Pregnancy is a beautiful journey with many intriguing milestones, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. While nausea, backache and even bowel problems may be well recognized as common symptoms of pregnancy, they are not all. There are some repercussions of pregnancy that may come as a shock to many people. Dryness of the mouth may be one of them. Pregnancy symptoms are truly selective and specific to their hosts and can become rather diverse in how they manifest. Consequently, while many women undergo excessive saliva production, others suffer from just the opposite; drought mouth or xerostomia.
A multitude of factors during pregnancy may contribute to the drying of the mouth and throat. Could your dry mouth be a result of these factors and could dry mouth be a tell-tale sign that you are pregnant? Here are some potential causes of dry mouth presenting as a by-product of pregnancy.
Even though you are drinking your water religiously as you would on a normal day, you may still feel like your lips are chapped and you are in dire need of a drink now that you are pregnant. Pregnancy does demand the mother to drink more water than she normally would because of the developing baby. It is recommended that you drink at least 8 to 12 glasses of water every day when pregnant.
Dehydration can occur when your intake of water is lower than the amount of fluids you are losing. Symptoms of dry mouth can appear as a result of your dehydrated body.
You may also be experiencing these symptoms:
- Extreme thirst
- Yellow or darker urine
- Hot flashes or overheating of the body
- Fatigue, headache
In severe cases, drinking insufficient amounts of water during pregnancy can result in birth defects and immature labor.
It is therefore important for an expecting mother to drink as much water as possible to make sure it compensates for the changes taking place in her body. Keep that drink close to you and say goodbye to all the bad juju. Drink for two!
It is normal for a pregnant lady to have fluctuating readings of blood pressure throughout the pregnancy. However, sometimes high blood pressure can result due to the development of gestational diabetes. This form of diabetes occurs only during pregnancy and usually subsides after the pregnancy. Due to the high blood sugar levels, the body goes into a state of damage control. The body patrols the blood sugar levels by reducing the amount of fluid in the body. This makes you urinate more frequently and kicks off dehydration and dryness of the mouth.
Some other symptoms that may confirm gestational diabetes are:
- Unusual thirst
- Burning pain in the mouth
- Chapped lips
- Excessive urination
A pregnant woman is prone to gestational diabetes that can lead to a whirlwind of problems, so it is important to keep the blood glucose levels in check and get tested for diabetes of this kind.
Thrush is an overgrowth of a fungus, Candida albicans. This fungus is normally present in our bodies in small quantities. When a rampant growth occurs due to an impaired immune system, it can cause a dry, cottony feeling in the mouth.
You may also be experiencing these symptoms:
- Cottage cheese-like lesions in the mouth
- Soreness and redness of the mouth
- Loss of taste
Consult your doctor to get the right treatment for it. You can try sugar-free pastilles like theSt Andrew’s Trust Dry Mouth Lozenges for immediate relief from dry mouth.
There is nothing quite like a good night’s sleep. However, sleep can be challenging during pregnancy with your belly getting in the way and the hormones that make you restless and anxious. More often than not, troubles with sleep can stem from breathing issues that are common during pregnancy. Snoring or sleep apnea may be reasons why your sleep is disrupted.
Snoring is common among mouth-breathers, especially at night. This dries out the mouth and causes hoarseness of the throat and dryness of the mouth. Sleep apnea assisting devices can help relieve the condition but causes dry mouth. That being said, sleep is more important than ever now that you are pregnant. Check with your doctor for solutions to get a sound sleep.
The pregnant body adjusts to the needs of the developing baby, constantly evolving and improving. One of the effects of such changes is dry mouth.
The amount of blood flow in a pregnant woman increases as high as 50% than in a non-pregnant woman. This pushes the kidneys to work overtime and increases urination, causing dehydration and consequently dry mouth.
Although the dryness of mouth is not a big enough confirmation that you are pregnant, it sure is a warning sign and a reminder for you to book yourself a visit to the doctor.