We all know about the back pain and stretchmarks that are bound to come with pregnancy, but if you are among the lucky few who don't encounter that, you may have experienced a slough of other random unusual pregnancy symptoms that you didn't really expect with your pregnancy.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – Most people talk about swelling of the feet in the third trimester of pregnancy, but few people realize that swelling of the hands is not only just as common, it can also lead to full-blown carpal tunnel syndrome when the main nerve in the wrist gets cut off by fluid retention. This tends to get worse at night and can be extremely painful, waking some women up through the sheer pain of it. I recommend : splints to keep the wrist straight, doubling or tripling up on B Vitamins, reducing salt intake to almost zero, and hydrating adequately.
Crushed Bladder - We all expect to have to urinate a lot, particularly in the first and third trimesters, but what few people tell you is that this is because the baby could be directly on top of your bladder. And this is really, unbelievably uncomfortable, particularly at night when you have to get up to use the toilet a million times. I recommend : support bands be worn around the bump during the day to raise the baby's head off the bladder, limiting fluid intake before bed, squatting regularly to get the baby into a better position. If you are not emptying your bladder fully when you urinate, or you have a flow that stops and starts, try hovering above the toilet while leaning forward. This causes the baby to come up off the bladder, allowing the release of more urine and preventing an infection. If you have a burning or painful sensation in the urethra at any time, go to your doctor immediately.
White Hair that is Falling Out : This might be more common for women who are breastfeeding, but don't be surprised if you look in the mirror after the first trimester and see way more grey and white hairs than you ever expected. Nutrients in our bodies are prioritized to go to the growing baby during pregnancy and if you are not consuming an adequate amount of a variety of essential nutrients in your diet or through supplementation, these will be robbed from stores in your own body from the baby. I recommend : consuming more B-Vitamin rich foods, taking a prenatal multivitamin and Bvitamin supplement throughout the day (every day), consuming mineral supplements and optimizing your intake of minerals through superfoods and organic vegetables.
Sweat Monster – That beautiful pregnancy glow so many people talk about ? It's much more likely to be you sweating to death no matter what you wear. Think of your body as a natural incubator for your baby with temperature regulation for the growing fœtus taking place on a moment-to-moment basis. Your metabolism is revved to the max and excess blood is pumping through your body, warming your skin and every crevice where sweat likes to get trapped. I recommend : hydrating and wearing loose, breathable clothing. There's not too much you can do about this except to keep your body cool by ensuring adequate water intake and consuming cooling foods like cucumber, melon, banana, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower and water chestnut.
In health,
Nakita
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your physician.
