Quick Pregnancy Tips

Need some help getting through your pregnancy? Here are some handy tips for many of your most common pregnancy ailments.

Sore Back and Achy Muscles

• Get some rest and put your feet up
• Book yourself in for a prenatal massage or ask your partner to give you a back/foot rub
• If your midwife or doctor gives you the okay, then use an over-the-counter pain reliever with acetaminophen in it

Constipation

• Stay well hydrated. Aim to drink eight glass of water a day
• Make sure your diet is rich in fiber. Some good sources of fiber include:
  • Bran cereal
  • Prunes and prune juice
  • Whole-grain bread
  • Fruits and vegetable
• If nothing else works, then talk to your health care provider about an over-the-counter laxative. Look for one with natural fiber in it; ask your pharmacist for help choosing one

Heartburn and Indigestion

• Avoid foods that are spicy, fatty, greasy or fried
• Eat frequent small meals during the day instead of one or two large meals
• Be sure to sit up straight when you eat
• Prop yourself up when you sleep; use lots of extra pillows to help keep yourself comfortable
• Avoid eating a few hours before you go to bed
• Check with your midwife or doctor to find out which antacids are safe to use during pregnancy

Colds

• Regular throat lozenges are safe to use on a sore throat
• If you have a stuffed nose, use a saline solution nasal spray
• For a fever, over-the-counter medications with acetaminophen can be used with your health care provider's permission
• If your symptoms get worse or persist more than three days, contact your prenatal care provider

Hemorrhoids

• Avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time
• Take a lukewarm sitzbath (a bath whereby you are immersed in water only up to your abdominals). Alternatively, you can use a basin so that only your pelvis is immersed in water
• Follow the tips to help with constipation to avoid hemorrhoids
• Check with your healthcare provider to see if you can use an over-the-counter hemorrhoid medication

Varicose Veins

• Try to avoid sitting or standing for long periods
• When you are at work, move around every 30 minutes or so, to keep your blood flowing
• Try elevating your legs when you are lying down. This will keep your blood from poking in your veins
• Cut back on your salt intake - this will reduce the swelling in your legs
• Check out varicose vein and spider vein treatment

Caffeine

• If you can, completely cut out all caffeine products from your diet
• If you must have some caffeine, then limit your intake to no more than one caffeine beverage per day. Don't forget that tea and soda contain caffeine, not just coffee
• Remember that chocolate also contains caffeine, so limit your intake of chocolate as well

Hair Color and Perms

• Few studies have been performed on the use of hair chemicals during pregnancy. To be on the safe side, it is best to avoid using chemicals on your hair during the first trimester
• If you do choose to color or perm your hair, ask your hair dresser to avoid applying the product directly to your scalp
• Choose products with alternative ingredients, like pure vegetable coloring
• Make sure the product is applied in a well-ventilated area