Pregnancy: Indispositions During Pregnancy

Increased vaginal secretions: Convinced that you've developed a vaginal infection because your secretions have suddenly become much wetter and more abundant? Chances are you're dealing with a little-talked-about side effect of the hormonal changes of pregnancy. It's normal to experience an increase in the amount of leukorrhea (the odorless clear or white mucusy discharge produced by the female body) during pregnancy.

Palmar erythema: Have the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet suddenly taken on a reddish hue? You may be experiencing palmar erythema-skin changes that are triggered by that unique hormonal cocktail called pregnancy. The good news is that palmar erythema is fully reversible but still you'll have to wait until after you give birth for your skin to return to normal.

Skin tags: As if palmar erythema wasn't enough to deal with, you may also develop skin tags-tiny polyps that occur in areas of the body where the skin rubs up against your clothing or against itself (in the folds of your neck, along your bra lines, and so on). If these skin tags end up causing you a lot of discomfort, you might want to talk to your doctor about having them removed. If they're just mildly annoying, just grin and bear it and wait for them to go away on their own-something that typically happens a couple of months after you give birth.

Spider nevi: Another skin change that may be calling you grief-so called spider nevi or spider veins. Hormonal changes and your increased blood volume may cause these spider nevi to pop out on your face or in the whites of your eyes if you push too intensely during delivery. These lines tend to become less prominent after delivery. If they don't fade to your satisfaction, you might want to talk to a dermatologist about having them removed.

Pyogenic granulomas: Don't be alarmed if you happen to notice tiny nodules on your gums when you're brushing your teeth one morning. These nodules-known as pyogenic granulomas (pregnancy tumors) are harmless, non-cancerous growths that can occur during pregnancy. They tend to disappear on their own after you give birth, but if they're causing you a lot of grief, you might want to ask your doctor to remove them sooner rather than later.

Eye changes: This one seems too far-fetched to be real, but I assure you that it's legit. Fluid retention during pregnancy changes the shape of your eyeballs, leading to increased nearsightedness. At the same time, rising levels of estrogen can lead to a condition called dry eye, which is characterized by dryness and burning, blurred vision, and increased sensitivity to light. Like many pregnancy complaints, your eye woes will correct themselves after you give birth.

Carpal tunnel syndrome: You might not think to blame your pregnant state for the numbness or tingling in your hands, but chances are that's just what to blame. Carpal tunnel syndrome is relatively common during pregnancy and results from a pinched nerve in the wrist. In most cases, the problem disappears after you give birth, but some women will require surgery to correct the problem. In the meantime, you can keep yourself comfortable by elevating the affected hand or wearing a plastic splint at night.

Hip soreness: Find yourself waking up in the middle of night with aching hips? You've got something else to blame on those crazy pregnancy hormones! Hormonal changes cause the ligaments in your hips to stretch and the cartilage to soften, something that can lead to soreness when you're sleeping on your side at night. They're also responsible for that classic pregnancy "waddle."