Aches and Wound Care during Pregnancy

Pregnancy is an exciting time for the mother-to-be and she needs to be very concerned about her own health and that of the baby. Some women tend to neglect their own niggles and concentrate entirely on their baby’s well being. This is not advisable as the pains you are avoiding now can become far more troublesome if left untreated. Your sore breasts, cracked nipples, foot blisters and other unexpected pains can make you very uncomfortable. Since each and every emotion of the expecting mom is experienced by the growing baby, you don’t want to convey pain to your child!

[Read: Aches and Pain in the 28th Week of Pregnancy]

Types of Aches and Pains during Pregnancy

• Bruises and cuts – When you are pregnant, your body prepares for the energy and stretching that will be needed for making delivery possible. Your joints begin to be loosened making you feel sleepy, nauseated or distracted. This can often result in unexpected slips causing bruises and scrapes. These are minor cuts and bruises which you can treat as you do normally. Just take the advice of your doctor for the harmless antibiotic or hydrocortisone ointment.
• Swollen feet and blisters – Swelling of feet and feet blisters usually occur in the third trimester. These are caused by the pressure put on your lower body by a growing uterus. Another reason can be the hormonal changes in your body that retain liquid in the lower body parts. It is expected to go away after delivery but you can also manage it better during pregnancy. Drink lot of water, avoid salty food, do not cross your legs, keep the feet elevated, lie on the left side, use a bandage and wear maternity support stockings for relief from swollen feet and blisters during pregnancy.

[Read: What is the Treatment of Blisters]

• Pain relieving medications - Medications you can use during pregnancy to get relief from pain are different from those you normally use. You need to speak with your doctor before trying one. Doctors normally recommend acetaminophen, also called Tylenol, to get relief from minor aches and pains during pregnancy. Medicines such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen, multi-symptom medicines or those labelled as extra strength, long-lasting relief, maximum strength, and the like should be especially avoided.

Over-the-counter medications are always advised against during pregnancy. The emphasis should always be to avoid the pains and aches in the first place, rather than subdue them with drugs that adversely affect the growing baby and also the mother’s health.

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