Don’t Let Uncomfortable Symptoms Steal the Joys Of Pregnancy

Health Topics Jun 2, 2022

Being pregnant can bring great joy to the mother-to-be, but it also can bring a variety of uncomfortable symptoms.

From nausea and heartburn to leg cramps and hemorrhoids, you can get hit with discomfort from head to toe.

You can manage your symptoms by following these tips:

Constipation. Not being able to pass stools can become uncomfortable quickly. This can become a problem, causing stomach pain in the third trimester. Help manage constipation by drinking plenty of water, eating high fiber foods, and exercising regularly.
Heartburn. This painful burning sensation in the chest can make it hard to fall asleep and even harder to stay asleep if it happens at night. Heartburn usually becomes an issue during the third trimester. The burning happens as stomach acid passes backward into the esophagus and irritates the lining. You can help minimize heartburn by eating smaller meals, waiting at least an hour after eating to lay down, and trying to avoid spicy, greasy, and fatty foods.
Hemorrhoids. These swollen veins on the rectum can be painful and itchy. They usually show up during the third trimester. To relieve the pain and help reduce the hemorrhoids, you can take a warm bath with baking soda in the water, try to avoid sitting for long periods of time, and purchase medicated hemorrhoid pads to wipe the area.
Leg cramps. These cramps become common during the third trimester for many women. The additional weight gained during pregnancy and the baby’s placement on nerves and blood vessels both can lead to leg spasms. Staying well hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, sleeping with your legs elevated, and applying a heating pad to the sore parts of your legs can help.
Migraine headaches. Many women experience these severe headaches during pregnancy, especially during the second trimester. Women already prone to headaches can have even stronger headaches during pregnancy. Because many medications for headaches are off limits while you’re pregnant, rest and sleep can sometimes be the best way to ease strong headaches. If you have migraines during pregnancy, talk with your doctor to find out what next steps you can take to help relieve the pain.
Nausea. The nausea that strikes during pregnancy is known as morning sickness, but it can affect women any time of day or night. Morning sickness is usually worst during the first trimester. Help manage this nausea by getting out of bed slowly, keeping a small snack – such as crackers – with you at all times, getting plenty of rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and eating multiple small meals thorough the day.