They usually get better after delivery.
You should:
• try to avoid standing for long
periods of time;
• try not to sit with your legs
crossed;
•
try not to put on too much
weight as this increases the
pressure;
• sit with your legs up as often as
you can to ease the discomfort;
•
try support tights, which may
also help support the muscles of
your legs – you can buy them at
most pharmacists;
• try sleeping with your legs higher
than the rest of your body – use
pillows under your ankles or put
bricks or books under the foot of
your bed;
•
do foot exercises (see page 17)
and other antenatal exercises,
such as walking, cycling and
swimming, which will all help
your circulation.
TIREDNESS
In the early months of
pregnancy you may feel tired
or even desperately
exhausted. The only answer
is to try to rest as much as
possible. Make time to sit
with your feet up during the
day and accept any offers of
help from colleagues and
family. Towards the end of
pregnancy, you may feel
tired because of the extra
weight you are carrying.
Make sure you get plenty
of rest.
M ORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS
SLOW-GROWING BABIES
Many of the tests in pregnancy check
the growth of your baby. If you have
previously had a very small baby, or if
you smoke heavily, the midwives and
doctors will already be monitoring
your pregnancy closely. Blood
pressure checks may also pick up
signs of trouble. If there is concern
about your baby’s health, further tests
may be carried out and more
frequent monitoring of your baby
may be recommended.
In the last weeks of pregnancy you
may also be asked to keep track of
your baby’s movements. If you
notice your baby’s movements
becoming less frequent or slowing
down, or if they stop, contact your
midwife or doctor immediately.
If tests show that your baby is not
growing well in the womb, early
delivery by induction of labour or
Caesarean section (see pages 101–2)
may be recommended.
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