Easing the Discomforts of Pregnancy1
Glenda L. Warren and Claudia Peñuela2
Symptoms of discomfort during pregnancy are normal and vary from woman to woman. These symptoms are mainly due to hormonal changes in a woman's body. Although there are specific recommendations for each discomfort, these are the most common recommendations to help you feel your best during pregnancy:
Eat small, frequent meals
Drink enough fluids
Exercise
Avoid spicy and fatty food
Eat a high-fiber diet
Get enough rest
"Morning sickness," or nausea and vomiting, during pregnancy, can indeed be worse for some women in the morning, but these symptoms can strike anytime throughout the day. To control morning sickness, the following tips may help:
Eat six to eight small meals or snacks rather than three large meals a day
Eat a cracker or dry cereal before you get out of bed in the morning
Eat easy to digest food such as cereal, rice, applesauce, and gelatin
Avoid strong odors
Do not lie down right after eating
Although intensity varies, extremely severe and persistent vomiting can cause dehydration and may be indicative of a serious condition called hypermesis gravidarum—if you have not been able to keep anything down, including fluids, for a prolonged period of time, consult your doctor immediately.
Heartburn is caused by changing hormone levels and when the baby places pressure on the digestive organs. This makes foods and acids back up from the stomach to the esophagus. But there are some things that you can do to help ease your symptoms:
Eat six to eight small meals or snacks rather than three large meals a day
Eat slowly and be relaxed
Drink fluids between meals, but not with meals
Avoid acidic foods/beverages such as citrus and coffee
Do not lie down right after eating
At bedtime, sleep with your head higher than your feet
Keep a record of foods that might be causing you heartburn
Do not eat any food a few hours before bedtime
Constipation is difficulty in passing stool. Constipation is caused by higher levels of hormones that make digestion slow down. Also, muscles relax and adapt to the expanded uterus. To help decrease constipation:
Eat whole grain foods, fruits, vegetables, and legumes or dry beans, all of which are high in fiber
Drink plenty of water
Try natural laxatives such as dry prunes, prune juice, and figs
Exercise daily to stimulate normal bowel function
Preventing constipation will help to avoid another discomfort known as hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are swollen veins on the anus and can be very uncomfortable to the point of being painful.
Swelling/fluid retention causes discomfort to most pregnant women, especially during the third trimester. During pregnancy your body swells, especially your feet, ankles, and hands because the uterus is growing and can put pressure on the blood vessels in your lower body. Similar pressure against your bladder can cause frequent urination. To reduce swelling:
Avoid standing in one place for long periods of time
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes
Reduce your salt (sodium) intake
Avoid crossing your legs and elevate your feet while lying down or sitting
Lie on your side during the day
Tell your doctor if your swelling is excessive. It might be a condition called preeclampsia or toxemia. |
Breast soreness and tenderness is common during pregnancy. The breasts increase in size due to active milk glands and more fatty tissue. Also, in the third trimester your breasts may sometimes leak small amounts of the yellowish, thick fluid called colostrum. Colostrum is the "first milk" that contains antibodies to protect your newborn from infections. For improved breast comfort during your pregnancy:
Wear a bigger bra size that fits appropriately; try maternity bras or nursing bras for more support
Use gauze or nursing pads to absorb leaking fluid
Fatigue is common during the first and third trimesters. In the first trimester, your baby is growing and your body is adjusting to the pregnancy. Plus, your body is "working overtime" to provide the baby with nutrients. In the third trimester, again you feel tired because the baby is getting bigger and you have trouble moving and sleeping. Be aware, however, that feeling tired may be a sign of anemia (low iron level in the blood)—a simple blood test can check for this. Basic tips for avoiding fatigue include the following:
Try to maintain a regular schedule
Balance your activities
Get enough rest during the day and night
Backaches. As a pregnant woman gains weight in her stomach, her body balance changes, and this can strain the back muscles. The loosening of pelvic joints in preparation for birth also causes this back strain. To reduce backaches/back strain:
Bend your knees to pick up things rather than bending down at the waist
Avoid standing for long periods of time
Do not carry heavy items
Sit with a cushion behind your lower back or in a chair with comfortable back support
Sleep in a firm bed, and on your right or left side with a pillow between your legs for support
Take a warm bath or shower, try a pregnancy massage, or apply gentle heat to the affected area
Dizziness can be caused by many things, including the growth of blood vessels, the pressure of uterus, and body's food requirements. You can minimize this by:
Turning on your side before getting up from a lying position
Not skipping meals
Avoiding long periods of standing
References
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, National Women's Health Information Center (March 5, 2009). Healthy pregnancy: Body changes and discomforts. [Online]. Available at http://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/you-are-pregnant/body-changes-discomforts.cfm .
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, National Institutes of Health, Weight-control Information Network (November 2009). NIH Publication No. 06–5130 Fit for two: Tips for pregnancy [Online]. Available at http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/two.htm .
Utah Department of Health, Maternal and Infant Health Program (n.d.). Discomfort of Pregnancy [Online]. Available at http://health.utah.gov/rhp/pregnancy/preged/duringpreg/discomfort.htm.
Footnotes
This document is FCS1068, one of a series of the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. First published: September 1997. Revised May 2010. Please visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
Originally adapted in 1997 from Eating Right is Basic, 3rd Edition (1995: Michigan State University Extension) for use in Florida by Glenda L. Warren, M.S., R.D., CFCS, associate professor, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, UF | IFAS. Revised and expanded in 2010 by Claudia Peñuela, nutrition assistant—EFNEP, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences; Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences; University of Florida; Gainesville 32611–0310.
The material and content presented in this publication is in summary form and is provided for informational purposes only; it does not constitute professional medical advice and should not be relied upon for medical diagnosis or treatment. Always consult with your physician regarding any medical condition.
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