General News
7 June, 2026
Call the doctor: Pregnancy brings new perspective
Medical training taught Dr Felix Ritson about pregnancy, but witnessing his partner’s journey has brought a new understanding of what many women endure.
All going well, my partner and I are expecting to have a baby girl enter our lives in about one month.
Whilst we feel incredibly lucky and blessed to be having a child, such an undertaking does not come without its difficulties for the women growing the baby.
During my medical education and clinical practice I have of course learnt about and treated pregnant women, however witnessing my partner's journey has given me a new found respect for what pregnant women go through.
In this fortnight's column I want to describe some of the symptoms my partner has been graciously putting up with.
Ashleigh is happy for me to write this, and has vetted its content.
The first thing to mention however is that whilst there are many symptoms and challenges that pregnant women can experience that are considered “normal”, there is also risk of serious illness.
So far, touch wood, Ashleigh's has avoided any serious complications of pregnancy, and hence her symptoms are not worrying.
However this does not mean that other women do not need to seek independent medical and midwifery care if they experience similar phenomena.
Ashleigh’s care via Grampians Health has been excellent.
Of particular note is our positive experience of the new “continuity of care model” within their Midwifery Antenatal and Postnatal Service (MAPS).
We have the good fortune to have the same midwife throughout the pregnancy, and have been thoroughly impressed thus far.
Ashleigh was lucky to have most of the nausea contained to the first trimester, however this is not always the case.
Today I asked our midwife what symptoms are the most burdensome for her patients, to which she described how some women can have debilitating nausea throughout their entire pregnancy.
We were surprised as to how frustrating and inconvenient the persistently blocked nose due to increased mucus production would be, particularly its impact on comfort when trying to sleep.
Back, hip and pelvic pain along with the almost constant reflux contributes to recurrent insomnia.
Her sleep was also affected by restless legs, something that improved following an Iron infusion.
Prior to this her constipation was made intolerable after trying oral iron supplements.
Thankfully international guidelines increasingly support the use of infusions for iron deficient pregnant women without anaemia given their safety, effectiveness, and the importance of healthy iron stores during pregnancy.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome has also been a significant problem, to the extent that Ashleigh now finds it hard to write, type or even read a book.
This only makes the typical functional limitations to movement and ability to lift/carry things even worse.
At this late stage in the pregnancy the pain in her feet make her trips to the toilet five-to-seven per night that much more unpleasant.
Even laughing has become a risky endeavour due to a new propensity for urinary incontinence.
This is not to mention the fatigue, brain fog and moodswings, which I think Ashleigh has been managing exceedingly well.
Worthy of mention is a sudden and expected aversion to coffee and the frequent surprisingly forceful punches and kicks from the baby.
I am incredibly impressed and proud of Ashleigh for all the work she has put into growing baby and preparing for motherhood, and all that she is going through.