Every pregnant woman exudes that undeniable pregnancy glow. People are naturally kinder to you and there are a million butterflies doing somersaults in your tummy practically every day.
As delightful as pregnancy can be, it is also accompanied by many downright uncomfortable situations. The good news is that there are solutions to help you deal with these issues. To make life easier for you, we’ve outlined the six most common pregnancy discomforts and their solutions below:
1. Uncomfortable Tenderness, Particularly in the Breast Area
During the first three months, you will feel slight discomfort, particularly in terms of tender and swollen breasts. To ensure that your breasts are well supported, consider wearing a maternity sports bra.
The maternity bra is specifically created with the needs of pregnant women in mind. They help you avoid overstimulating your breasts with exercise during pregnancy.
If you have milk leakages during pregnancy, you’ll be glad to know that a good maternity sports bra is comfortable enough to be worn with breast pads inserted as well.
2. Swollen Feet and Hands
A common problem that occurs during pregnancy is swollen hands and feet. To remedy it, doctors usually suggest putting your feet up and just allowing your blood to flow.
Foot massages and hand massages can also be beneficial to help with blood circulation. Another solution to the swollen feet and hands problem is to increase your fluid intake.
3. Fatigue
An inescapable pregnancy side effect is fatigue that can go on throughout the entire duration of the pregnancy. While feeling tired all the time may wear you out emotionally too, you need to know that by the last trimester, the tiredness may completely take over.
Have regular heated baths and get your spouse to give you gentle massages. Lastly, remember a hot cup of milk is always ideal and will naturally make you feel more relaxed. Vegans and vegetarians can get the same result from their favorite milk alternatives.
4. Heartburn
Ask any pregnant woman about heartburn and they’ll tell you exactly how uncomfortable this can be. To reduce the discomfort of heartburn, steer clear of fatty foods, never lie down after eating, and stick to pure liquids such as water to keep yourself hydrated.
5. Constipation
With pregnancy comes constipation, and it’s no walk in the park. One suggestion to eliminate the discomfort associated with pregnancy constipation is to drink plenty of fluids, especially prune juice. Also, make sure that you constantly maintain your exercise routine.
You may see constipation increase once you start your pregnancy iron supplement. However, the iron supplement is essential, so you may have to try a few different brands (as recommended by your doctor) until you land on one that doesn’t constipate you. This is important as pregnancy constipation can lead to hemorrhoids, which you want to avoid.
6. Leg Cramps
Cramps in your legs or thighs will mainly be felt during the evenings. Remember to stretch out your legs regularly while you are lying down, and speak to your doctor about getting a calcium supplement to alleviate the discomfort. Your physician may even have a few more suggestions on how to remedy your leg cramps.
Many of these alternative treatments offer relief without the use of stronger medication. At the end of the day, it’s best to forgo the use of a strong laxative if it means having a healthy baby at the end of your nine months.
So if you feel a tinge of discomfort, stretch a little or drink a bit of water and remember to just breathe. A little discomfort is nothing compared to what a mother is capable of.