The document discusses the minor symptoms of pregnancy, including nausea, vomiting, heartburn, constipation, bloating, headaches, palpitations, sweating, fainting, fatigue, varicose veins, dyspnea, air hunger, back pain, leg pain, pelvic pain, abdominal discomfort, breast tenderness, feeling of fullness, and chloasma. These symptoms occur due to the hormonal, anatomical, physiological and biochemical alterations of pregnancy and generally subside after delivery. While concerning, they typically do not indicate pathology as long as further examination and testing does not reveal serious illness. The minor complaints can be managed symptomatically once significant disease is ruled out.

1. Minor Symptoms of Pregnancy
Asheber Gaym M.D.
January 2009

2. Outline
• Define the minor complaints of pregnancy
• Discuss the reasons for the occurrence of the
minor complaints of pregnancy
• Outline the minor complaints of pregnancy
• Discuss the management of the minor
complaints of pregnancy
2Asheber Gaym, 2009

3. Definition of minor complaints of pregnancy
• The minor complaints of pregnancy refer to common
complaints of pregnant women that occur due to the
physiological alterations of pregnancy and do not
signify significant pathology as their basis
• Most of these symptoms signify significant disease
states when they occur in a non-pregnant woman
• As long as further history, physical exam and diagnostic
work up do not indicate the presence of serious
illness, the minor complaints of pregnancy can be
managed symptomatically
• The minor symptoms subside following delivery
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4. Etiology of the minor complaints of pregnancy
• The minor complaints of pregnancy occur due
to the hormonal, anatomical, physiological
and biochemical alterations of pregnancy
• Their severity and occurrence differs from
mother to mother and on other factors
including maternal age and parity
• As they are caused by the changes of
pregnancy they subside after delivery and the
end of the puerperium
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5. Outline of the minor complaints of pregnancy
Organ system Minor complaint of pregnancy
Cardiovascular
system
Palpitation; headache; sweating; feeling of heat;
fainting episodes; fatigue; varicosities
Respiratory system Dyspnoea; air hunger
Gastrointestinal tract Nausea; vomiting; heartburn; constipation; bloating
Urinary system Frequency; leg edema (80%); generalized edema(30%)
Musculoskeletal
system
Back pain; leg pain; pelvic pain; abdominal discomfort
and occasional pain
Integumentary
system
Chloasma
Glandular system Breast tenderness; feeling of fullness
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6. Approach to the minor complaints of pregnancy
• Most minor complaints are symptoms and signs
of significant disease in the non-pregnant state
• They can be very distressful for the mother and
be causes of concern
• A disease state should be ruled out by a careful
history and detailed examination and diagnostic
work up if necessary
• Once significant pathology is ruled out, mother
can be reassured and symptomatic management
provided
6Asheber Gaym, 2009