Five Minor Disorders in Pregnancy (Essay Sample)

Five Minor Disorders in Pregnancy
An Article Written By:
Dr. Sagarika Mukhopadhyay
Background
Pregnancy refers to the condition of carrying a fetus within a woman’s uterine cavity, after the fertilized ovum gets implanted in the uterine endometrium. The condition is marked by various anatomical, physiological and biochemical changes within the body of a woman. However there are certain disorders that are associated with pregnancy. These disorders may be major or minor, which can impact either the mother or the fetus. Major Disorders includes eclampsia or hypertensive crisis while minor disorders includes heartburn, chronic low back pain or leg cramps to name a few. These disorders are transient and gets resolved through proper antenatal care. The present article will elucidate the pathophysiology of five minor disorders associated with pregnancy (Jenkins, Millar & Robins, 2011).
Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease
Amongst two-third of pregnant women suffer from Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux disease which is popularly recognized as heart burn. The individual complains of a burning sensation in her chest and throat. During pregnancy the corpus luteum produces excess amounts of progesterone. Progesterone relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter delays gastric emptying. In such situations, gastric acid or food may enter the esophagus to cause the so called “heart burn” (Affendi &Egan, 2007). The individual should be guided to maintain an upright position and should be discouraged in lying down after her meals. Certain calcium or magnesium based antacids can be provided to ensure transient relief from the symptoms (Dowswell & Neilson, 2008).
Varicose Veins
Varicose veins have been reported in around 40% of pregnant women. Varicose veins refer to a condition where the deep veins in the legs gets enlarged and distorted. Pregnancy is associated with reduced mobility and maintenance of more static postures leading to a decrease in venous return. When the venous return decreases, the blood falls back inside the veins, causing the hydrostatic pressure in the deep veins to increase further, leading to influx of blood in surrounding tissue spaces. This leads to development of oedema and leg pain. The condition is potentiated by increased progesterone levels. Progesterone relaxes the smooth muscles of the veins leading to such increased pressure. The individual should be instructed to avoid prolonged standing postures and immobility should be discouraged. She should also be instructed to elevate her legs whenever possible (Bamigboye and Smith, 2007).
Vaginal Discharge
Vaginal discharge or leucorrhoea is a condition when there is thick, white, yellowish secretion discharged from the vagina. It can often have a foul smell and can get aggravated by sexually transmitted diseases or vaginal infection. High levels of oestrogen cause the superficial shedding of the mucosal cells of the vagina. This causes the normal bacteria in the vaginal flora to interact with the glycogen in the mucosal cells. As a result the vaginal pH decreases (glycogenolysis followed by glycolysis leads to production of lactic acid). The acidic milieu of the vagina stimulates Candida albicans infection, which is the cause of infectious discharge. The individual should be instructed to maintain vaginal hygiene and inform the attending physician of her symptoms.
Pregnancy Related Low Back Pain
Around 40%-50% of pregnant women present symptoms of pregnancy related low back pain. The pain occurs in the sacro-iliac region and can radiate in other parts of the body. The etiology of such pain has been attributed to radiculopathy or compression of spinal nerves. The individual should be instructed to undergo physiotherapy and at the same time should alternate her postures in different positions (Han, 2010).
Leg Cramps
Leg cramps occur in 30% of pregnant women. The cause of such cramps is due to decreased venous return coupled with increased demand of oxygen by the fetus. Under this situation lactic acid accumulates which causes involuntary muscular contraction, leading to such cramps. The individual should be instructed to b mobile an...