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Eating for Two
Weight Control during Pregnancy
The Magic Touch
Pregnancy Symptoms Soothers
High Risk Pregnancy Complications
Role of Dads during Pregnancy
To Cut or Not to Cut... the Perineum |
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Guide to what you may be experiencing and what helps. |
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 Your growing bump may bring on a whole slew of pregnancy symptoms. As uncomfortable as these conditions may be, many actually indicate a normal, healthy pregnancy because they’re simply triggered by your expanding uterus or changing hormones. Ease those pregnancy pains with this expert advice. |
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Morning sickness
No one knows for sure what causes nausea (which can strike any time of day), but it’s likely related to adjusting to early hormonal fluctuations. Up to 80 percent of women will feel better by the second trimester.
What to do:
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Don’t let yourself get too hungry.
Try to nibble on something even before you get out of bed |
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Eat candied ginger |
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Take B6 supplement which has also been linked to nausea relief |
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Sore breasts
Tender breasts are caused by boosted blood volume. The soreness usually subsides by the middle of the second trimester.
What to do:
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Wear a sports bra |
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Buy new bras that will accommodate the
growing boobs |
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Heartburn
As many as 80 percent of pregnant women experience that burning feeling after meals. The hormone progesterone weakens the muscle at the bottom of your esophagus, making it easier for food to back up into the throat. Plus, later in pregnancy your growing uterus puts pressure on your stomach, making lunch more likely to lurch northward.
What to do:
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Start by eating smaller meals, especially dinner. And finish your last meal a few hours before bed |
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Steer clear of fried and fat-packed foods as they take longer to digest |
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Hip and back soreness
That belly is causing your centre of gravity to shift more and more every day. This means back muscles have to work a lot harder to maintain posture which can cause pain. The hormone relaxin which loosens pelvic bones to prep for labour, can spark joint pain near the hips.
What to do:
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Splurge on a prenatal massage. It reduces knots and boosts circulation which helps back muscles recover faster |
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Stretching and prenatal yoga |
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Leg cramps
Your leg muscles may be overworked from carrying extra weight. You may have certain mineral imbalances, like not enough calcium, potassium, or magnesium.
What to do:
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A quickie leg massage can get blood flowing and knead out cramp-triggering knots |
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Cankles
You’re probably suffering edema, or swelling of the legs and arms. Fluid tends to pool in the legs during pregnancy because of increased blood volume and compression of certain veins caused by the expanding uterus. In severe cases, excess swelling can be a sign of preeclampsia, a condition that’s also marked by sky-high blood pressure.
What to do:
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Rev your circulation by propping your feet up |
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Swimming is a great form of exercise that gets you moving without putting any additional any pressure on your limbs |
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Varicose veins
As your uterus expands, it compresses the major veins in your legs, so blood doesn’t flow as quickly as pre-pregnancy. As the fluid pools in these blood vessels, it can cause them to expand and get that dark, bulging look.
What to do:
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Keep your legs elevated |
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Hemorrhoids and constipation
Hemorrhoids are basically just varicose veins in your rectal area, but constipation can make them worse.
What to do:
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Drinking lots of water and upping your fiber intake to improve digestion |
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Aim for insoluble fibre (found in leafy greens, whole grains, and fruit with the skin on) |
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To relieve hemorrhoids, try witch hazel pads to soothe swelling |
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