Along with the healthy glow of a happy pregnancy comes the desire to prevent injury, especially to the growing fetus. Being aware of the more common injuries during pregnancy allows you to take practical steps to prevent them – and to stay healthy and active throughout pregnancy.

The truth is that you are not really more likely to be injured during pregnancy. Studies show your chances of injury are about the same as if you were not pregnant. Being safety-conscious helps. Plus, you are more likely to be wearing flat shoes, choosing less risky activities and warming up and cooling down – all precautions that help prevent injury.

Even minor injuries may become more visible during pregnancy. If you twist your ankle coming down the stairs, for example, you are more likely to see swelling within a few hours. Your body is more likely to develop bruises and sprains because of increased blood flow and more lax ligaments due to hormonal changes – but these are minor inconveniences that heal quickly.

As you retain water later in pregnancy, swelling puts pressure on nerves in your wrist. As a result, carpal tunnel syndrome can develop, especially if you do a lot of typing. Other repetitive motion injuries also are more common later in pregnancy. If you do develop carpal tunnel syndrome, you'll feel tingling in your index, middle and ring fingers. Wearing a splint at night may help, and symptoms should resolve shortly after delivery.

Stretching during pregnancy feels great and will help prevent injuries by improving flexibility and boosting blood flow to muscles and joints. Stretching also helps alleviate common aches and pains and improves your flexibility for delivery. If you're going to work out, go for a walk or simply are getting up in the morning, stretch after warming up for a few minutes when your muscles are pliable and easiest to stretch.

Be careful when stretching because you can do damage if you are not gentle. Because of the hormone relaxin, which loosens ligaments in preparation for delivery, overstretching can easily strain a muscle or, worse, injure a joint.

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