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First Trimester

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Dealing With Pregnancy Discomfort

Getting pregnant is a startling feeling for many women. Nonetheless, the state comes along with many discomforts that may reduce your quality of life during the 9-month journey. Have you just conceived? If yes, we have provided practical solutions that would help you deal with the discomforts you are likely to encounter during your pregnancy.

1. Morning Sickness
Morning sickness is one of the earliest distresses you would experience. The discomfort upsets over 60% of women during the first three months of pregnancy. Affected women get a persistent urge to vomit any time of the day. Doctors link morning sickness to the upsurge of hormones that prepare your body to maintain the pregnancy.

You can lighten morning sickness by:

  • Taking vitamin B6
  • Eating fresh ginger or drinking beverages that contain ginger
  • Eating protein-rich meals
  • Drinking enough liquids
  • Taking small meals recurrently

2. Heartburn
Heartburn occurs when the stomach shoves gastric acid to your esophagus. In most cases, this discomfort starts during the third trimester, when the growing uterus applies a significant amount of stress on your stomach and intestines. Heartburn affects 5 in 10 expectant mothers.

How can you cope up with heartburn?

  • Eliminate fatty foods from your diet
  • Consume small portions of food
  • Take a glass of milk to soothe your irritated esophagus
  • Ask your doctor to prescribe safe anti-acids for you

3. Constipation
Pregnancy-related constipation occurs when the uterus applies some pressure on the intestines. The stress slows down the movement of fecal waste through the intestines. As a result, affected women experience infrequent bowel movements. Additionally, constipation might result from the use of iron tablets, consuming a low-fiber diet, as well as drinking inadequate amounts of water.

How can you stop constipation?

  • Eat plenty of vegetables, whole grains, fruits, and other high-fiber foods
  • Drink enough water
  • Replace your iron supplements with an iron-rich diet
  • Engage in moderate-intensity workouts

4. Excessive fatigue
Just like morning sickness, many women experience exhaustion during the first trimester. Some may experience the discomfort throughout their pregnancy period, while others may experience it during the first trimester. Health experts link the condition to reduced blood pressure, hormonal changes, trouble sleeping, and anxiety.

Tips to avert pregnancy-related fatigue:

  • Consume a balanced diet
  • Get enough rest whenever you feel exhausted
  • Cut back your working hours
  • Manage your anxiety or stress
  • Refrain from energy consuming tasks

5. Insomnia
Insomnia is a result of anxiety, heartburn, frequent urge to urinate, as well as the hormonal variations that come along with pregnancy. Affected women find it hard to fall asleep, or they lose their sleep frequently. Health surveys report that Insomnia upsets over 78% expectant mothers.

How can you improve the quality of your sleep?

  • Increase your physical activity during the day
  • Avoid meals that cause heartburn
  • Drink water 2-3 hours before going to sleep to avoid frequent urination
  • Dot force yourself to sleep
  • Avoid long naps during the day

Take Away
Pregnancy comes accompanied by many discomforts that may make your 9-month journey difficult. You can manage the discomforts using the expert-suggested solutions above and do check in with your OBGYN doctor when necessary. Eat and rest well, mommies-to-be!

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