Pregnancy is an exciting and wonderous time in a persons life and while many woman find themselves feeling radiant and healthy many others run into many common pregnancy ailments. Presented in this article are some tips and tricks for keeping fit and healthy during your pregnancy. Please note that this article DOES NOT provide medical advice, it is a summary of the experiences of other women. Please see your doctor if you are concerned at any time during your pregnancy.
tiredness and fatigue - Most woman find themselves feeling tired and fatigued in the first trimester and at the end of the third. It is important to remember that the body is undergoing immense changes during the entire pregnancy and these changes require more from your body. Tiredness and fatigue is a sign that you need to slow down a bit and rest when you need it.
morning sickness - No one is quite sure what triggers morning sickness in some woman and not others, nor why some woman experience it for the first 12 weeks and others for their entire pregnancy. Morning sickness can strike at any time of the day or night and can range from mild nausea to dry retching and vomitting. There is a more serious form of morning sickness called hyperemesis gravidarum which is chacterised by very persistant vomitting (20-30 times a day) dehydrating and loss of 10-20% of a person body weight. If you believe you are suffering from extreme morning sickness or dehydration it is important to speak to a doctor.
There are plenty of old wives tales for dealing with morning sickness however a lot of mothers find they do actually work. Some might work better for others and you might need to try a combination, even changing tactics as your pregnancy progresses.
ginger - ginger tea, ginger biscuits, ginger beer even
sea sickness pressure wrist bands - available at most chemists
having something to eat before getting out of bed - try keep a packet of water crackers in your drawer
peppermint - peppermint tea can be especially soothing, even peppermint lifesavers (my personal choice)
water - the more water you drink though out the day and night the less sick you are likely to feel in the morning
potato chips - not ideal for your waistline but a lot of woman report feeling better after eating potato whether it be mash or the crisps variety
don't let yourself get hungry - hard I know when you feel nauseous but try to find a food that doesn't immediately make you want to vomit and snack on that. Dry trail mix and biscuits can be good to keep on hand.
varicose veins - These babies can rear their ugly heads in places you never expected - and people never told you about. Try and stay off your feet if they become a problem and keep the area elevated at night while you sleep if possible. You can also try witch hazel; available from some pharmacies or health food shops 100% undiluted witch hazel applied with cotton wool balls at night and then elevated can help to reduce varicose veins. Witch hazel is also helpful to treat those varicose veins on our nether regions - also known as haemeroids.
aches and pains - As your pregnancy progresses your uterus grows at an enoumous rate and the extra weight of the baby combined with the effect of relaxin on your joints can lead to losts of sore and tired spots. In addition, the demand for calcium and magnisium in your body can lead to painful cramps especially at night. Exercise is good to stretch aching muslces and joints but don't overstretch or try lifting heavy things you might find yourself a lot worse off the next morning. Take a good quality supplement of calcium and magnesium and you might want to consider seeing some allied health professionals or natural therapists to help such as physio, chiropractor, acupuncturist etc.
No comments:
Post a Comment