Pregnancy is a time for elation, celebration, and apprehension. Unfortunately, it can also be a time of worry and discomfort. Your body will go through several changes, including hormonal, emotional, and physical. After all, you are supporting and nurturing a new life within your body. Of course, the end result of all the worry and discomfort will be your precious baby.
Your body will go through several changes that may be related to significant periods in your pregnancy. Not long after you have discovered you are pregnant, you may experience morning sickness. There is some controversy over the term “morning sickness”, however, because a pregnant woman may suffer from nausea all day long. While there isn’t a cure for morning sickness, there are some measures you can take to lessen its symptoms.
You should try to eat several small meals during the day instead of one or two large ones. The key to battling your nausea is to not let your stomach become too empty. If you find that there really isn’t any food you could possibly eat, try to drink some hot tea and nibble on some crackers. You may want to try eating some crackers before you get out of bed in the morning. Give your stomach a few minutes to settle after you have eaten and before you arise. Take heart, most morning sickness abates after the first three months or so.
As your pregnancy progresses, your nausea may disappear, but you may experience new problems. As your belly continues to grow and expand, you may begin to experience indigestion and/or heartburn. Again, you should try to eat several small meals throughout the day instead of one or two large ones. You should also monitor what you eat. You may find that there are certain items which your body just can’t tolerate, such as spicy foods. Caffeine may also cause indigestion, but, of course, you should monitor your caffeine intake, anyway.
Many women suffer from hemorrhoids, due to hormonal changes in the body and dietary intake deficiencies. Hemorrhoids can be extremely painful, and if they aren’t kept under control, may require surgery in the future. To avoid or at least lessen the occurrence of hemorrhoids, you should increase your fiber intake. There are many delicious cereals on the market that are high in fiber. You may also need to increase your fruit consumption. If your hemorrhoids are causing you extreme discomfort, you will need to contact your doctor. He may prescribe a hemorrhoid cream.
If you’ve ever been awakened by a leg cramp, you probably hit the ground hard and painfully as you lurched out of bed. Leg cramps are extremely painful, and may be due to hormonal changes or a potassium deficiency. Try to increase your intake of potassium rich foods, such as bananas. When you do get a cramp in your leg, you will need to try and stand on it as soon as possible. Once the cramping subsides, move around the room a little, or massage the cramp out.
Shortness of breath is another common discomfort that affects many pregnant women. As your uterus grows, it will place more pressure on your diaphragm, causing you to have shortness of breath. You may find that sleeping in a reclined position will help you to breathe easier. Once your baby drops into the birth canal, your breathing should be relieved.
Insomnia may occur due to any of these symptoms or simply because you have so much on your mind. Unfortunately, if you don’t rest well at night, you will be all the more tired during the day. If you can’t get comfortable or have a hard time falling asleep, try to change your sleeping position. You may want to prop up in a recliner or place pillows behind your head and back and beneath your legs. Try to make up for your lack of sleep at night by taking at least one nap during the day.
Your pregnancy may be wrought with discomforts, but these are only temporary ailments. Once your precious baby is here, and you have had a chance to recover, most if not all of these symptoms will disappear.
