Pregnancy Basics (cont.)

Nosebleeds and nasal stuffiness are common during pregnancy. They are caused by the increased amount of blood in your body and hormones acting on the tissues of your nose.

What might help:

• Blow your nose gently.
• Drink fluids and use a cool mist humidifier.
• To stop a nosebleed, squeeze your nose between your thumb and forefinger for a few minutes.

Call your doctor if your nosebleeds are frequent and do not stop after a few minutes.

Feelings of swelling, tingling, and numbness in fingers and hands, called carpal tunnel syndrome, can occur during pregnancy. These symptoms are due to swelling of tissues in the narrow passages in your wrists, and they should disappear after delivery.

What might help

• Take frequent breaks to rest hands.
• Ask your doctor about fitting you for a splint to keep wrists straight.

Stretch marks are red, pink, or brown streaks on the skin. Most often they appear on the thighs, buttocks, abdomen, and breasts. These scars are caused by the stretching of the skin, and usually appear in the second half of pregnancy.

Some women notice other skin changes during pregnancy. For many women, the nipples become darker and browner during pregnancy. Many pregnant women also develop a dark line (called the linea nigra) on the skin that runs from the belly button down to the pubic hairline. Patches of darker skin usually over the cheeks, forehead, nose, or upper lip also are common. Patches often match on both sides of the face. These spots are called melasma or chloasma and are more common in darker-skinned women.

What might help:

• Be patient - stretch marks and other changes usually fade after delivery.

Source: MedicineNet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/pregnancy_basics/article.htm