There are so many problems you may encounter when you are expecting a child. Some of these ailments are minor and can go away on their own, while others could be more serious, where you may want to visit a doctor to get checked out. Here is a list of some of the most common ones and information on what you can do to alleviate the issues. Of course, you can always visit with your doctor about any of these situations, even when they aren’t considered to be serious. They will be able to point you in the right direction regarding treatment or alternative therapies to try.
1. Back pain
It’s no surprise that your back may hurt whenever you are carrying extra weight through your middle. Some people have sore backs the entire duration and others do not. You can purchase soft things to sit on that will help displace the weight, or you may choose to utilize belly bands or binders for relief. Furthermore, never stoop or try to carry heavy things and you should limit doing anything that you think may hurt your back.
2. Morning sickness
Even though the name emphasizes morning, you can suffer from this at any time of day. It involves becoming nauseous and having to throw up. Women normally have this only in the first trimester, although it can happen at virtually any time. The good news is that there are many ways to combat or lessen it, including eating crackers and mints, or sipping ginger tea. You can read about even more solutions on the internet, since so many moms have conquered it.
3. Aversion to smells
This concern is something that can last throughout the entire 9 months, and is sometimes accompanied by nausea. It is likely to cause you not to be able to eat foods that you like, or be around foods that have powerful odors. Besides that, it is possible that this aversion will make foods taste different to you as well. You’ll likely need to eat only foods that don’t cause you to have reactions. Keep a list of the items that cause you to have reactions, so you can stay away from them for a while. Major triggers are usually fish and meats.
4. Cramps
It is possible to have cramps in different places throughout your body. Most often these cramps are a bit like menstrual cramps, but you may also have cramps in your arms or legs. These are usually relatively harmless, so they aren’t a cause for concern. It is simply a matter of the baby growing and your body changing. If you are worried, you can make sure that you aren’t sitting in the same spot for too long and that you are stretching your arms and legs regularly.
5. Recurring heartburn
Heartburn is something that doesn’t ever feel good and can become worse as you get into your second trimester. The cause is unknown, but it is thought to be the sudden changes in hormones that cause this issue. There are a lot of ways to help lessen it, however. You can eat smaller meals, stay away from acidic foods and drinks as much as you can, and even sleep propped up, so your stomach acid stays where it needs to be.
6. Feeling overheated
Besides just carrying a little bit of extra weight around, there are a number of reasons why you may get overheated or hot regularly. It could have to do with what you’re eating, if you are overexerting your body or not, and even if you are getting enough sleep at night. Always try to stay cool by taking in liquids and wearing clothes that are breathable. You may want to stay away from large gatherings of people, and stay indoors if it is the summer or unseasonably warm outside.
7. Headaches
This is another problem that is likely caused by the extra hormones that are present in your body. Other possible causes are stress, lack of sleep, or that you aren’t taking in enough fluids. Make sure that you’re staying hydrated and sleeping well. Also remember to relax and not spread yourself too thin, since that isn’t good for you or your baby. If you start having so many headaches that it changes your routine, you can also talk to your doctor for options that can lessen your pain.
8. Incontinence problems
Since you have more weight centered near your bladder and urethra, it causes them to behave differently than they did before you were pregnant, which can lead to you having an issue with incontinence. That doesn’t mean you will be wetting yourself, but it may be harder to know when you have to urinate and when you are done. The best thing to do if you are suffering from this is to schedule your bathroom breaks. This will pretty much ensure that your bladder will stay empty and won’t cause you any more trouble.
9. Gas
This is one more issue that is likely caused by the influx of hormones in your body. The buildup of gas could also be a result of eating more than you are used to. To make it go away, there are a few things you can do. One is to make sure that you’re eating enough fiber in your diet. Other options include eating small meals instead of large ones, and making sure that you move around often, to get all the body’s processes working the way that they should.
10. Stuffy nose
If you have a problem with allergies, you already know how a stuffy nose feels. With the extra estrogen in the body, it can clog up your nose or cause you to produce extra mucous that will give you a bit of congestion. The best way to stop this is by relaxing when it happens and using a humidifier or steam to help clear your nasal passages. You can use saline sprays as well.
11. Edema
Since the body knows how to prepare itself for an impending birth, you will gain some extra fluid, also known as water weight, which can lead to edema or swelling, in your hands, legs, or ankles. This is relatively normal but can be lessened by making sure that you don’t stand for too long and are always wearing comfortable clothing. If you notice it happening to you, make sure you sit and rest, so you won’t be making the problem worse. If you want, you can use ice packs on the affected areas.
12. Acne
Some have trouble with acne and breakouts. If you still get acne from time to time, you may see it decrease. On the other hand, if you never get pimples anymore, you are likely to see more of them. This is due to the extra oils being produced by your skin, which can end up clogging your pores. Always keep your skin clean and refrain from scrubbing your face too hard.
13. Hemorrhoids
No one likes these unwelcome visitors, but they are easy to get once you start to gain a little weight as an expectant mother. You don’t have to keep them though; make sure you aren’t straining when you go to the bathroom, eat healthy foods, and be sure not to sit or stand for too many hours a day to get rid of them.
14. Chronic fatigue
So many things can make you feel tired and worn out at this time, so you might have fatigue for a number of reasons. Make sure that you get enough sleep and that you aren’t doing too much. Delegate tasks to others and try to exercise a little, even when you don’t feel like you want to.
15. Insomnia
Even though you may be tired all the time, you can have trouble sleeping. You may be suffering because of worrying about what comes next, trying to get everything done, or even because of pain in different parts of your body. Catch a nap throughout the day when you can and look into getting a full body pillow, so you can be sure that you’re getting comfortable in the bed when you lay down at night.
16. Stretch marks
There’s no way to know for sure if and where you’ll get stretch marks. It all depends on how fast your body grows and if your skin is able to handle the changes. To combat this problem, you can make sure your skin is always moisturized, especially in your abdominal area. Additionally, there are creams and lotions you can utilize once you start to see stretch marks, in order to lessen their appearance and make them less noticeable.
17. Anemia
This condition means that there isn’t enough iron in your blood. It is common, but it isn’t a cause for panic. You can fix the problem by adding more iron-rich foods into your diet, or visiting your doctor to see what else you can do. A couple of ways to know if you have anemia is if you feel like fainting often, and you are tired no matter how much sleep you get.
18. Gestational diabetes
If you are at risk of diabetes, you are likely to be at risk for gestational diabetes as well, although you don’t have to be to get it. It becomes a problem when you can’t process insulin correctly, which leads to other symptoms in the body. You may speak to a professional about it to find the solution and to make sure that you stay healthy.
19. Premature labor
Almost everyone has heard stories of premature labor. It isn’t always an issue but sometimes it can be very risky to deliver early, especially if it is more than just a week or two. When your baby is delivered at full term, it is healthier and more suited for its journey into the world. There are factors that increase the chance that this can happen to you, like smoking and obesity, but there are also ways to stop it medically. This is another concept to talk to your obstetrician about, so you won’t have to be anxious that it will happen to you.
20. Preeclampsia
This is a serious condition that can happen where someone has high blood pressure suddenly, even if they have never had a problem with it before. There can be other symptoms that are present as well, some that are even more serious, which is why you should always see your doctor if you think you have high blood pressure. If you have shortness of breath, headaches, and are gaining too much fluid, these are things that can tell you there may be a problem, so don’t ignore them.