I've had a dozen friends announce pregnancies in the last month or two, so i have gestation on the mind! When i was pregnant with my first daughter, i spent countless hours devouring book after book and googling question after question. The second time around, i was able to relax a little more and apply the knowledge i'd gleaned previously. Here are some of the tips and tricks i learned to deal with the various curveballs pregnancy throws our way. You'll notice that there are some recurrent themes. I can't emphasize enough how generally beneficial yoga, regular chiropractic care, and good nutrition are!
Morning Sickness: First of all, can we agree that this should be called "all day sickness?" I had near-constant nausea from weeks 7 to 12 with both pregnancies, and although none of the following completely eliminated it, they did help mitigate it a bit. My heart goes out to those women who have nausea the whole pregnancy!
*anything peppermint- gum, essential oil, tea, etc.
*anything ginger- ginger snaps, essential oil, tea, etc.
*sea sickness bands- you can buy these at any drugstore. they work by applying pressure to the acupuncture point associated with nausea relief.
*snacking-try to nibble throughout the day, as nausea is frequently worse on an empty stomach.
*listening to your body- don't worry about calories or nutrition as much now. just eat ANYTHING that doesn't sound awful.
*acupuncture-i tried it and it didn't help. but others swear by it!
Heartburn: With baby #1 i single-handedly kept the manufacturers of TUMS in the black. I had crazy wicked searing heartburn around the clock. I tried drinking extra water, eating smaller meals, avoiding spicy food, sleeping on an incline and nothing helped. A fellow pregnant friend told me that she had really bad heartburn too, but that it went away if she drank some water. I wanted to punch her in the face. Back to the TUMS, i would chew a few of those, feel better for a few minutes, only to have the heartburn return. With baby #2 i stumbled upon the suggestion to use Apple Cider Vinegar for heartburn. That didn't make sense to me; vinegar is acidic, so why would that help? Well according to natural health folks (and NOT according WebMD, Mayo Clinic, etc.), taking something basic like TUMS is supposed to neutralize the acid in your stomach, which is does, but it then makes your stomach produce more acid. That's why it works temporarily. The Apple Cider Vinegar has enzymes (which are kind of like magic) that's somehow (read, magically) regulate your stomach acid production. Okay, i could not find a completely logical or scientific explanation of how it cures heartburn, but i swear on the life of my firstborn and even second born child that it worked for me!! I ended up only needing it once or twice a day to manage heartburn. It was amazing! All you need: 2 tbs. apple cider vinegar + 4 oz. of water + honey or maple syrup or stevia. Also, due to the information about basic things (rather than acidic) causing more heartburn, i began noticing that dairy products were a consistent trigger. Kind of counter-intuitive, but true.
Insomnia: I'm hesitant to recommend anything that comes in a bottle for this complaint, since EVERYTHING carries the warning to consult your doctor if pregnant or nursing-even prenatal vitamins have this warning, which i think is very ironic. But i will just tell you that i took very small doses of melatonin sometimes, or tinctures containing valerian root or lobelia, or Hyland's Homeopathic Calm's Forte tablets, or chamomile tea. I held off on such things until after the first trimester, and did research before justifying taking them for myself. But there is some dissent regarding sleep aids in pregnancy, so i advise you to do some reading on your own and make your own decision. You'd do that anyway right? ;) Some more innocuous tips are guided imagery, visualization, a warm bath, and essential lavender oil.
Sciatica: Among the various anatomical discoveries pregnancy brought me, was an intimate awareness of where my sciatic nerve is. This longest nerve in the entire body is a common source of pain in pregnant women, that usually rears its ugly head midway through the pregnancy. There are several yoga poses that kick sciatica's ass, such as pigeon and sucirandhrasana. Regular chiropractic visits will help, along with practicing good posture, sitting on a cushion that elevates hips above knee level, and sitting on a birthing ball instead of a chair as much as possible. Keeping the hips above the knees when sitting helps avoid compression of the sciatic nerve, which is partly responsible for the pain.
Restless Leg Syndrome: I never knew what this was like before being pregnant! Now i have so much sympathy for those who suffer from it on a regular basis. The first time around i tried taking calcium supplement since i'd heard those help. It didn't. I have a friend who said just eating a banana helped her because of the potassium. However, for me the BEST remedy was taking a magnesium supplement. It worked like a charm! In fact, i felt better in general having more magnesium in my diet. Nuts and seeds are a great source too.
Carpal Tunnel: This is an affliction i did not have the first time around, and didn't even know could be a pregnancy problem. During the last month of my second pregnancy, i started having pain and pins & needles feeling in my hand and wrist. Carpal tunnel during pregnancy is due to fluid retention, and unfortunately, most of the natural diuretics out there are contraindicated when one is in this "delicate condition." Here's a list of some foods and supplements that can help. Of course, relieving the fluid retention means that you will be peeing even more... Figure out which thing is bothering you more :) I personally found the best relief from increasing my fish oil intake (EFAs are something that is soooo important during pregnancy anyway!) and wearing a wrist brace.
Crazy psycho-bitch emotions: Pregnancy is a beautiful and amazing thing; but having an overload of hormones coursing through your body and gaining a million pounds and going without sleep and experiencing aches/pains/physiological phenomena that you are not used to is NOT. Some basic tips for anyone dealing with emotional stability (pregnant or not) are to get enough sleep, exercise, eat well, stay hydrated, take essential fatty acids, get enough sunlight & fresh air, listen to happy music, and nurture the soul (through prayer, meditation, running, or whatever!). I also drank a super cool pregnancy tea from my local herb store that helped me feel VERY balanced throughout my second pregnancy (it also contains incredibly nutritious components). Seriously, the tea and the aforementioned tips saw me through moving twice, remodeling a house, my eldest starting preschool, me going through yoga training, and grieving two family deaths with an uncanny level of calm. May you go through less, and feel even better!
Anemia: Not only are you eating for two, you're making blood for two! I tend to be slightly anemic, but i am quite proud of the fact that i was able to maintain a vegetarian diet (okay, okay, i do have a pregnancy clause which allowed me to have like 5 burgers), and still have fantastic iron levels. Make yourself familiar with the list of iron-rich food sources. Also, note that dairy consumption can actually inhibit iron absorption! Read more about that here if you don't believe me. So that may make you wonder how to get calcium, in which case i refer you to another list :) I also took occasional dose of Floradix. The cool thing about Floradix or blackstrap molasses as iron supplements, is that they taste more metallic the lower your iron is! I would just take a tiny taste of Floradix and tell by the taste whether i should take a dose or not. On a day that i'd had a spinach salad at lunch and kale chips with dinner, i was usually in the clear :)
Feeling like a giant elephant: Yoga, yoga, yoga! Yoga will help you maintain or increase flexibility and agility. You will become more in tune with your growing body, and that awareness will translate into more gracefulness...or less clumsiness :) Spending time in water is very helpful too. Take relaxing baths, go swimming, etc. You will enjoy the weightless feeling, and the water will ease your muscles and joints. For an extra special treat, put some epsom salts in the bath! It's a natural muscle relaxant!
Shortness of breath: Again, yoga! Yoga is as much about breathing as it is about movement. In fact, "yoga" means union and generally refers to the linking of breath and movement. You may not be able to do anything about the fact that your baby is invading your lung space more and more every day, but with some practice you can maximize that space. If you can't make it to a yoga class, just spend a few minutes with your eyes closed visualizing your breath. When you're actually focused on it, your breath will automatically improve. It sounds trivial, but what could be more important that breathing??
Fatigue: Growing a human is a very exhausting task. But whatever you do, don't say "oh, i'm pregnant, i should just sit on my ass all day long." Stay active. Or get active. I'm not saying you should train for a marathon. And you should definitely listen to your body and rest and reflect when needed. But gentle exercise like walking, swimming, and yoga are great ways to gain strength and energy (something you might enjoy during the marathon of giving birth and the subsequent recovery period!). For a little kick in the pants, that doesn't involve caffeine, try the same apple cider vinegar concoction recommended for heartburn. I'd venture to say that the apple cider vinegar (known as ACV to its fans) is a bit of a panacea!
I know this list is anything but exhaustive. This is just a catalog of my personal experiences. What other pregnancy problems have YOU had? And what other tips do YOU have to share?
Happy Gestating!!
