Discomforts During Pregnancy
Common Discomforts during Pregnancy --- Morning Sickness, Heartburn, Oh, My!
You're overjoyed to find out you're pregnant -- until you wake up one morning, so sick to your stomach you're reminded of that college frat party that had you swearing off beer for the rest of your life. Then it happens again, and again, and you start wondering if such sickness is normal and if you'll ever feel good again.
The good news is that, yes, morning sickness is normal, just one of the common discomforts of pregnancy. The other good news is that usually by the end of the first trimester, morning sickness will be gone...
Only to be replaced with, ugh!, heartburn! Heartburn, you think, that's for old people, not happily pregnant women. But indigestion and heartburn are common conditions during pregnancy.
This is due to both the hormonal changes in your body that affect digestion and to the fact that as the baby grows, the stomach and intestines have less room to do their jobs in -- and that can mean some uncomfortable times for pregnant women. Most doctors are fine with pregnant women taking Tums or a similar antacid, but always be sure to check with your obstetrician before taking anything at all.
You can also count on going to the restroom more often as your pregnancy progresses. This, again, is due to the fact that as the baby grows, more pressure is placed on the bladder. It simply can't hold as much as it could pre-pregnancy. Hormones play a role also, and the only thing you can do is live with it, and expect to get up frequently during the night during the eight and ninth months.
Constipation is another common discomfort during pregnancy. One way of dealing with this is to eat correctly -- and often. Especially during the last trimester, you may find that you need to eat smaller portions, more often. Be sure to include lots of fiber in your diet and green vegetables as well. If the condition becomes severe, consult your doctor for advice or perhaps a stool softener.
You will also likely experience mood swings. You may be laughing one minute and crying the next, and be convinced you're losing your mind. Relax. This is normal, as your hormones have a party when you're pregnant. After the baby comes, they'll settle down and you'll be yourself again. Just be patient and decrease the stress in your life as much as possible. Also, get plenty of rest, even if you have difficulty sleeping.
Rest and sleep are vital during pregnancy, as fatigue is one of the major discomforts you'll have while you're pregnant. Your body is doing a lot of work to create that baby, and it is likely to show in your energy level -- or lack of one. The best thing to do for this is to get adequate exercise, make sure you're eating healthy foods, and get as much rest as possible.
Some other common discomforts you may experience while you're pregnant are:
- Tender, sore breasts
- Dizziness
- Bloating
- Varicose veins
- Leg cramps
- Hemorrhoids
- Rapid heart beat
- Increased or decreased, in some cases of severe morning sickness, appetite
- Food cravings
- Fluid retention
- Increased blood pressure
A good rule of thumb to follow when you're trying to decide if what you're feeling is a common discomfort of pregnancy or something more severe is to first check to see if you're running a fever or are experiencing serious fluid retention. If either of these is present, consult your doctor immediately for advice. Any time the discomfort grows more severe than you feel is warranted, call your doctor. After all, the less you stress, the better.
