“Doctor… I’m only 35 weeks pregnant, but it hurts so much that I can barely walk.”
If you’ve ever experienced this during pregnancy, you know how frightening and exhausting it can be.
Many women assume it’s simply “part of being pregnant.”
Sometimes it is.
But sometimes it may be Pregnancy-Related Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) – a condition that affects the joints and ligaments of the pelvis as your body prepares for childbirth.
The good news?
It does NOT harm your baby. Read!
Q: Hello Dr Ketch. Please, I have a question. How do a woman cope with symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD) in pregnancy? Mine is so bad, I can’t walk anymore. I went to the hospital, was admitted but had no improvement. I’m 35 weeks pregnant and in pains. I need help
A: Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction is a condition that is now more commonly known as pelvic girdle pain or pregnancy related pelvic girdle pain (PPGP).
From the name, this condition would usually occur during pregnancy, during childbirth or can even happen after delivery.
It does not affect the baby in the womb, though. It is more common in people who have had previous pelvic injury and can also be influenced by weight and position of the baby.
People with this condition in pregnancy experience symptoms like pain over the front of the pelvis, pain on one or both sides of the lower back, pain in the perineum (the area between the vagina and anus), pain in the thighs, grinding and clicking in the pelvis etc
The pain experienced is usually worsened by standing, walking, standing on one leg, moving your legs apart, poor posture etc
What causes this pain? Well, as part of the process of pregnancy, the body produces a hormone called Relaxin. As the name implies this hormone relaxes the tissues of the body in preparation for the baby that will pass through.
It relaxes and softens the ligaments of the pelvis and the cervix (the mouth of the womb) such that they can stretch easily and allow baby an easy passage out of the womb.
You know those heart burns that women experience in pregnancy too? Well, you can also blame this hormone which relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter such that there is reflux from the stomach back into the esophagus. This reflux contains acid and so this can lead to the burning sensation in the throat typically described as heart burn.
How is this treated? Well, until you put to bed and the level of relaxin returns to normal, all your doctor may do is really just manage the symptoms.
In some few instances, the woman may require treatment for this after pregnancy. A pelvic belt may help hold things in place down there preventing funny movements of bones when you move around 😀 Kegel exercises are also helpful.
Pain relief and use of crutches, if necessary may also help relieve the pain..
To prevent this pain as much as possible: • Avoid positions that aggravate the pain and adjust to positions that reduce the pain eg dress while sitting instead of standing et • Wear low heels and take the stairs, one at a time. • Be sure to avoid: o Standing or sitting for long periods o Standing on one leg o Carrying bags with one hand o Squatting o Lifting heavy stuff o Crossing legs o Any other position that brings on the pain
Vaginal delivery is still very possible with PPGP and rarely does a woman need to have a C-section on account of this condition.
Your medical team needs to know that you have this condition and they will work with you to ensure that delivery is not problematic.
Take prescribed pain relief if recommended.
Although the pain can be severe, many women improve after delivery, when pregnancy hormones return to normal.
I hope you feel better soon. On the bright side, you’re almost there 😀
Did you experience pelvic pain during pregnancy? What made it better?
Your experience may help reassure another mum who feels she’s suffering alone.
Share this with an expectant mother who needs to know she’s not alone.
You haven’t been running. You haven’t climbed a mountain. So why does walking across the room suddenly leave you out of breath?
If you’re pregnant, you’re not alone.
Mild breathlessness is common because your body is working harder to support your growing baby. But while it’s often normal, there are times when breathlessness should never be ignored.
Here’s how to tell the difference… Read!
Q: Hi Doc, I love you and your program, therefore I have decided to write to you. I am 3 weeks pregnant and I want to find out what I can do to stop feeling breathless?
A: The pregnancy hormone, progesterone, makes your body adapt to the way it absorbs oxygen from the lungs. It leads to pregnant women taking in deeper breaths and gives the impression of breathlessness in some women . Other women who have not experienced breathlessness throughout pregnancy may experience it during the third trimester as they deal with baby’s extra weight.
Essentially, the growing baby at this time, pushes up into the lungs and reduces the space available in the lungs for air.
However, this is offset by the deeper breaths being taken by the pregnant woman (an effect caused by the pregnancy hormone, progesterone).
This ensures that, though less air is being taken in (due to the smaller capacity/space available in the lungs), the air stays in the lungs long enough for the oxygen to be properly extracted.
As the pregnancy progresses and baby descends into the pelvis in preparation for delivery, the symptoms may reduce. However, for mothers who have had babies before, this descent into the pelvis may not happen until the very end of the pregnancy and so this means the breathlessness may continue for a while longer 😀
To help with this breathlessness, try exercising.
You can continue with the activities you used to do before including exercise. However, exercise should be toned down from vigorous to moderate.
Moderate exercise is any physical activity that you perform that but you’re still able to carry on a conversation without running out of breath…that’s as simple an explanation as it goes 😀
It includes walking, swimming, dancing, pregnancy exercises (these are taught in some antenatal classes), stretching and relaxation exercises.
Remember that you must never start on any exercise regimen without discussing with your doctor who knows your specific medical history.
Maintain a good posture too. Stand straight. No slouching, please 😀
And as much as possible, try to relax.
However, if this breathlessness is associated with chest pain, difficulty breathing when lying down at night, please see your doctor.
If you’ve ever been told this during pregnancy, don’t panic just yet.
A bigger-than-average baby doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong but it does mean your pregnancy deserves careful monitoring. Read!
Q: Doc, I am an expectant mother in the last trimester. My Doc told me my baby is big and I decided to take tea daily. Is it safe?
A: Tea contains caffeine. There are conflicting reports as to whether some amount of caffeine is beneficial in pregnancy (less than 200mg) or whether increased amounts are a problem > or more than 500mg). One regular teabag steeped in a small teacup has about 55mg of caffeine. So, it may be a good idea to limit your consumption of tea. However, I think that tea is really one of the least of your problems right now. The focus should be on what caused the big baby and what can be done to ensure that you and baby come out okay.
Big babies are usually seen in women who
Are diabetic. Have gestational Diabetes (Diabetes that is observed during pregnancy), Are obese Have had another big baby before Have had a lot of babies (from the 5th pregnancy, the risk of big babies increase) Excessive weight gain during pregnancy Are older. From age 35 years, the risk of having a big baby increases Have pregnancies that are overdue. When a pregnancy is more than 2 weeks overdue, the chances of a big baby are increased.
For women with big babies (fetal macrosomia), a vaginal delivery may not be a complete no no!
However, your OBGYN will weigh the risk of that against your medical history and other pre-existing medical conditions.
Potential complications include having genital tract tears during delivery, prolonged labour and rupture of the uterus. The babies may be born with a lower than normal blood sugar level and be prone to childhood obesity.
However, none of this needs to happen if you are registered in a good center under the care of a qualified obstetrician. In these centres, all possible complications are anticipated during pregnancy and at the time of delivery.
To prevent this, remember that feeding for 2 is a fad. You don’t really need to eat like a horse 😀 …you and your baby don’t need that much (an average of 12kg weight gain for 9 months…little over 1kg/month!); include some exercise (gentle stretches and walks, with your doctor’s knowledge and advice) and be sure that Diabetes is controlled, if you have this before pregnancy.
So, for the remainder of your pregnancy, be sure to follow your doctor’s instruction on weight gain, medications etc. to the letter! Let’s share the good news when the baby is born.
They may seem like a cosmetic issue but sometimes they’re your body’s way of telling you something. Read!
Q: Hello Dr. Ketch. Please what do you recommend for someone with spider veins?
Varicose veins are enlarged veins and can occur anywhere in the body. However, they are more frequently found in the lower limbs as standing and walking increase the pressure in the veins of the lower body. This pressure may cause the valves that keep the blood flowing towards the heart, to weaken such that blood flows backwards and pools in the lower limbs. They usually appear bluish or purple and are more of an image/cosmetic problem for a lot of people. But in others, this condition presents with symptoms like muscle cramps, itching around the veins, swollen feet and ankles, bleeding from the vein, pain in the legs etc
Older people are more likely to have this condition as the valves in the veins weaken with age; pregnant women are also prone to this because as the uterus (womb) grows, it puts pressure on the veins preventing the proper return of blood to the heart. Other people with a higher risk of developing varicose veins are those who work jobs where they stand or sit for long periods, obese people and those with a family history of varicose veins.
For those who require treatment, pressure stockings may be prescribed in the first instance alongside exercise prescription and advice to elevate the legs when at rest. If this does not work there may be need for the vein to be sealed with heat, special foam or surgery.
To prevent this condition, exercise regularly (150 minutes per week is a great start), lose weight if you are obese, try to avoid standing or sitting for too long without taking breaks.
Once pregnancy occurs, your normal monthly menstrual periods stop.
So why do some women bleed during pregnancy?
Bleeding in early pregnancy is more common than many people realize, and it can happen for several reasons. Read!
Q: Good job Dr. Dr. is it possible for one to be pregnant and still see her monthly period?
A: People do not menstruate when pregnant. Remember that menstruation happens when fertilization of eggs released during ovulation by sperm does not occur. And so, if fertilization and pregnancy occur, menstruation is ruled out.
Bleeding can occur in early pregnancy though, close to or about the same time as the menstruation would and thus be mistaken for a period.
This bleeding could be due to implantation as the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterus (womb).
Other causes of bleeding in early pregnancy include:
Ectopic pregnancy – a pregnancy growing outside the womb, which can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. Miscarriage Infections
Bleeding in pregnancy may not necessarily be an emergency but because there are other causes of these episodes of bleeding, which are potentially life threatening like ectopic pregnancy, bleeding in pregnancy should always be checked out in the hospital.
Early assessment can make all the difference.
Have you ever heard someone say they “had their period” while pregnant?
Share this post to help clear up this common misconception – it could help someone seek care when they need it most.
Pregnancy myths have been passed from one generation to another for years.
Some are harmless.
Some are rooted in culture.
And some can cause unnecessary worry.
In today’s Fact or Fiction, we’re looking at 6 more pregnancy myths that many women have heard over the years.
Look through to see which ones are FACT and which are FICTION.
1) Advice If you eat a lot of snails, your baby will spit a lot when born!
Verdict: Fiction The fact that the snail is slimy has nothing to do with whether baby drools or not. Remember also that if your baby starts drooling when he’s teething, it has nothing to do the with the snails you ate when pregnant but everything to do with the process he’s going through…bringing forth teeth!
2) Advice Don’t eat plantain when pregnant or the baby’s anterior fontanelle (the depression in the front of the head) will be very deep.
Verdict: Fiction Baby’s anterior fontanelle would be deep or depressed if the baby is dehydrated and not because the mother loves dodo!
3. Advice Pregnant women should not drink directly from the bottle so that baby will not have hiccups
Verdict: Fiction Well, it certainly is a great idea to be lady-like and drink from a cup, right But this has nothing to do with baby having a hiccup.
4. Advice Do not let people cross your leg when you’re sitting down. If they do, your baby will look like them.
Verdict: Fiction Seriously guys! 😀 This has no basis in reality and even in mythology. If you don’t like people crossing over your legs, that’s fine…but don’t get it twisted. It has nothing to do with how the baby looks 😃
5. Advice You must always have a safety pin on your person otherwise evil people may steal the baby from your tummy.
Verdict: Fiction Perhaps this started with superstition somewhere but my dear friends, this has no basis in science.
6. Advice Put a stone at the end of your wrapper and knot it when going out to prevent miscarriage.
Verdict: Fiction Really!!! This is truly without any basis in science and pushes fiction too far. 😃
Now it’s your turn: Have you heard any of these? Do you know how they started?
Tell me the most unusual pregnancy myth you’ve ever been told. It might just appear in the next edition of Fact or Fiction! 😊
“Doctor, I’ve heard that if a woman keeps her virginity for too long, she’ll develop fibroids. Is that true?”
This is one of those myths that has been passed down for generations but is there any truth to it? Read!
Q: Good evening doc, my question goes like this: since a young lady that keeps her virginity long is likely to suffer from fibroid, what is your advice since such a young lady does not want to lose her virginity?
A: Fibroids are common in women of African origin, women who are aged between 30 to 50 years and women who have a family history of this. Women who have had children have a lower risk of developing fibroid. So, the converse side of this is that, if you have not had children, you are at a greater risk of having fibroids. Perhaps that’s where this virginity gist came from Remember that not having children does not necessarily mean one is a virgin…
My advice? That’s pretty simple! Please keep your virginity for as long as possible as your virginity has nothing to do with having fibroids
Remember that with this, you can prevent all the different Sexually Transmitted Infections milling around out there
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