What pregnant women, on average, are more vulnerable to various infectious diseases than non-pregnant adult women - a well-known fact. The weakening of immunity is necessary to reduce the likelihood of miscarriage, but for that expectant mothers have to pay more or less frequent diseases; Fortunately, if a woman before pregnancy no serious health problems, during the childbearing will likely also be without serious diseases. For example, oral herpes, often referred to as a cold on the lip Cold on the lip - to solve the problem   during pregnancy, it can hardly be attributed to serious disease, although it is extremely unpleasant, and can be for a few days to overshadow life.

Cold on the lip of a pregnant - a very common phenomenon associated with the weakening of the immune defense. Unlike genital herpes, it is not dangerous, but due to poor immunity it can heal longer than usual. Moreover, herpes during pregnancy may cause more extensive lesions, because of which increases the probability of occurrence of scars on the skin.

Treatment

If the patient can usually buy themselves and use various means to treat a cold on the lips, then pregnant women before using any drugs it is necessary to consult with your doctor.

To alleviate the symptoms of colds medications are used for topical application, e.g., benzocaine (5-20%), lidocaine (0.5-4%), tetracaine. Benzocaine can be administered to pregnant women only in rare cases and under medical supervision, because of its impact on the development of the embryo is not well studied. Ointments with lidocaine during pregnancy should be used with caution and only with the permission of the doctor, but in general, their use is acceptable, and rarely leads to undesirable results. Tetracaine is rarely used today, and pregnant women do not prescribe it at all - this is due to the toxicity of the drug.

Paracetamol is considered one of the safest non-prescription analgesics, however if you have any liver disease, or if you are taking some other drugs before his admission be sure to check with your doctor.

If necessary, the doctor may prescribe antiviral ointment patient, such as acyclovir Acyclovir - as it is safe? But in most cases the use of these drugs is recommended to be avoided because it is not known what effect they have on the process of fetal development. In addition, a cold usually takes 7-10 days, in pregnant women can sometimes last up to two weeks - a relatively short time, to the unpleasant symptoms can just be patient, for the safety of the fetus.

For treatment of cold on the lips during pregnancy can use some home remedies, for example:

• Garlic. Rub garlic on a very fine grater, then pound it in a mortar (or just use chesnokodavku), and apply the resulting slurry on the cold sores. Leave it for at least half an hour. Use this tool several times a day until the cold has passed;
• The essential oil of peppermint Mint and its useful properties: aromatic freshness . Studies have shown that peppermint oil can penetrate the skin and influence on the reproduction of herpes simplex virus. It is unknown whether capable of peppermint essential oil have an impact on the fetus, so it should be used with caution, and in very small quantities. Remember that it can be used only externally - it should not fall into the mouth;
• Soda. Mix one tablespoon with a glass of warm water. Moisten in this solution a small piece of cotton or gauze, and apply it to chill lip 10-15 minutes at least three times per day.

Prevention

During pregnancy, cold is easier to prevent than to treat. As carriers of herpes simplex virus type 1 are at least 80% of adults, the likelihood that future mother infected by them is very high, and to take measures to prevent infection, in most cases, does not make sense. However, women who have never before appeared cold on the lips, it is worth to take measures that protect themselves from possible infection. In particular, do not use the bowl, from which drinking or eating a person who has acute herpes symptoms (rashes on the lips), as well as its lipstick or other objects, which could get the virus. You also need to avoid kissing people who have colds appeared on his lips.

To reduce the likelihood of activation of herpes during pregnancy, it is recommended:

• Use a lip balm with sunscreen. Exposure to ultraviolet sometimes leads to an exacerbation of herpes;
• If possible, avoid the factors that contribute to the activation of the herpes sometimes. The most common of these factors - stress and hypothermia.

In addition, pregnant women are advised to take measures to strengthen the immune system Strengthening the immune system - help the immune system , eg:

• Do sport. Scientists have recently confirmed what most people already knew for a long time - those who regularly and actively moving, less likely to suffer from various infections. In pregnant women who, despite his position, continue to train, less acute herpes occur and, in general, they are easier to carry the pregnancy;
• Drink plenty of water. The body simply can not withstand the herpes virus and other pathogens, if he will be missed by moisture;
• Get enough sleep. Regular sleep deprivation weakens the immune system, which can make the pregnant woman is extremely vulnerable to various diseases.

Swelling during pregnancy have long been a byword. Virtually none of the pregnant woman is not passed this phenomenon. Doctors are still debating as to whether the occurrence of edema or standard pathology, and what kind of swelling can be attributed to the last statement. And yet, edema should alert a woman and she should immediately inform your doctor. Most often swelling during pregnancy is a sign of the terrible diseases of expectant mothers - preeclampsia, which is why obstetricians closely monitor the weight gain of women and the presence or absence of her edema.

The mechanism of formation of edema during pregnancy

During the whole period of pregnancy a woman gains weight of ten kilograms. Almost half of this gain (about four to five kilogram) occur in the fluid that accumulates mainly in the subcutaneous fat and connective tissue.

Water retention in women begins gradually, usually in the first trimester of pregnancy, this process is negligible. In the future, a future mother begins to notice that the skin of hands, feet and abdomen becomes less elastic and resilient and gets loose look. Then there is swelling of the face, and in the last months of pregnancy appear swollen feet Swelling of the legs - do not leave without attention   and the arm, lumbar and abdominal region. A typical symptom of edema is the formation of pits on the skin of the lower leg in front, where the muscles are not available. It appeared not immediately filled pit and disappears. In addition, the hidden (invisible) and obvious swelling indicates a sharp increase in weight.

Physiological edema

Physiological edema are classified as "safe" edema. Their appearance is explained by two factors. Firstly, during pregnancy increases a woman's need for fluid. Secondly, during the childbearing in women accumulate sodium, which is known to be able to attract water. Thus, the inclination expectant mothers to fluid retention and sodium leads to the formation of edema. Provoke physiological edema may be the following factors: the use of salty foods (pickles, sauerkraut, salted fish), hot weather, fatigue and physical stress. After removing the precipitating factors physiological swelling disappear.

Abnormal swelling

Abnormal swelling is a sign of the disease, as a rule, preeclampsia, or toxemia of late. There are four degrees of preeclampsia:

• First degree

The first degree is called edema pregnant. Observed swelling in the legs, arms, abdominal wall, lower back. Swollen face, eyes resemble slits. There excessive weight gain, weakness, fatigue. The woman says that he can not remove the wedding ring (ring sign), put on shoes.

• Second degree

Second degree - a nephropathy pregnant. It joins edema high blood pressure Blood pressure - dangerous if his swing? , A protein found in the urine, in severe cases, its content is very significant. In the absence of or inadequate treatment of nephropathy goes into the third degree of preeclampsia.

• Third degree

The third degree is called preeclampsia. By the above symptoms align signs ischemic attack: headache Headache: Causes and Complications , Flies flashing before his eyes, tinnitus, nasal congestion, nausea Nausea - there may be problems with the nervous system   And so on.

• The fourth degree

The most dangerous condition - eclampsia. It is characterized by the appearance of generalized convulsions in pregnant and loss of consciousness. In the absence of an emergency may be fatal, as the fetus and women.

Treatment of edema during pregnancy

Fluid restriction when an edema is impractical, otherwise the body begins to accumulate water "in reserve", which only aggravates the process. Pregnant women should consume daily about one and a half liters of fluid (including soups and vegetables). The diet should reduce salt intake (food should be salted insufficiently). Get rid of physiological edema help cool foot bath, foot massage, raised limb of the body in a horizontal position. It is recommended that at least three times a day for 20 minutes to lie on your left side. In this position, improving renal blood flow. Once a week is useful to arrange fasting days (apple or cottage cheese). With the progression of the disease have resorted to medication.

Anna Sozinova