DEFINITION During the course of pregnancy period many changes occur in a woman's body as a result of hormonal influences and adaptation to the gestational process. Thereby, they experience a variety of physiological and psychological symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, backache giddiness, heartburn and anxiety etc. These are termed as minor ailments or discomforts of pregnancy. MINOR DISORDERS OF PREGNANCY ACCORDING TO SYSTEMS DIGESTIVE SYSTEM NAUSEA & VOMITING It is a common disorder seen in about 50%women between 4th & 16th week of gestation. Hormonal influences are thought to be the most likely cause. Human chorionic gonadotropin that is present in large amounts in the 1st trimester, estrogen & progesterone are all contribute to this. The sickness is confined to “early morning” but can occur at any time in the day. The smell of certain cooking food will cause the symptom. NURSING MEASURES CONSTIPATION Constipation is a quite common ailment during pregnancy. Atonicity of the gut due to the effect of progesterone, diminished physical activity and pressure of the gravid uterus on the pelvic colon are the possible explanations. Whoa! Increase the intake of water. Add green leafy vegetables, fruits & bran cereals to her diet. Take a glass of warm water in the morning before tea or breakfast which would activate the gut & help regular bowel movements. Do exercise by regular walking. HEART BURN (PYROSIS) It occurs because the cardiac sphincter relaxes during pregnancy due to the effect of progesterone. The condition tends to worsen as pregnancy advances because the stomach is displaced upward by the enlarging uterus. Heartburn is most troublesome at about 30th to 40th week of gestation because at this stage the stomach is under pressure from the growing uterus. NURSING MEASURES Avoiding aggravating factors, e.g. citrus juice, spicy & fried food. Drink fluid before and after meals, Use Milk Smaller meals more often. Propped up position after meals. Avoid lying flat. Wear loose clothes Antacids (Aluminum hydroxide, Magnesium hydroxide) EXCESSIVE SALIVATION This occurs from 8th week of gestation and it is thought that the hormones of pregnancy are the cause for it. Hyperactivity of the parotid gland It may accompany heartburn. Astringent mouth washes some time helpful. Pica This the term used when the mother craves certain foods or unnatural substances such as coal. The cause is unknown but hormones & changes in metabolism are thought to contribute to this. If the substances craved are harmful to the unborn baby, the mother must be helped to seek medical advice. MUSCULO-SKELETAL SYSTEM FATIGUE The pregnant patient is more subjected to fatigue during the last trimester pregnancy because of altered posture & extra weight carried. Management: Frequent rest period should recommended. Anemia & other systemic diseases should be ruled out. Backache MANAGEMENT: Excessive weight gain should be avoided. Rest with elevation of legs.

1. Nursing Management Of The Pregnant Women, Mino
Disorders Of Pregnancy And Management
NURSING MANAGEMENT OF
THE PREGNANT WOMEN, MINOR
DISORDERS OF PREGNANCY AND
MANAGEMENT

2. DEFINITION
 During the course of pregnancy period many changes
occur in a woman's body as a result of hormonal
influences and adaptation to the gestational process.
Thereby, they experience a variety of physiological and
psychological symptoms such as nausea, vomiting,
backache giddiness, heartburn and anxiety etc. These are
termed as minor ailments or discomforts of pregnancy.

3. MINOR DISORDERS OF
PREGNANCY ACCORDING
TO SYSTEMS

4. DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
NAUSEA & VOMITING
CONSTIPATION
PYROSIS
PTYALISM
PICA

5. NAUSEA & VOMITING
● It is a common disorder seen in about 50%women between
4th & 16th week of gestation.
● Hormonal influences are thought to be the most likely cause.
Human chorionic gonadotropin that is present in large
amounts in the 1st trimester, estrogen & progesterone are all
contribute to this.
● The sickness is confined to “early morning” but can occur at
any time in the day. The smell of certain cooking food will
cause the symptom.

6. NURSING MEASURES
• To take dry toast, biscuits and protein rich meals. Frequent
small foods are helpful. Fatty foods are avoided.
DIETARY CHANGES
• To avoid personal triggering factors. The woman can identify
herself, this factor. Initial supplementation with vitamin B1 and
B6 is started
BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION
MEDICATIONS

7. CONSTIPATION
 Constipation is a quite common ailment during
pregnancy. Atonicity of the gut due to the effect of
progesterone, diminished physical activity and
pressure of the gravid uterus on the pelvic colon are
the possible explanations.

8. HOA!
• Increase the intake of water.
• Add green leafy vegetables, fruits & bran cereals to her
diet.
• Take a glass of warm water in the morning before tea or
breakfast which would activate the gut & help regular
bowel movements.
• Do exercise by regular walking.
NURSING MEASURES

9. HEART BURN (PYROSIS)
● It occurs because the cardiac sphincter relaxes during
pregnancy due to the effect of progesterone. The condition
tends to worsen as pregnancy advances because the stomach
is displaced upward by the enlarging uterus.
● Heartburn is most troublesome at about 30th to 40th week
of gestation because at this stage the stomach is under
pressure from the growing uterus.
9

10. NURSING MEASURES
● Avoiding aggravating factors, e.g. citrus juice, spicy & fried food.
● Drink fluid before and after meals, Use Milk
● Smaller meals more often.
● Propped up position after meals.
● Avoid lying flat.
● Wear loose clothes
● Antacids (Aluminum hydroxide, Magnesium hydroxide)

11. EXCESSIVE SALIVATION
● This occurs from 8th week of gestation and it is
thought that the hormones of pregnancy are the
cause for it.
● Hyperactivity of the parotid gland It may
accompany heartburn.
● Astringent mouth washes some time helpful.

12. PICA
● This the term used when the mother craves certain
foods or unnatural substances such as coal.
● The cause is unknown but hormones & changes in
metabolism are thought to contribute to this.
● If the substances craved are harmful to the unborn baby,
the mother must be helped to seek medical advice.

13. MUSCULO-SKELETAL SYSTEM
FATIGUE
Backache
Leg cramps
Round ligament pain

14. FATIGUE
The pregnant patient is more subjected to fatigue during the
last trimester pregnancy because of altered posture & extra
weight carried.
Management:
• Frequent rest period should recommended.
• Anemia & other systemic diseases should be ruled out.

15. BACKACHE
MANAGEMENT:
• Excessive weight gain should be avoided.
• Rest with elevation of legs to flex the hips may be helpful.
• Improvement of posture & wear low healed shoe.
• Apply local heat or light massage is helpful.
• Recommended sleep on a firm mattress.
• Provide back exercise under the supervision of physician.
• Give acetaminophen 0.3-0.6 g orally

16. LEG CRAMPS
These are quite common & worsen at night. The cause is not known but
has been attributed to deficiency of vit-B1 & decreased level of
calcium. It may be due to ischemia or changes in pH or electrolyte
level.
MANAGEMENT:
• Make gentle leg movements, massage the leg & also apply local heat
which may be beneficial.
• Sleep with foot end of the bed elevated by 20-25cm.
• Take vit-B complex & calcium Supplements

17. ROUND LIGAMENT PAIN
Stretching of the round ligament during movement in pregnancy
may cause sharp pain in the groins which may be unilateral or
bilateral.
MANAGEMENT:
• Pain may be reduced by making movements gradual instead of
sudden.
• Local heat application is helpful.
• Analgesics may be needed

18. CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
Varicose vein
Hemorrhoids
Syncope
Ankle edema

19. VARICOSE VEIN
● Varicose veins in the legs and vulva (varicosities) or rectum
(hemorrhoids) may appear for the first time or aggravate during
pregnancy, usually in the later months.
● It is due to obstruction in the venous return by the pregnant
uterus.
● For leg varicosities, elastic crepe bandage during movements and
elevation of the limbs during rest can give symptomatic relief.
Specific therapy is better to be avoided. Varicosities usually
disappear following delivery.

20. HEMORRHOIDS
It may cause due to any complications like bleeding & get
prolapsed that produce severe pain.
MANAGEMENT:
• Prevent constipation first for that use laxatives.
• Apply hydrocortisone ointment to reduce pain & swelling.
• Advice for sitz bath.

21. SYNCOPE (FAINTING)
This is due to pooling of blood in the veins of the lower extremities. There
is the effect of compression of the pelvic veins by the gravid uterus also.
Other causes may be dehydration, hypoglycemia or overexertion.
MANAGEMENT:
• Syncope usually resolves rapidly on lying in left lateral position. Syncope
in supine position is also managed by resting in lateral recumbent
position.
• Recurrent syncope needs cardiological evaluation.

22. ANKLE EDEMA
Excessive fluid retention as evidenced by marked gain in
weight or evidences of preeclampsia has to be excluded.
MANAGEMENT
● No treatment is required for physiological edema or
orthostatic edema.
● Edema subsides on rest with slight elevation of the limbs.
● Diuretics should not be prescribed

23. NERVOUS SYSTEM
Insomnia
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Headache

24. INSOMNIA
It is relatively common in late pregnancy owing to discomfort caused by
fetal movements, frequency of micturition & difficulty in finding a
comfortable position. It may also be due to some deep seated anxiety or
fear.
MANAGEMENT:
• Take rest in afternoon.
• Drink a glass of warm milk at bed time.
• Tuck a pillow under the abdomen when lying in a lateral position.

25. ● Woman presents with pain , weakness and numbness in the
thumb, index and the middle finger. This is due to compression
effect on the median nerve. Physiological changes in pregnancy
with retention of excess fluid are the common cause.
● Treatment is mostly symptomatic.
● A splint is applied during sleep time to the slightly flexed wrist to
give relief.
● Corticosteroid injection or surgical decompression is rarely
needed. It resolves spontaneously following delivery
CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

26. HEADACHE
Headache in pregnancy is common and usually due to tension.
Refractive errors and ocular imbalance are not caused by normal
pregnancy. Severe, persistent headache in the third trimester must
be regarded as symptomatic of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.
MANAGEMENT:
• Advice the mother to take adequate rest.
• If there is any pregnancy induced hypertension then symptomatic
management should be done.

27. 27
GENITO URINARY SYSTEM
Leukorrhea
Frequency Of
Micturition

28. LEUKORRHEA
This is the increased white non irritant vaginal discharge in pregnancy.
If the mother finds the discharge disturbing, it needs management.
Management:
• Advice her to maintain personal hygiene.
• Frequently wash the vulva i.e.3-4 times per day with plain water.
• Advice her to wear cotton underwear & avoid tights.
• Educate her about the possibility of infections such as thrush &
Trichomonas

29. FREQUENCY OF MICTURITION
This occur in the 1st trimester when there is pressure on the gravid uterus on the
urinary bladder. It is spontaneously relieved when the uterus rises up in the
abdomen. It may recur in late pregnancy when the fetal head descends into
pelvis.
MANAGEMENT:
• Advice her to take adequate rest.
• Advice her to maintain proper perineal hygiene.

30. BREATHLESSNESS
It is not actual dyspnea which is occurs due to
progesterone effects. It occurs as early as in 12th week of
pregnancy & most women have it up to 30th week.
MANAGEMENT
• There is no effective management but rest will help in
reducing the condition

31. ITCHING
Some mothers complain of generalized itching that starts over the
abdomen. This occurs due to livers response to certain hormones in
pregnancy & with raised bilirubin level.
MANAGEMENT :
● It clear soon after the baby is born & comfort can be gained from
local application.
● An anti-histamine can be given.

32. SUMMARY
● Minor ailments during pregnancy are more
common disorders that are present in all cases of
antenatal period. So adequate education to the
mother during antenatal visit are helpful to reduce
the severity of the symptoms.

33. REFERENCE
1. Konar H. DC dutta’s textbook of obstetrics: Including perinatology &
contraception. 10th ed. New Delhi, India: Jaypee Brothers Medical; 2022.
2. Salhan S. Textbook of Obstetrics. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical
Publishers (P) Ltd ; 2007.
3. Jacob A. A comprehensive midwifery and Gynecological Nursing. 4th ed.
New Delhi:Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers P Ltd ; 2015.

34. NAME OF
THE
SECTION
THANK
YOU