Pregnancy is such a difficult, risky, and painful experience that women go through. It is a wonderful thing, yet it puts a woman’s life at risk.
Sometimes, pregnancy has many complications. In some cases, uterine fibroids may grow outside the walls of an expectant mother’s uterus. The hormonal changes and production during pregnancy can promote the growth of fibroids.
Risks of Uterine Fibroids During Pregnancy
A pregnant woman with uterine fibroids are subjected to certain risks. These include:
- Miscarriage
- Cesarean delivery
- Preterm delivery
- Breech position
- Placental disruption
- Restriction of fetal growth
Symptoms During Pregnancy
Early detection will let you get the right treatment that will avoid the risks of pregnancy. Some of the symptoms include:
- Bleeding or spotting
- Pressure on the pelvis
- Abdominal pain
- Frequent urination
- Constipation
- Low blood pressure
All these symptoms seem to be normal pregnancy symptoms. That’s why it’s important to always get your condition checked.
But, the detection of these fibroids during pregnancy is no easy task. The reason is that during pregnancy, the walls of the uterus thickens. And if it thickens, it’ll be difficult for the doctor to see if there are fibroids growing. If it can’t be detected using an ultrasound, the doctor may do other tests to detect the fibroids.
Treatments During Pregnancy
The risks may become serious complications if the fibroids are not treated immediately. Doctors recommend several ways to alleviate the symptoms and eventually treat the condition. But during pregnancy, it is important to treat fibroids with extra care, considering the fragility of a woman’s condition.
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Resting
Getting a lot of bed rest is important for pregnant women, with or without health conditions. Drinking a lot of water or other liquids that keep them hydrated is also important. This can relieve some of the pain and discomfort.
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Taking anti-inflammatory medicine
Painkillers can give instant relief to pregnant women when they feel pain due to fibroids. But, OTC painkillers can be harmful to pregnancy. You should ask your doctor to prescribe you some safe painkillers.
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Drinking green tea
Green tea can shrink the size of the fibroids and can limit the symptoms. But, green tea has high amounts of caffeine. Ask your doctor about the right amount of green tea you can drink before trying this treatment.
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Eating a lot of fiber
When you have fibroids, eating a lot of fiber is essential. This helps relieve the symptoms. Try to avoid salty food, refined flour, and sweets. These may make the symptoms worse.
There are no invasive treatments that can be done when you get fibroids during pregnancy. The only thing you can do is relieve the symptoms and wait. Doing these natural treatments can help.
The uterine fibroids often shrink a significant size after giving birth. This is because your hormone levels go back to normal.
One more way to avoid the complications of fibroids during pregnancy is to treat them before getting pregnant. If you’re planning to conceive, take a medical check-up to make sure you’re healthy and free from fibroids.