There are no guarantees when it comes to pregnancy. There are no magic wands you can wave or pills you can take to guarantee that you have an easy and stress free nine months. Obviously, if you are experiencing symptoms that seem weird, are experiencing discharge, bleedings or symptoms that are more severe than you expected, you need to see a doctor right away. If, however, you’re just trying to find a better way of dealing with common symptoms, keep reading.
Morning sickness
Around half of all pregnant women experience the very poorly named “morning” sickness. It is poorly named because, as almost every pregnant women who experiences it will tell you: it does not only take place in the morning.
One of the most common ways to deal with and reduce the severity of “morning” sickness is to switch up your eating schedule. Instead of eating three large meals a day, they switch to smaller meals that they eat more frequently. Once they identify the smells and flavors that trigger bouts of nausea, they avoid those triggers. If the nausea refuses to abate on it’s own, ginger tea or clear sodas have proven to be quite helpful. If none of these work, ask your doctor for some tips.
Fatigue
You are growing a whole human being; of course you’re more tired than you usually are!
The primary problem with pregnancy-induced fatigue is that most women don’t take it seriously. Because the reason for the fatigue is so obvious, they do their best to brush it off as just one more thing they have to deal with (and a fantastic excuse for taking more naps). It is important, though, if you are constantly severely fatigued that you see your doctor. Anemia often presents as an “overly fatigued” feeling and it is important to rule it out.
If you test negative for anemia (and other issues) and are given a good bill of health by your doctor, try to feel happy! You have an excuse to take as many naps as you want!
Skin Changes
Dermatological issues are common during pregnancy. Extra dry skin, coloration changes, strech marks, etc–they are all common. These changes happen because your skin is stretching to accommodate the growing person inside of you and the body can often have a difficult time keeping the blood flow rate up proportionally.
A lot of the problems that develop, like skin tags, will resolve naturally. Dry skin can be treated with moisturzer and oatmeal baths (make sure that you switch to non-scented bath products as well). Do your best to buy only natural and organic bath and skin care products. Your body is freaking out about all of the changes pregnancy brings; introducing something new and foreign could exacerbate your system. Burt’s Bees, for example, has a lot of really great products that are great for pregnant women’s skin.
Bowel Issues
It seems cliched, but it’s true: pregnant women need to urinate far more frequently than women who aren’t pregnant. To help deal with this, cut out all diuretics. Caffeinated soda and coffee, for example, are known to have a diuretic effect. It can also be helpful to practice kegel exercises. These are exercises designed to strengthen the pelvic muscles and the more control you have over those muscles, the more control you’ll have over your bladder.
Constipation is another and very common issue. If you feel backed up, try eating more fiber, more vegetables and drinking more water. Getting physical exercise can help with that too. If the problem becomes severe or starts to worry you, talk to your doctor. He or she might prescribe a mild laxative (you can also buy these over the counter but talk to your doctor first) or run a few tests to find out if there is another underlying cause that needs to be treated.
Varicose veins
Vericose veins are those veins that typically appear in your lower legs. They are usually bright purple or blue, and like the bowel issues you might experience, they are usually caused by the weight of your baby as it presses against your veins.
One solution is to lay down in bed and to stay there, but this isn’t something you should do as a first result. Bed rest can result in the atrophying of muscles if you aren’t careful and you should never try it without the consent of your doctor.
Another, easier solution is to wear compression gear. Compression clothing is designed to keep your blood flowing steadily and constantly. A lot of women shy away from compression clothing because the garments given out by doctors are, to be frank, pretty ugly. But independent designers and manufacturers have managed to make tights and socks that are really cute! Preggers.com, for example, specializes in stylish compression gear that is designed specifically for pregnant women.
Heartburn
Yep, pregnant ladies have to deal with this problem as well–as if pregnancy weren’t already uncomfortable enough! Unfortunately a lot of heartburn meds–particularly those available over the counter–aren’t safe for pregnant women to take. Talk to your doctor if the problem persists for more than a meal or two and, do your best to stay upright when you eat or drink. Prop yourself up in a chair or against a bunch of pillows. If the problem is severe you might need to sleep this way as well.
These are just some of the things that you can do to help deal with and prevent the common ailments and discomforts of pregnancy. What are some of the things you’ve tried?
