COMMON COMPLAINTS DURING PREGNANCY

 

COMPLAINT ACTION REMARKS
Low back
ache, and
frequency of
passing urine
  • Exclude urinary
    tract infection and
    local lesion. If none,
    reassure
 Avoid
unnecessary
medication
Morning
sickness
(nausea &
vomiting)
  • Reassure; usually lasts
    only up to 3 months
  • Give general advice
    (frequent small dry
    meals, avoid spicy and
    fatty food, take ginger
    and lemon)
  • If severe with
    dehydration, admit
    for observation and
    rehydration (using IV
    RL or NS)
  • Vitamin B6
    (Pyridoxine) 25 mg
    2-3 times daily
 Avoid antiemetics
in the
first trimester.
Anti-emetics
may be
necessary
ONLY in severe
forms
Swelling of
the feet
  • Check for anaemia,
    blood pressure, urine
    protein, and manage
    appropriately
 Advise mother
to elevate feet
if findings are
normal
Indigestion
(flatulence &
constipation)
  • High roughage diet,
    increase fluids.
  • If severe, treat as
    constipation
 Avoid strong
laxatives &
enemas
Excessive
salivation
(ptyalism)
  • Reassure
  • Advise mother to use
    ginger
 Avoid
anticholinergic
drugs
Food craving
(pica)
  • Ensure balanced diet
 Discourage
harmful
materials, e.g.
soilSoil craving is
a sign of iron
deficiency
anaemia, give
ferrous +
folic acid
Generalised
pruritus
  • Reassure.
  • If severe, treat as skin
    allergy/ urticaria
 Avoid steroids
Vulval
pruritus with
whitish nonfoul
smelling
discharge
Burning
sensation on
passing urine
  • Treat as for abnormal
    vaginal discharge
    (most likely candida)
  • Use Clotrimazole
    cream or pessaries
  • In severe cases, use
    fluconazole 150 mg
    stat.
  • Avoid repeat doses or
    prolonged use
 Avoid douching
with antiseptics
Cramps
  • Give calcium lactate
    600 mg 8 hourly for
    5 days
 Avoid giving
NSAIDS
Fatigue
  • Reassure, bed rest
 Avoid drugs