Frequency, Severity, and Effect on Life of Physical Symptoms Experienced During Pregnancy

Abstract

This study aimed to: 1) describe the number, frequency, severity of discomfort and effect of symptoms on life of 29 physical symptoms women experienced at 15 to 25 weeks of gestation; 2) explore whether experiencing this group of physical symptoms more frequently and intensely was associated with a higher score of depressive symptoms and lower self-esteem; (3) examine whether discomfort and effect ratings aided prediction of well being over and above symptom frequency; and (4) investigate which individual physical symptoms contributed most to predicting depressive symptoms and self-esteem. Pregnant women (n = 215) completed the Beck Depression Inventory, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and a physical symptoms questionnaire. Frequency, discomfort, and the effect of physical symptoms all consistently correlated with higher scores for depressive symptoms, but less consistently with lower self-esteem. Discomfort and the effect of symptoms predicted variance in depressive symptoms after accounting for symptom frequency. Higher frequency, more discomfort, and the effect of fatigue and effect of flatulence were related to depressive symptoms. Relationships between pregnancy-related physical symptoms, depressive symptoms, and low self-esteem suggest that when women report any of these constellation of factors, further screening is indicated. A comprehensive assessment of physical symptoms includes frequency, discomfort, and effect on life.

Prenatal care

“…Some workplace exposures, such as toxic chemicals, radiation (>5 rad), heavy repeated lifting, prolonged (>8 hours) standing, excessive (>80/wk) work hours, and high fatigue score may be associated with pregnancy complications, but there is insufficient evidence on the effect of avoidance of these risks (see also chap. 16). There is insufficient safety data for paint, solvents, hair dyes, fumes, anesthetic drugs, etc., with no absolute evidence of harm.…”

“…Antibiotic prophylaxis of pregnant women with no specific risk factor or infection is associated with similar incidence of PPROM, PTB, and postpartum endometritis (73,74) (see also chap. 16).…”

“…Leg cramps are reported to occur in a reported 34% of pregnant women in the midtrimester (16). Magnesium lactate or citrate chewable tablets 5 mmol in the morning and 10 mmol in the evening for 3 weeks are associated with one-third of women not having persistent leg cramps compared to 94% of placebo controls having persistent cramps (96).…”

Study of determinants of health status and quality of life in pregnancy

“…Neurološki simptomi u trudnoći, kao što su problemi spavanja, mogu biti značajne determinante lošijeg HRQoL [Kamysheva 2009]. Mi smo našli da su od neuroloških simptoma trudnoće, vrtoglavice i poremećaji svesti (nesvestica, gubitak svesti) imali značajan uticaj na HRQoL, tako što su smanjivale sve skorove SF-36 i osećaj socijalne podrške (MSPSS), a povećavali zamor (FSS), depresiju (BDI) i simptome (PSS).…”

“…Nelagodnost i efekti fizičkih simptoma najvažniji su prediktori simptoma depresije, odmah posle učestalosti simptoma. Odnosi između fizičkih simptoma uslovljenih graviditetom, simptoma depresije i niske samoprocene zdravlja ukazuju da je dalje ispitivanje indikovano uvek ako žena pri skriningu izvesti o bilo kom obliku povezanosti ovih faktora [Kamysheva 2009]. U našem istraživanju povezanost između skorova PSS i ukupnog kvaliteta života (TQL) bila je inverzna, što znači da jači simptomi utiču na smanjenje HRQoL.…”