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3. C ommon Discomforts and Relief Measures COMMON DISCOMFORTS OF PREGNANCY DISCOMFORT POSSIBLE CAUSE(S) RELIEF MEASURE(S) Fatigue or tiredness Physical demands of pregnancy, including changes in processing foods and nutrients. Greater blood volume makes heart and other organs work harder. Hormonal changes can make you feel sluggish or sleepy. Try to increase rest. Plan extra help during the first three months of pregnancy and the last month. Go to bed early and try to avoid getting up at night. Exercise moderately. Breast tenderness; darkening/leaking nipples Change in hormones Wear a supportive bra. Avoid impact/contact. Nausea and vomiting Change in hormones Eat small, frequent meals. Don’t let stomach become empty. After sleeping, eat dry crackers before rising. Get up slowly. Avoid odors. Call your healthcare provider if severe. Dizziness Pressure of the uterus on large blood vessels. Anemia or decreased blood sugar. Don’t lie on your back or stand for long periods of time. Get up slowly and avoid sudden changes in position. Don’t skip meals. Stuffy nose or nose bleeds Increased blood volume. Use humidifier. Lubricate nasal passages with petroleum jelly. If severe, report to your healthcare provider. monroeclinic.org 11 COMMON DISCOMFORTS OF PREGNANCY DISCOMFORT POSSIBLE CAUSE(S) RELIEF MEASURE(S) Heartburn Stomach displaced by growing uterus. Hormones relax the stomach opening, allowing acid to enter the esophagus. Delayed stomach-emptying time. Eat small, frequent meals. Avoid fatty or spicy foods. Stay in upright position after eating. Eat slowly. Prop yourself up in bed with pillows if heartburn occurs when sleeping. Frequent urination Pressure of uterus on bladder. Possible urinary tract infection if accompanied by burning, urgency to go. Use bathroom frequently. Drink plenty of fluids. Do Kegel exercises (see page 17) to help tone. Check with doctor about possible infection. Be patient, as birth of baby will provide relief. Constipation Slower movement of food through the digestive tract due to the hormone progesterone, resulting in increased water absorption from the colon. Pressure on the intestines as the uterus becomes larger. Decreased physical activity. Drink six to eight glasses of water a day. Increase roughage in diet: fruits, vegetables, whole grains. Increase physical activity. Find a bathroom when the need first comes, don’t wait. If problem persists, talk to your healthcare provider. Backache Softening of ligaments and joints due to hormones. Posture changes due to increased weight of uterus. Standing or sitting for long periods. Practice good body mechanics and posture. Don’t bend over to lift; squat instead. If standing for long periods, put one foot on box or stool. Change position frequently. Perform pelvic tilt or rock, knee-chest position (see page 17). Wear low-heeled shoes. Groin pain/round ligament pain Round ligaments that hold uterus in place are stretched. Poor posture. Standing too long. Use good posture. In bed, draw knees up then roll to side. Do not twist-move body all at once. Bend forward when laughing, coughing or sneezing. Leg cramps Fatigue or chilling. Sitting or standing for prolonged time that causes pooling of blood in legs. Pressure of enlarged uterus on nerves and blood vessels. Pointing of toes. Lack of calcium. Never point your toes to stretch. Bring toes toward head. Increase calcium intake. Eat bananas. Get adequate rest. Vaginal discharge Thickening of lining increases secretions. Plays a role in preventing infection. Call your healthcare provider if discharge becomes foul smelling, causes burning or itching or becomes watery in the second half of pregnancy. Wear cotton panties. Swelling Pressure of enlarged uterus on blood vessels. Standing or sitting for long periods. (Minor swelling is normal.) Drink six to eight glasses of water daily. Elevate legs. Rest more. Avoid canned, processed, high-sodium foods. Wear support hose. Call your healthcare provider if swelling is in face or becomes severe. 12 BABY STEPS ~ Your Pregnancy Guide COMMON DISCOMFORTS OF PREGNANCY DISCOMFORT POSSIBLE CAUSE(S) RELIEF MEASURE(S) Hemorrhoids Constipation. Increased pressure on blood vessels and pressure of uterus on bowel. Straining to move bowels. Avoid constipation; perform Kegel exercises to increase circulation. Avoid straining to move bowels. Use Tucks pads for cleansing. If inflamed, apply hydrocortisone cream sparingly. Numbness/Tingling Arms/wrist: possible carpal tunnel syndrome. Legs/thigh: uterus increases in size, placing pressure on nerves. Place hands on shoulders or elbows. Hold or hug pillow while sleeping. If non-medicine measures don’t provide relief, you may use the following over-the-counter medications after your 12th week of pregnancy. Please follow directions and use in moderation. Call your healthcare provider if you have any questions or if symptoms don’t improve. NON-PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS OKAY TO USE DURING PREGNANCY PROBLEM(S) NON-MEDICINE TREATMENT OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATION Colds Bed rest, cool cloth on forehead, increased fluids (vitamin C juices), humidifier or cool mist vaporizer. Call your healthcare provider if you have a fever over 100 degrees. Lozenges, Vicks VapoRub, Sudafed, Tylenol Cold, Robitussin Cough, Dristan Nasal Spray (use only three days), Vicks Dayquil. Constipation Increase fluids and fiber in diet. Increase exercise, walking. Metamucil, Citrucel, Colace Diarrhea Maintain fluids. May need to limit solids, especially fresh raw fruits and vegetables. Imodium, Kaopectate. Do not use Pepto-Bismol; contains aspirin. Headache, fever, general body aches Bed rest, cool cloth to forehead, increased fluids (vitamin C juices). Call your healthcare provider if fever over 100 degrees. Tylenol (Acetaminophen). Do not use aspirin products or ibuprofen. Heartburn Sit after eating. Do not lie down right away. Prop back up with pillows. Small, frequent meals. Avoid spicy foods. Gaviscon, Maalox, Mylanta, Tums liquid or tablets. Hemorrhoids Prevent constipation. Constipation aggravates hemorrhoids. Sit in warm tub. Tucks pads, Annusol, Preparation H, hydrocortisone cream (sparingly). Itching Take a warm bath with 2 cups oatmeal, apply vitamin E oil to affected area. Aveeno lotion, Benadryl cream. Vaginal Yeast Wear cotton underwear. Call your healthcare provider if not relieved by medication. Gyne-Lotrimin, Monistat vaginal cream. Allergies Avoid allergen if possible. Zyrtec or Claritin. monroeclinic.org 13