Although there are some amazing and awe-inspiring experiences during pregnancy, being pregnant isn't always the most comfortable condition. Here are a list of common pregnancy complaints and how to reduce or treat their effects:
Morning sickness: These two little words strike fear into the hearts of many women. Morning sickness is the name given to the nausea and vomiting common during the first trimester of pregnancy. Unfortunately, "morning" sickness is a misnomer because the nausea and vomiting can last all day long, not just in the morning. Morning sickness affects about 65% of pregnant women and usually begins around week 6 of pregnancy, lasting until about week 14 (sometimes longer). Scientists haven't been able to identity specific causes for morning sickness, but they suspect that higher levels of hCG and estrogen, increased sensitivity to smells, and more sensitive stomachs during pregnancy are key culprits.
Finding relief: Some simple things can be done to alleviate morning sickness. Eating small frequent meals instead of 3 big meals throughout the day keeps your stomach from getting empty, which may aggravate nausea. Keep small, bland snacks with you to nibble on to stave off nausea (crackers, dry cereal like Cheerios or Rice Chex). Avoid foods and smells that trigger your nausea; avoid rich, spicy, or acidic foods; and sip water throughout the day (this is especially important if you are vomiting frequently to avoid becoming too dehydrated). Try taking your prenatal vitamin with food or right before bed since some women tend to feel sick after taking their prenatal. Try drinking ginger ale (but make sure it is made with real ginger) or sucking on ginger suckers. If these simple solutions don't work for you or you are vomiting excessively, talk to your doctor about possible medications or other interventions to tend to your morning sickness.
Breast tenderness: This is another common symptom of early pregnancy. As the breast tissue changes and as you experience an increase in hormonal production, your breasts may begin to feel extra tingly or sore beginning around week 4 of pregnancy. Your breasts will begin to grow around week 6-8 and continue to grow throughout your pregnancy. If this is your first child, you may notice an increase in your breast size up to 2 full cup sizes.
Finding relief: One of the best ways to reduce breast soreness and tenderness is to wear a comfortable, supportive bra. If you haven't already, go to a department store and be sized by an expert to ensure that you are wearing the right sized bra. Later on in your pregnancy, try maternity or nursing bras. Additionally, try cool packs or heating pads to reduce pain in your breasts. If your pain is extreme, talk to your care provider about pain relief (most providers say that Tylenol is safe during pregnancy, but never take anything without clearing it with your provider first).
Fatigue: Fatigue is often experience during the first and third trimesters, but can be felt sometimes throughout the duration of a woman's pregnancy. A combination of hormones, disrupted sleep (going to the bathroom several times a night or struggling to find a comfortable sleeping position), and the extra work your body is doing to grow another human being while still tending to your regular bodily needs increases feelings of fatigue.
Finding relief: Getting adequate sleep during pregnancy is key to combating fatigue. If you haven't been a nap person in the past, you may need to become one now, especially if you are struggling to get adequate sleep at nights. Reduce stress, extra running around, and unnecessary activities as much as possible. Ensure that you are getting adequate nutrition to give you the energy that you need. Stay hydrated and try doing some moderate exercise to combat fatigue.
Increased urination: As a woman's body increases blood volume and the rate at which her kidneys process that blood, so women as early as 6 weeks may notice they are going to the bathroom much more often. Additionally, pregnant women should drink about 64 fluid ounces of liquid a day (including lots of water), so this may also increase the amount of fluid being processed by your kidneys and ending up in your bladder. Later in pregnancy, the growing weight of the fetus and uterus may press down on the bladder and make the urge to urinate more frequent and urgent.
Finding relief: When you urinate, lean forward to ensure that you empty your bladder as much as possible. Drink plenty of fluid during the day, but drink less at night to reduce the number of times you have to wake up and go to the bathroom. However, never make yourself go thirsty to cut down on bathroom trips. Both you and your growing baby need plenty of fluid to stay healthy!
Gas and bloating: Feeling like you are getting a baby bump really early on in pregnancy? Don't worry, it might just be a side effect of the bloating so common in those early months. Also, you may find yourself burping or passing gas more often than normal now that you are pregnant. The main culprit for increased gas and bloating are your rising levels of progesterone, which is a hormone that relaxes smooth muscle tissue in the body, subsequently slowing down your gastrointestinal tract.
Finding relief: Some simple relief methods include eating smaller meals, avoiding clothes that are tight around your tummy, and exercise a little each day to improve your GI tract functioning. Most of the air that comes from burping is a result of swallowing air. To avoid swallowing unnecessary air, eat and drink slowly (avoid gulping drinks), sit up when you eat, and avoid talking while you eat. You can also cut down on foods that you notice cause you more gas, but these foods may be different for everyone. Keep an eye on certain common offenders like dairy, sugary carbonated drinks, and beans and whole grains. If you need to cut out certain foods, make sure you are getting the necessary nutrients from other foods or vitamins. Also, most doctors suggest that taking certain over-the-counter gas relievers is safe. But, before you take anything, make sure you
okay it with your doctor or care provider first!
Swelling: Swelling is another result of the increased blood volume and changes in blood chemistry that move more fluid into the tissues. You will probably experience the most swelling in your legs, ankles, and feet because your uterus compresses veins in the lower extremities that return blood back to the heart. Some swelling is normal, but extreme amounts of swelling or rapid swelling may be a sign of a serious health issue and should be brought to your doctor's attention immediately.
Finding relief: Laying on your left side is the best way to relieve swelling because it takes the weight of your uterus off your vena cava (the major vein that brings blood back to the heart). Try to keep your legs slightly elevated, avoid crossing your legs, and get up and stretch or walk around a little to encourage circulation. Funnily enough, if you are drinking adequate amounts of water, it actually reduces swelling!
Abdominal discomfort: Some slight abdominal pain and discomfort is normal throughout pregnancy as your uterus grow and the muscles surrounding the uterus stretch to accommodate your growing baby. Additionally, the muscles in your abdomen and pelvis will gradually stretch to open up the pelvic region in preparation for delivery. Gas, bloating, and constipation can commonly cause discomfort or pain. Also, you are likely to experience round ligament pain, a brief stabbing pain deep in your groin, that occurs as the ligaments that support your uterus thicken and stretch. You may notice this particularly as you shift positions or try to stand up quickly. After mid-pregnancy, you may also begin to experience Braxton Hicks contractions, which are infrequent, painless contractions of the uterus as the body "practices" for labor. Call your doctor if your contractions are painful, come at regular intervals, or are accompanied by lower back pain. These may be signs of premature labor if you are not at least 37 weeks.
Finding relief: In order to relieve abdominal discomfort, try some gentle stretching or exercises to attend to muscles and ligaments. You can also take a warm (not too hot) shower or bath or use a hot pad/hot water bottle wrapped in a towel (as long as you don't apply it directly to your abdomen and not for long periods of time). Drinking plenty of fluids and staying hydrated can prevent some discomfort. Also, if you are experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions, sometimes lying down to rest will help relieve the discomfort. For tips on relieving abdominal pain caused by gas or bloating, see above. For tips on relieving abdominal pain caused by constipation, see below.
Heartburn: Heartburn can occur for the first time in your life during pregnancy because of hormonal changes and as your baby grows and takes up more space in your abdomen, it pushes your internal organs, like your stomach, aside to make room. Like with other GI issues, progesterone, which relaxes the smooth muscle tissues, is the culprit.
Finding relief: Avoid foods that are more acidic like carbonated drinks, citrus foods, spicy foods, and fatty foods. Eat small meals and avoid drinking too much fluid during meals to avoid filling up your stomach too much. Eat well before your bedtime to give your body plenty of time to digest. Again, if simple solutions don't work, talk to your care provider about over-the-counter medicines like antacids.
Constipation: Progesterone strikes again. You get constipated for the same reason you experience gas, bloating, and heartburn. Constipation can also be a result of medications that many women take during pregnancy. Constipation is a common side effect of Zofran, a frequently prescribed anti-nausea medication.
Finding relief: Focus on getting plenty of fiber in your diet from raw fruits and veggies, whole grains in bread and cereal, and beans. Again, eat smaller meals so you aren't overtaxing your GI system. Drink plenty of fluids to promote movement in the GI system and stay active to also promote a healthy GI tract. check the supplements and medications that you are using to see if constipation is a common side effect, then talk to your doctor about alternatives. If you are constipated for more than a couple of days, talk to your doctor about seeking relief.
Food aversions: Foods that used to draw you like a bee to honey may have you running in the opposite direction. Many women experience aversions to foods they used to love. Some researchers attribute this to an ancient "survival mechanism" that helped women avoid foods that were potentially toxic or poisonous during a physiologically fragile time.
Finding relief: Unfortunately, there's not a lot you can do to relieve this symptom other than by staying away from the foods that make you feel like throwing up. Fortunately, most women find that this eases up or completely goes away by the second trimester. But make sure you're still getting all the vitamins and nutrients you need if you have to eliminate some of the foods that you need to be healthy.
Mood swings: With increased amounts of hormones like estrogen and progesterone, mood swings are pretty natural since it throws your body a little off homeostasis. Also, pregnancy is a time that can feel overwhelming and is filled with lots of emotions. Most women experience mood swings most acutely during the first and third trimesters. However, each woman has a different experience; some feel like they are on an emotional roller coaster with highs and lows while others may experience anxiety and depression.
Finding relief: Managing your stress effectively will be a great way to find relief for your mood swings. As a therapist, my job can be very stressful, so I arranged with the places that I work to take an extra day off each week during my pregnancy to make sure that I'm not pushing myself too hard. Additionally, focus on getting plenty of sleep and adequate nutrition to keep your body in balance as much as possible. Take up yoga or meditation, if you haven't already, to help find some peace and serenity. Take advantage of friends, family, and especially your partner in terms of talking things out and expressing any fears or anxieties that come up for you. If you feel like your mood swings are unmanageable alone or you or your partner are worried about depression or anxiety, seek professional counseling to take care of emotional and mental health.
Leg cramps: During the second and third trimesters, many pregnant women experience leg cramping, especially at nights. One theory is that your leg muscles may just be more tired from carrying around the extra weight or that the weight of your uterus aggravates the veins and nerves in your legs.
Finding relief: Avoid standing or crossing your legs for long periods of time. Stretch your arms and feet throughout the day and wiggle your feet and ankles if you have to sit for longs periods. Take a walk to encourage circulation and ease muscle tightness. Also, stay hydrated, take warm baths to relax, and lay down on your left side to improve circulation of your blood from you legs back up to your heart.
Trouble sleeping: If you are a back or tummy sleeper, prepare for some serious readjustments in your sleeping habits. Beginning in the second trimester, physicians discourage sleeping on your back because the weight of your uterus compresses the vena cava, a major vein that returns blood back to the heart. Also, you may be going to the bathroom more often than usual (see above). Look at it this way, it's practice for when your sweet baby arrives and keeps you up a lot at night!
Finding relief: Now that you are officially a side sleeper, try packing pillows around you to provide support for your back and tummy. Sleep with a pillow between your knees as well. I used to be a solid one-pillow kind of girl, but now that I'm sneaking up on my third trimester, I'm a four-pillow girl (my husband calls it my nest). Some women purchase body pillows or pillows made especially for pregnant women. Try regular pillows first to avoid unnecessary expenses, but splurge on a pregnancy pillow if you are still struggling to get comfortable at nights. Your sleep is vital to both you and baby's health! For tips on finding relief for excessive urination, see above.
Acne: Ever heard of that "pregnancy glow" that women have? Well, sometimes that "glow" translates to a whole lot of pregnancy related acne. With a higher production of androgens that can increase the size of sebaceous glands on your face and increase oil production, you may find yourself breaking out like you did in high school. Women who have a history of acne are more prone to developing pregnancy acne.
Finding relief: Wash your face twice a day with a mild soap or cleanser and moisturize your face with an oil-free moisturizer. You can consider switching from oil-based makeup to water-based makeup. Always make sure to wash your makeup off each night before you go to bed. It's generally not considered safe to use acne medications during pregnancy, so make sure you talk to your doctor before taking anything for acne, especially if you were taking something for acne before you got pregnant.
Stretch marks: As your tummy, and other parts of you, grow throughout your pregnancy, the elastic supportive tissue can sometimes struggle to keep up with your rate of growth. This creates little lines in the skin that can be pink, reddish brown, purple, or dark brown, depending on your skin tone and color. About 50% of women get stretch marks, but it is difficult to predict who will get them and who won't. However, women who gain weight really quickly, are carrying multiple, have a big baby, or have excess amniotic fluid may be more prone to stretch marks.
Finding relief: Stretch marks will become less noticeable about 6-12 months after you give birth. There are some topical medications that can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks, although there is no definitive proof that any of the ones on the market can make them "go away." In extreme cases, some laser treatments have shown to reduce pigmentation or restore elasticity, but because it is a cosmetic issue, most insurances will not cover these kinds of procedures.
Enhanced sense of smell: During the first trimester, most noticeably, women may experience a heightened sense of smell. Hormones like estrogen are to blame here again. Unfortunately, this heightened sense of smell can be a big contributor to morning sickness as well. Most women find relief from this symptom as they enter the second trimester.
Finding relief: Again, you may have to simply avoid smells that irritate you. Try opening your windows to clear out offending smells from the house or ensure your home gets proper ventilation. Change and wash your clothes more often because they tend to hold on to smells. Switch to lightly- or non-scented toiletries, laundry detergent, etc.
As you can see, there are plenty of potential issues that you may run into during your pregnancy, but don't let this list overwhelm you. Some women may experience only a few of these issues, while others may struggle more. You probably won't have all of these issues at the same time and most of them are more of an issue during one trimester or another and won't plague you throughout your entire pregnancy. Again, if you struggle with any of these symptoms and cannot find relief through the methods mentioned above, talk to your care provider about finding relief.
Disclaimer: The "Pregnancy, Babies, and Birth" blog series is meant as a source of general information only. It's intended use is to encourage women to further consider and discuss reproductive and birthing decisions themselves with their partners and with their medical care providers. Information included in this series is not intended to be professional medical advice or a substitution for a relationship with a licensed physician or practitioner. Any serious questions or concerns about reproductive, prenatal, and/or perinatal health should be directed to your primary care physician or other licensed specialist. Women's Services and Resources does not promote any particular brand, medical provider, birthing location, or any other specific birthing decisions. We strongly encourage women to become as educated about their choices as possible so they are empowered to make educated decisions for themselves and their babies.
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