Kaboutjie SA Mommy Blogs by Lynne Huysamen
From the moment you find out you’re pregnant, your body immediately starts to go through all types of changes and a lot of those changes are very uncomfortable. I mean, think about it… the area where your baby is growing is also in the vicinity of the body that houses a lot of your other major organs, so it can get a little cramped in there, making you feel quite uncomfortable.
There is no way humanly possible for a woman to feel completely comfortable during pregnancy because growing a human being in your body is hard work. Now, while the woman’s body was brilliantly designed to create human life, that doesn’t mean it’s easy like Sunday morning.
Pregnancy forces women to step up to the challenge, pushes you to your infinite limit, and requires sacrifices that some mean couldn’t even imagine temporarily giving up. All of those aspects to pregnancy seem very overwhelming, and they certainly are, but once you are holding your baby in your arms, it makes all the sacrifices, pain, and challenges worthwhile.
Take a look at some common discomforts among pregnant women and how you can alleviate them.
Discomfort #1: Feet Swelling
Feet swelling is a common discomfort during pregnancy among women. In fact, americanpregnancy.org says that it’s perfectly normal for the body to swell because it’s producing more fluids to expand and soften the body for the baby to grow.
A little bit of feet swelling is normal but if you’re experiencing a lot of swelling, then you need to consult your doctor. It can actually be a sign of a more serious condition.
What You Can Do
If you’re experiencing normal feet swelling, and it’s becoming uncomfortable, one of the first things you should do is lower your sodium intake. High levels of sodium can make the body hold on to excess fluids, try keeping an eye on how much salt you consume.
You can also try using a pillow to elevate your feet. There are pillows specifically made for leg and foot support to alleviate swelling during pregnancy. As an added option, you can also opt for compression socks to aid in the swelling.
Discomfort #2: Back Pain
With your body going through the changes of gaining weight (among several other changes) it’s no wonder your back is in such pain. It’s a common discomfort and should somewhat be expected in pregnant women, to a certain degree. Some common causes of back pain during pregnancy include:
- Stress
- Additional Weight
- Increased Hormone Release
- Posture
What You Can Do
To aid in back pain, there are quite a few options that may be helpful. There are now pregnancy pillows for back pain. Several women have found these pillows very beneficial to alleviating the pain associated with pregnancy. Now, this is just one option that you can use.
Another option would be to consult with a trusted chiropractor. Chiropractors help pregnant women by way of back adjustments. With the bigger bellies, pregnant women tend to curve their backs which can throw their spine out of alignment… that then leads to back pain.
Discomfort #3: Heartburn
They say that when a woman has immense heartburn during pregnancy, it means that the baby has a head full of hair. How true that is, completely depends on if your baby comes out with lots of hair! Unfortunately, there’s not too, too much you can do to aid with heartburn, but there are a few things you can do.
What You Can Do
For starters, you can pay closer attention to the foods you eat. You want to consume foods rich in water, like watermelon and grapes. At all costs, avoid citrus foods! That will take you to “heartburn city!” Drinking plenty of water is really key.
Your doctor may prescribe you a prescription for heartburn medication that can help but its effectiveness varies on the mother and her heartburn severity so you can try all of these options and see what works best for you.
Discomfort #4: Nausea
Nausea is one of the top discomforts among pregnant women. Yes, it’s called “morning sickness” but any mother can back up the fact that “morning sickness” doesn’t just come in the mornings… in fact, it lasts all day!
What You Can Do
It’s helpful to have saltines to nibble on as well as any clear caffeine-free soda to settle your stomach. Peppermint candy also has stomach settling abilities so when your stomach is feeling uneasy, grab the bubbly, the saltine crackers, and the mints and take things one day at a time.
