Minors disorder of pregnancy

1. Digestive system
Nausea and vomiting
 Nausea and vomiting upon getting up in the morning are experience
 especially primigravidae in the first trimester.
 Normally the problem subsides automatically after first trimester.
Treatment
 Avoid fatty food and fluid in empty stomach.
 Take dry toast or biscuit before rising out of bed.
 Antiemetic drugs can be given with plenty of glucose drink.

2. Constipation
 due to the effect of progesterone on the intestine and
 diminished physical activity,
 gravid uterus reduces the GI motility.
Treatment
 Regular bowel habits
 Take plenty of fluid/fatty food
 Mild laxative if required

3. Heart burn
 It is the effect of progesterone
 The stomach is compressed and pushed up by the gravid uterus.
Treatment
 Avoid taking heavy meals
 Eat small, frequent meals
 Avoid spicy/fatty food
 Take pillow during sleep
 Avoid drinking lot of liquids with meals

4. Bleeding from gums
 It is due to increase of blood supply to the gums and higher blood
level of progesterone.
 Soft brushes should be used to prevent bleeding from gums.
Flatulence
 Increase gas in the bowels, caused by swallowing air in order to
relieve nausea.

5. Pica
 It is a craving for certain foods or unnatural substances, such as
mud, or pencil, etc.
Treatment
 Explain the possible harmful effect
 Advice the mother to eat a well balance diet

6. Musculoskeletal system
Backache
 experienced in the last trimester by some women.
 Relaxation of pelvis joints, faulty posture, shift of center of gravity,
 muscles spasm and urinary infection are some of the common causes
for backache.
Treatment
 Advice rest in hard bed
 Massaging back
 Analgesic
 Wearing well fitted pelvic girdle belt during walking

7. Leg cramps
 occur due to deficiency of serum calcium
 elevation of serum phosphorus and pressure of gravid uterus on pelvic
nerves.
Treatment
 Instruct the patient to elevate her leg periodically.
 Avoid lying with toes pointed.
 Take calcium and vitamin B complex substances.

8.  Take warm baths at bed time.
 Wear elastic stockings.
 Regular exercise.

9. Circulatory system
Dizziness and fainting
 occur mainly because of fall in B.P as progesterone relaxes the
muscles of blood vessels
 or gravid uterus puts pressure on the inferior vena cava and
diminishes blood return to the heart.
Treatment
 Advice mother to lie in left lateral position.
 Advice long period of standing.

10. Varicose veins
 legs, vulva or rectum
 Seen in later pregnancy
 Due to effect of progesterone
 Gravid uterus also compress the pelvic nerve
Treatment
 Elevation of legs sitting
 Wear elastic crepe bandage
 Perform circulatory exercise for toes and ankles

11. Ankle edema
 Occur due to retention of fluids
 Elevation of legs while resting
 Not to sit near the edge of the chair

12. Genitournary system
Polyuria and dysuria
 Two main causes
• Gravid uterus put pressure on the bladder
• Urine production increases
Treatment
 Avoid holding urine
 Early treatment of UTI

13. Leukorrhea
 White non irritant vaginal discharge.
Treatment
 Cleanliness of the genitals
 Medication such as metronidazole or miconazole
 Avoids tights synthetic underwear