Table of contents:
- What causes pregnant women to fall prone?
- What should pregnant women do when they fall?
- How to prevent falls during pregnancy?
Carrying a baby in the stomach is certainly not an easy thing. The mother gains weight and the mother's balance decreases. This makes the movement of the mother limited and the possibility of falling can be experienced at any time by pregnant women. Falling during pregnancy is a small accident that quite often happens to anyone. It can be dangerous, but actually the mother's body is enough to provide protection for the baby in the womb.
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What causes pregnant women to fall prone?
According to a 2010 study in the Maternal and Child Health Journal, around 27% of pregnant women have fallen at least once and 10% have fallen more than once. Falling during pregnancy is generally more common in pregnant women who have entered their third trimester. A mother's stomach that is getting bigger can certainly make it difficult for pregnant women to move. Many things cause pregnant women to fall, some of which are:
- The stomach of pregnant women is getting bigger and bigger, it turns the center of gravity in your body forward, making it difficult for you to stay upright when walking.
- Pregnancy hormone (relaxin hormone) can cause your joints and ligaments to loosen, especially near the time of birth. This affects your movement, making it easier for you to fall.
- Low blood sugar levels and low blood pressure during pregnancy can make you feel weak and dizzy, which can make you lose your balance and make it easier to fall.
What should pregnant women do when they fall?
Falling during pregnancy is something that can happen for various reasons. However, as long as the fall doesn't hurt your body, your baby in the womb may not have any problems either. In fact, your body itself already has a good protection system in keeping the baby in the womb. The amniotic fluid that surrounds your baby can act as a cushion for your baby. Apart from that, the strong muscles of your uterus can also help protect the baby from external impacts.
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However, if you feel discomfort and prolonged pain after the fall, you should immediately consult a doctor. This is especially so if you notice that the fetal movement is decreasing, you experience bleeding, or contractions after falling.
Even if you don't feel any significant pain after falling, it's a good idea to get checked out by a doctor. Tell the doctor that you have recently fallen. The doctor may do an ultrasound on you to see the condition of the baby in the womb.
How to prevent falls during pregnancy?
Falling on some pregnant women may not be able to harm the condition of the mother and the fetus. However, you should still avoid this. Some of the ways you can do to avoid falling during pregnancy are:
- Choose comfortable and safe shoes for you to wear. Do not choose shoes with slippery bottoms, this can harm you if you are passing through a wet floor or on a rainy day. Also, it's best to choose flat shoes with low heels. High heels can make it easier for you to lose your balance when walking and fall. Also avoid shoes that are very flat as they can put more stress on your calf muscles and lower back.
- Don't walk too fast. Going in a hurry or going too fast will only tire you out. In addition, you are more likely to fall, especially if you walk on uneven ground.
- Avoid turning directly. If you want to pick up an object behind you, it's best to rotate your torso slowly. This can help you to keep your balance.
- Watch your footing when walking, especially where it is uneven. With your stomach that continues to grow forward, it is certainly more difficult for you to see your feet or the things below when walking. If you are unsure where you stand, enlist the help of others to guide you as you walk.
- Maintain blood sugar levels You remain stable, so you do not get weak and dizzy. If you start to feel dizzy, it's best to sit down and calm yourself down.
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