Effect of Traditional Practices by Mothers on Relieving Minor Discomforts during the First Trimester of Pregnancy

Abstract

During the first 3 months of pregnancy, the women’s body is undergoing numerous changes. Some women experience many minor discomforts such as nausea, vomiting, lower abdominal pain, back pain constipation. These discomforts are caused by the physiological changes include cardiovascular, hematologic, metabolic, renal and respiratory changes that take place within the body as the body accommodates to pregnancy and there are many traditional practices can be utilized to relieve these minor discomforts under medical consultation. The present study is aiming to evaluate the effect of traditional practices by mothers on relieving their minor discomforts during the first trimester of pregnancy through assessing mother’s knowledge about traditional practices by mothers on relieving first trimester minor discomforts and assessing mother’s attitude towards traditional practices by mothers on relieving first trimester minor discomforts. This aim was achieved through answering the following question: What is the effect of traditional practices by mothers on relieving minor discomforts during the first trimester of pregnancy? A Descriptive study was conducted at antenatal clinic at Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital 3 days per week from 9 am to 2 pm. A consecutive purposive sample was used; it was included 500prime-parawith normal pregnancy & single-intra uterine fetus. Free from medical and gynecological disease in the first trimester of pregnancy.