Symptoms During Normal Pregnancy: A Prospective Controlled Study

EDITORIAL COMMENT: This is an important study which attempts to evaluate the effect of pregnancy on numerous symptoms. The point of this comment is to direct readers to table 3 because it contains much information of interest and importance that has not been dealt with in the text because of space considerations. For example, there is confirmation of the wide‐held belief that epistaxis is much more common in pregnancy and the same can be said for fainting, flushing and shortness of breath. The increased incidence of nausea, heartburn and bleeding gums also fits with traditional teaching and beliefs, at least of the editor, but the finding that headache is less common in pregnant women was a surprise. There is confirmation that leg cramps and abdominal pain are common in pregnancy. The increased frequency of nail changes was news to the editor, although the urogenital symptoms preponderance in the pregnant group was expected. The huge increase in dyspnoea during at rest and exertion in the pregnancy group also warrants emphasis. N.B.