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Updated Friday, March 1, 2024-15:33
A pregnancy is a before and after in almost everything:
life is never the same when a baby enters the scene
, and it is easy to sense that
the body will not be the same as before either
.
Carmen Ledesma was clear when she became pregnant with her first child at the age of 27, but she could not imagine how far those changes could go.
"Yes, they had told me that there is more tooth sensitivity and that there is loss of teeth, but I did not believe in the direct association between pregnancy and dental problems, altered vision or shoe size, I believed that they were myths and grandmother legends".
The pregnancies (today she has three children) went well, without complications, the same with the births.
But each child left her a souvenir: "after each pregnancy I went to an ophthalmological check-up and wham!,
half a point more (on average) in diopters for myopia
," says Carmen, "currently I am almost 3.25 and I need glasses or contact lenses always, before at least I could do without them in the countryside or on the beach.
The ophthalmologist said that it was a 'aftermath' of the pregnancy, and in her case it was like that up to three times.
For Cristina García the surprise came in the form of
a change in shoe size
.
"At the end of my first daughter's pregnancy (at 32 years old), as happens to many women, my feet swelled and I noticed that some shoes didn't fit me well," explains Cristina, "I attributed it to the fact that I was already short of to give birth, but after giving birth and returning to normal I noticed that although my feet had deflated, there were shoes that I still couldn't put on.
Neither midwife, gynecologist nor family doctor had warned her that pregnancy could cause permanent changes like that, although the truth is that they are described.
What relationship could exist between myopia and pregnancy?
How do you explain an increase in shoe size?
The truth is that for months
the body changes to house (and develop) new life, but also to prepare the birth canal
.
They are months of constant changes: the belly grows and grows, stretching the skin to limits that seemed impossible, the breasts prepare to be a source of food, the heart pumps twice, the spine supports more weight than usual... and everything accompanied of a series of common symptoms such as nausea or fatigue.
But in the midst of this revolution, and because of it, unsuspected changes occur, anomalies that may seem extraordinary but are part of a catalog that is as curious as it is common.
Of course,
many of these alterations will disappear upon giving birth or a few months later
.
Pregnancy is such an extraordinary process that sometimes we can ignore aspects that occur simultaneously or even think that it is preferable to leave some check-ups and reviews for 'later'.
However, it is precisely in these circumstances when it may be more advisable
to go to check-ups with specialists
.
The ophthalmologist José Ignacio Fernández-Vigo alludes to the
multiple ocular changes
that can occur during pregnancy to remember the importance of an ophthalmological examination at this stage, "the most ideal time being the third trimester since it is when the hormonal changes and, therefore, when you may suffer more visual problems."
In women with
previous ocular pathologies,
it is recommended that this review be done quarterly.
What
is not recommended under any circumstances is to perform refractive surgery
in this period, precisely because it is possible that there is a change in the prescription that may be temporary, and also to avoid treatments with eye drops that would be necessary both before and especially. in the postoperative period of this surgery.
Regarding the visit to the dentist, the specialist in Stomatology and president of the General Council of Dentists of Spain, Óscar Castro Reino, clarifies that, although it is recommended to postpone certain elective treatments until after childbirth,
most dental treatments are safe During pregnancy
.
"In the case of x-rays, those considered urgent can be performed taking certain precautions such as the use of lead aprons," the doctor clarifies, "and local anesthesia, commonly used in dentistry, is considered safe during pregnancy."
But each case is unique, so the doctor recommends consulting with a dentist and an obstetrician before making any decision related to dental treatments during pregnancy.
what not to do?
There are
specific contraindications for pregnant women
that go beyond avoiding alcohol or tobacco.
Dermatologist Manuel Fernández Lorente warns, for example, that during pregnancy there is a
greater risk of malignant nevi if you sunbathe
.
"We recommend avoiding sun exposure as basic skin care during pregnancy," explains the dermatologist, "it greatly increases the risk of chronification of benign conditions such as melasma and increased pigmentation of skin folds, linea alba, freckles, etc. , it is much more pronounced and takes longer to disappear.
Of course,
photosensitizing cosmetic products
(cosmetics that cause the sun to irritate the skin) are also contraindicated and
any laser or injectable
is prohibited during pregnancy.
The therapeutic solutions proposed for some of these ailments secondary to pregnancy will also be conditioned.
For example, in the case of
carpal tunnel syndrome
, Dr. Jordi Font recognizes that a
more conservative treatment
is chosen , "it is common for them to recover naturally after childbirth and there is more room for waiting," explains the orthopedic surgeon. "It is recommended to be careful with your diet, avoiding foods that promote fluid retention and a sedentary lifestyle."
A good diet, in this case rich in omega-3 fatty acids, can also be a natural and safe way to alleviate the symptoms of dry
eyes
, very common during pregnancy.
Other methods of prevention are based on small modifications to our routine, such as the use of respectful footwear to avoid
possible plantar fasciitis
.
"Due to rapid weight gain, inflammation of the fascia can be caused," they explain from Icopoma (Illustrious Professional College of Podiatry of the Community of Madrid), "this can occur in both flat and cavus feet."
But prevention does not end with childbirth, nor do some changes.
"All women who have been pregnant, regardless of the route of delivery (vaginal or cesarean section), should perform Kegel exercises to try to strengthen the
pelvic muscles
," recommends gynecologist Irene Fernández Buhigas.
In this way we will try to prevent problems such as urinary incontinence
from appearing over time
.
Another scenario: pregnant with previous pathologies.
In this case, the effect of pregnancy can have
very diverse effects
.
If we talk about inflammatory pathologies such as
acne or rosacea
, it is possible that there is a worsening, as explained by dermatologist Manuel Fernández Lorente.
And the same happens with
autoimmune diseases
(for example, lupus).
But it is a
reversible effect after pregnancy
.
Other pathologies, however,
improve
.
This is the case of
endometriosis
, which can see
reduced symptoms during pregnancy
.
"Unfortunately," adds Fernández Buhigas, "when the menstrual cycle restarts, endometriosis will grow again and, therefore, in most cases the pain will reappear, although with a little luck they will not be as intense again. ".
In the field of vision there are also pros and cons.
On the one hand, it is common for there to be
changes in prescription and accommodation
, as happened to the pregnant woman who heads this report, but it is also common for
intraocular pressure to decrease
, so that pregnant women who have glaucoma may experience an improvement in your control during this period.
Pregnancy also has
a positive effect on uveitis or intraocular inflammation
, "the immunosuppressive effects and the high levels of endogenous corticosteroids present in pregnancy," explains ophthalmologist Fernández-Vigo, "can cause an improvement in this period, without However, there is a risk of worsening of the condition after delivery.
Those women who suffer from preeclampsia and eclampsia
must be especially careful
, since it is common for them to experience some ocular changes (30-50% in patients with eclampsia and 20-25% in patients with preeclampsia).
These changes can cause visual disorders such as scotoma (blind areas in the visual field), diplopia (double vision), vision of mobile floating spots (floaters) or decreased visual acuity.
Finally, during pregnancy the risk of suffering from
diabetic retinopathy
also increases , although Dr. Fernández-Vigo recalls that it only affects women who already had diabetes before pregnancy, but not those with gestational diabetes.
What we do not have to worry about and which falls, this time, into the realm of myths, is that pregnancy leads to the loss of teeth (
"you gain a child, you lose a tooth
", says a popular saying spread by everyone).
There
is a slightly increased risk of cavities
during pregnancy, but it is more due to changes in diet, increased oral acidity due to nausea, and possibly a lack of oral hygiene due to fatigue or discomfort due to pregnancy. this stage, as explained by Dr. Óscar Castro Reino.
It is also not true that there is
an increased risk of retinal detachment during vaginal delivery
.
"There was a belief," explains ophthalmologist José Ignacio Fernández-Vigo, "that in women with high myopia (above six diopters), contractions and pushing during a vaginal birth could pose a risk of retinal detachment and A cesarean section should then be indicated; however, the most recent scientific evidence does not demonstrate an ophthalmological benefit of performing a cesarean section over vaginal delivery."
Myths aside, the truth is that there are things that will never be the same again:
the breast will look more flaccid or sagging
(and not because of breastfeeding), it may be
difficult to regain the weight before
childbirth or the change in
shoe size cause a
wardrobe crisis (if not, tell Kat Von D, who had to get rid of more than 130 pairs after her pregnancy).
Life enters a new phase and so does the body, and that does not necessarily have to be bad.