Pregnant women are more susceptible to getting sick. One reason is because the immune system of pregnant women tends to decrease. now, it is important for pregnant women to find out more about the various causes of getting sick easily, so that pregnant women can prevent illness and be healthier during pregnancy.
Pregnant women may often hear stories of experiences from friends or family who find it easier to get sick during pregnancy. Among the many changes that occur during pregnancy, this condition is quite common for pregnant women.
Basically, it's easier to get sick during pregnancy due to various body changes that follow pregnancy itself. So, you could say this is a natural thing. However, of course there are several things that can be done so that this condition does not interfere, let alone endanger pregnant women and their fetuses.
Understanding Further Reasons Pregnant Women Get Sick Easier
The immune system in some parts of the body of pregnant women can naturally decrease. This mechanism occurs to protect the fetus from being attacked by the mother's immune system because it is thought to be a foreign object.
This condition makes pregnant women more susceptible to infections that cause various diseases. Even minor infections can cause serious illness in pregnant women.
Increased production of the hormone progesterone during pregnancy can also relax the ureter and bladder muscles. As a result, urine tends to stay in the bladder longer. This can trigger bacteria to multiply, resulting in a urinary tract infection.
Not only that, higher levels of the hormone estrogen during pregnancy in the reproductive tract can also make pregnant women more at risk for fungal infections, such as candidiasis.
There are still many changes that can make pregnant women get sick easily. For example, nausea and vomiting in the first trimester can make pregnant women lack nutritional intake, so that pregnant women become weak and their immunity decreases.
In addition, the enlargement of the uterus in the third trimester can also make pregnant women vulnerable to back pain. This can also add to the burden and suppress blood flow to the legs, so pregnant women will experience leg cramps more often.
In order not to get sick easily during pregnancy, here's how to prevent it
Pregnant women, don't be discouraged by this change, okay? Although pregnant women are indeed more susceptible to disease, there are many preventive steps that pregnant women can take for the health of themselves and the baby in the womb, including:
- Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat and eggs.
- Avoid consumption of milk that is processed without the pasteurization process.
- Wash your hands regularly with running water and soap, especially before eating, after cooking, or after using the toilet.
- Maintain normal weight gain during pregnancy by always eating nutritious foods.
- Sleep on time and get plenty of rest.
- Do regular exercise and muscle stretching.
- Avoid sharing cutlery and food with other people.
- Avoid contact with pets or wild animals. Ask other people to help take care of your pet, especially cleaning the cage and litter.
In addition to the methods above, pregnant women also have to regularly check with the obstetrician according to the specified schedule. As early as possible, get checked out to detect possible infectious diseases, such as listeriosis and infection Streptococcus group B, or sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV.
Also make sure pregnant women have received the vaccines needed during pregnancy. If you feel unwell or are worried about getting a certain infection, pregnant women can immediately see a gynecologist outside the specified schedule, to get the right treatment.
