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Clumsiness during pregnancy

Clumsiness is one of those things that you won’t hear about before you get pregnant, but it forms an unavoidable part of most pregnancies. Many women don’t get the reassurance they need that it’s perfectly normal because they think it is a silly thing to mention to their midwife or doctor.

It is natural to feel clumsy when you are pregnant

When you consider the changes your body goes through during pregnancy, it’s not really surprising if you experience some clumsiness. As well as carrying more weight in general, your centre of gravity has shifted upwards, making it harder for you to keep your balance. Hormonal changes designed to loosen the joints in the pelvis ready for childbirth can also loosen joints in your fingers and toes, making dropping things and tripping up more common.

What can I do about it?

While there is not much you can do to improve your coordination and control while you are pregnant, you can minimize your chances of having an accident or hurting yourself by taking a few simple precautions.

• Avoid risky situations like climbing a ladder or standing on a chair.
• Wear stable and comfortable shoes, there will be plenty of opportunity for high heels after you have given birth.
• Give yourself more time to get anywhere, you are more likely to trip and fall when you are hurrying.
• Take special care on icy or wet surfaces.
• Use handrails on stairs, or walk close to the wall for support. This is especially important once your bump gets so big it is hard to see your feet.

When to ask your midwife for advice

You should ask your midwife about anything that makes you uncomfortable during your pregnancy, so don’t feel silly mentioning your clumsiness if it is worrying you. There are a few occasions when it is very important to consult your midwife or doctor. If you experience lightheadedness, headaches, pain or blurred vision along with your clumsiness ask your midwife immediately. These could be symptoms of a virus or infection.

If your clumsiness does cause you to trip and fall, don’t worry, your baby is well protected and the chances of hurting it are very small. However it is a good idea to call your midwife anyway just to be on the safe side. A quick appointment to listen to the baby’s heartbeat will put everybody’s mind at rest.

Are headaches a normal symptom of pregnancy?

Many women find that their first trimesters of pregnancy are plagued by tension headaches, a squeezing pain or dull ache on the sides of the head or the back of the neck. These can be caused by a number of factors related to early pregnancy including hormonal changes, fatigue, emotional stress, hunger, dehydration, or changes to diet, such as elimination of caffeine. Incidence of pregnancy tension headaches tends to be worse among women who were already susceptible to headaches, but most women find a significant improvement in their second trimester.

How about migraine headaches?

Again, the first trimester of pregnancy can cause an increase in migraine headaches, which are characterized by a throbbing pain on one side of the head, nausea or vomiting, sensitivity to light, and occasionally an ‘aura’ such as flashing lights. Around fifteen per cent of migraine sufferers experience their first attack during pregnancy, usually during the first trimester.

The good news for those that have migraines relating to their menstrual cycle is that these should improve during their pregnancy. If your migraines are usually worse around your periods you should benefit from this temporary relief.

Taking pain relief whilst pregnant

One of the most frustrating issues for sufferers of persistent headaches during pregnancy is that there is very little you can take in the way of pain relief. Paracetamol or acetaminophen is generally considered safe to take, but this may not provide sufficient relief for severe migraines.

Aspirin and ibuprofen are usually out of the question for pregnant mothers, as are many other migraine specific treatments, but in the case of severely debilitating headaches your doctor may decide that the risk to the baby is outweighed by the needs of the mother. Consult your doctor if you have severe headaches and can’t find relief by any of the methods currently accepted as safe.

Drug free pain relief

If you are looking for headache relief without taking medication here are a few possibilities you could try:

• Keep a diary to identify headache triggers such as certain foods or odors
• Use a compress, warm for tension headaches and cold for migraines
• Take a cold shower or splash water on your face and wrists
• Maintain your blood sugar levels by eating small frequent meals and snacks
• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, small regular sips are most effective
• Try to get plenty of sleep and take a nap if you feel a migraine coming on
• Massage can release tension, but make sure you tell the masseur you are pregnant

When to seek medical advice

Although most pregnancy headaches are harmless, if you are getting them for the first time you may want to consult your doctor to make sure they are not a symptom of something more serious. A severe headache in your second or third trimester could be a symptom of preeclampsia and your doctor may test for high blood pressure and protein in the urine to rule this out.

Consult your doctor if:

• You’re in your second or third trimester and have a bad headache or a headache for the first time, which may or may not be accompanied by visual changes, sharp upper abdominal pain, sudden weight gain, or swelling in your hands or face.

• Your headache is getting worse and you experience any other problems such as blurry vision or other visual disturbances, slurred speech, drowsiness, numbness, or a change in normal sensation or alertness.

• You have a sudden “explosive” headache, violent pain that awakens you from sleep, a headache that doesn’t go away, or one that feels unlike any you’ve ever experienced.

• Your headache is accompanied by a fever and a stiff neck.

• You have a headache after falling and hitting your head (or any other kind of head injury).