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Malaise during pregnancy


How to deal with malaise during pregnancy

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Pregnancy is a difficult time for a woman's body – hormonal and physical changes have a significant impact, causing greater or lesser levels of discomfort. The period of waiting for your little one is full of joy and euphoria, but is also often overshadowed by not feeling great. How can you deal with this? How can you deal with weakness, lack of energy, bad mood and sleepiness? In consultation with specialists from the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Clinical Hospital of the Poznań University of Medical Sciences, we'll tell you how to get through this time. Famous mums have also shared their pregnancy problems – you can listen to their stories in the series on Facebook ‘Talks with experts: parenting made easier’.

Malaise during pregnancy – what should you look out for?

 

Every pregnancy is different – some women feel great up to eight months, and are simply radiant. They can exercise, don't gain much weight, and don't suffer from the issues that commonly arise in the first trimester. However, many have problems, such as nausea, weakness, back pain and swelling of the legs.

Remember that every problem should be consulted with the doctor looking after you during your pregnancy – never take any medications, supplements or even herbs without first asking your doctor! In this difficult period, you're responsible not only for yourself, but also for your baby! Also when the pregnancy is at risk, it is absolutely necessary to follow medical advice and do not use anything on your own!

Pregnancy problems

The most-common pregnancy problems, particularly in the first trimester, are:

  • tiredness and sleepiness,
  • sleeplessness,
  • heartburn,
  • swelling, particularly of the lower limbs,
  • trouble concentrating,
  • vomiting,
  • excessive or non-existent appetite,
  • back pain (this usually appears towards the end of the pregnancy),
  • cramps.

Reasons for malaise during pregnancy

Tiredness, lack of energy and general sleepiness are usually caused by hormonal changes that occur in the woman's body. High progesterone makes women feel weak and unmotivated, and a drop in blood pressure can also make them feel sleepy.

Another reason can be the mother's age – even if she's been pregnant before, this pregnancy may be a completely different experience. The older you are, the more your body, hormones and endurance change – that's why one pregnancy can be a breeze, while another may be completely different, like actress Aleksandra Szwed tells in the second episode of Important Conversations about Parenthood.

"In my first pregnancy, everything was wonderful – I was relaxed and always smiling. Nothing annoyed me," says Aleksandra Szwed. "But in this one? It's a completely different experience. It's not that I'm suffering terribly, but I feel completely different than with the first pregnancy. "

Małgorzata Socha has a similar recollection.

"I fondly remember my first pregnancy," says Małgorzata Socha. "Of course, I had time for myself. In this regard, the first one was amazing. The second and third time around, this wasn't possible, because the kids were the most important. It's difficult to explain to youngsters why they should play on their own while you have a nap. Or that today you're not cooking anything because you can't be bothered, because your legs hurt. The next pregnancies were simply different, and so I reacted to them differently."

And to top it all off, there was the weakness from the vomiting. How can you deal with this? How can you get through this time to enjoy being pregnant and have fond memories of this period?

How to deal with malaise during pregnancy

First of all – remember that it'll pass. Most afflictions disappear in the second trimester, which is called the golden period of pregnancy. But remember that if you are vomiting frequently and are unable to eat or drink, you need to see your doctor. They can prescribe medications to stop the vomiting. Also visit your doctor if you have heartburn to be sure that you're allowed to take over-the-counter medications. It is a harmful myth that "pregnancy must hurt" or "pregnancy does not make one ill". Don't pay any attention to people who talk about their experiences and play down how you're feeling – if you feel unwell, go to the doctor and take advantage of amenities such as priority in queues and free toilets. Don't be afraid to call your gynaecologist if you have any concerns – their role is to help, soothe and treat you. You're not alone in this!

 

 

If you're working and not taking the first trimester very well (to the stage that you're unable to work), ask for a medical certificate. You need to take care of yourself! If you can, sleep a lot. Remember to hydrate regularly, especially if you're vomiting. Drink water, preferably not sparkling. To make regular drinking easier, add fruit, such as lemon, raspberries and mint. Also look after your diet – eat easily digestible things, especially vegetables and fruit. They provide a lot of fibre and vitamins, which are beneficial. This doesn't mean that you need to give up pizza and hamburgers, but remember that there is a risk of gestational diabetes, so you should watch your weight and eat healthy food (not only during pregnancy).

 

A healthy diet will help you not only with problems with constipation and diarrhoea, but also with a sensitive stomach and your overall well-being. Try to have a healthy relationship with food, and never "eat for two". Contrary to popular belief, the caloric demand doesn't increase that much (in the first trimester, it doesn't change at all), and the greater your body weight, the more difficult things will be later – your joints, back or the whole body may hurt. 

 

If your body is demanding it, have frequent naps. Your body regenerates best when you sleep, so naps are fantastic. However, try not to dysregulate your biological clock – instead of having a nap at 7 pm, try to go to bed earlier to be able to sleep the entire night. Try meditation, yoga or a bath with scented candles.

 

Light physical activity, such as walks, can be beneficial for your psyche. Plus, you'll oxygenate the body, and when you're walking on a sunny day, you'll provide an additional dose of vitamin D. And if there are no contraindications, don't give up exercise (but always consult this with your gynaecologist). You can read more about exercise during pregnancy as advised by Midwife Pip HERE.

 

 

If your malaise is mostly in relation to your mood, focus on relaxation. Go out with your friends, try some yoga, rest a lot and do what you enjoy. Reading, walks, watching series – whatever you like.

 

Don't be afraid to call your doctor if medical maladies appear – your gynaecologist will know if you can take heartburn tablets, if you don't have enough vitamin D (which also results in mood swings), or if you perhaps need to increase your supplements.

 

Does the way you feel during pregnancy impact your child?

 

This is a question often asked by future mums. There's a widespread and damaging myth that girls "steal your beauty" and that women feel worse at this time. This is neither accurate nor medically proven – firstly, remember that how you feel during pregnancy depends on many aspects – a lack of sleep, general tiredness, stress, and even what you eat. The weather and which pregnancy it is can also be contributing factors.

 

So there's no way to predict the sex of the baby based solely on how a woman feels during the pregnancy. An ultrasound will always be the most accurate – this is usually carried out at approximately 20 weeks.

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Dealing with fatigue during your pregnancy

Dealing with fatigue during your pregnancy | Pregnancy Birth and Baby beginning of content

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Feeling hot, tired or faint is quite common during pregnancy. Hormonal changes taking place in your body at this time can make you feel nauseous and emotional.

Being tired and run-down can also make you feel low. Try to look after your physical health by eating a healthy diet, doing some gentle exercise and getting plenty of rest and sleep.

It’s common to feel tired, or even exhausted, during pregnancy.

Feeling hot

During pregnancy you’re likely to feel warmer than normal. This is due to hormonal changes and an increase in blood supply to the skin. You’re also likely to sweat more. It helps if you:

  • wear loose clothing made of natural fibres, as these are more absorbent and breathe more than synthetic fibres
  • keep your room cool — you could use an electric fan to cool it down
  • wash frequently to help you feel fresh
  • drink plenty of water

Feeling tired

It’s common to feel tired, or even exhausted, during pregnancy, especially in the first 12 weeks or so. If you have morning sickness, fatigue can also make the nausea worse. Feeling tired won’t harm you or your baby, but it can make life feel more difficult, especially in the early days before you’ve told people about your pregnancy.

Later in pregnancy, you may feel tired because of the extra weight you are carrying. As your baby gets bigger, it can be difficult to get a good night’s sleep. You might find it uncomfortable lying down or, just when you get comfortable, you have to get up to go to the toilet.

Your sleep patterns change when you are pregnant and you are likely to have less deep sleep and to wake up more often during the night.

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.

You can read more about getting better sleep during pregnancy on the Sleep Health Foundation website.

Feeling faint

Pregnant women often feel faint. This is because pregnancy affects your circulation. If your brain does not getting enough blood and your oxygen levels get too low, it may cause you to faint.

You are most likely to feel faint if you stand up too quickly from a chair, off the toilet or out of a bath, but it can also happen when you are lying on your back.

Here are some tips to help you cope:

  • Try to get up slowly after sitting or lying down.
  • If you feel faint, sit or lie down and put your head between your legs until the faintness passes. If it doesn’t, lie down on your side.
  • If you feel faint while lying on your back, turn on your side (it’s better not to lie flat on your back in later pregnancy or during labour).
  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Eat regularly to keep your blood sugar levels stable.

Make sure you let your doctor or midwife know if you frequently feel dizzy or faint.

If you feel very dizzy or faint early in the pregnancy and you also have bleeding from your vagina or tummy pain, you could have an ectopic pregnancy. It’s important to see a doctor right away.

Sources:
NSW Health (Having a baby), Royal Women’s Hospital (Common concerns in early pregnancy)

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: November 2020


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