Trouble – free Pregnancy – very possible
Ignorance is expensive. It is even more costly in pregnancy. What I mean is; your pregnancy bliss (which seems miles and miles away) can come right to your doorstep if you only knew how to go about it.
Here are quick shots that will help you keep the various pregnancy maladies at bay so that you have more time to concentrate on the goodness that is growing inside you.
Most of the pregnant women say this is the worst time of their pregnancy. As much as it is termed as ‘morning’ it may happen throughout the day in the first three months of your pregnancy. It may as well continue to the last trimester due to conditions like low blood sugar or an empty stomach caused by appetite swings.
Remedy
» Eat small portions of healthy meals throughout the day.
» Avoid greasy foods and coffee. These trigger nausea.
» If you cannot eat in the morning, take a sugary drink to fend off morning sickness until you are able to eat something healthy.
» Make a point of taking your eight glasses of water a day.
Backache
As progesterone hormone softens the tendons and ligaments so that your baby can fit well in the uterus, your spine hurts, as it has more work supporting the relaxed tendons and ligaments plus the growing abdomen.
Remedy
» A nap at most times will do as it takes the pressure off your back and helps your spine to align. Ensure you use the pregnancy pillows for better support.
» Wear low heels or flat shoes.
» Maintain a straight posture throughout the day. Slumping increases chances of having a backache.
» Take a back massage. You can also have someone apply moderate heat to your back to help relieve the ache.
Constipation
This is any difficulty with bowel movements making your tummy rumble with gas, among other discomforts. It is common in pregnancy due to hormonal changes.
Remedy
» Drink lots of fluids throughout the day. Eight glasses of water is especially the best as it works fast in helping to loosen your bowel movements.
» Eat wholesome food rich in fibre such as vegetables and fruits. Try avoiding processed and junk foods as much as you can.
» Exercise regularly.
» Avoid holding back bowel movement.
Heartburn
This occurs due to the progesterone relaxing the muscle in the valve at the entrance to the stomach. As a result, small amounts of the food In the stomach mixed with hydrochloric acid make their way up the oesophagus irritating it, and thus causing heartburn
Remedy
» Eat smaller meals so that your stomach con handle the slow process of digestion effectively.
» Avoid greasy or spicy food.
Restlessness or lack of sleep
Trouble with sleep maybe due to bodily aches. It may also be due to the inability to sleep in the most comfortable sleeping position, or because of anxiety as your delivery date approaches.
Remedy
» Take a warm beverage such as milk before going to bed.
» A warm bath will sooth your body and gets you sleepy.
» Sleep at odd hours and not necessarily in the night to catch up with your rest.
» Ensure you are in a quiet, dark room, so that lights or noises do not wake you up.
» Due to an increased body temperature when you are expectant, you may not need as many covers as you did before pregnancy. Use just the amount of covering that you need and less nightwear.
Leg Cramps
The cause of this is unknown. However, it is believed to be caused by deficiency in calcium or salt
Remedy
» Massage the leg cramp. Try to walk around so that the cramped muscle can loosen.
» Take food rich in calcium and your calcium tablets as advised by a doctor.
Cravings
Powerful preferences towards certain types of food may be present during your expectancy. Others may be healthy to indulge in, which is all right. However, some may be detrimental to your health and that of your baby.
Remedy
» Eat a balanced diet that includes lean protein, reduced fatty foods, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. When your diet is balanced, a small portion of junk In a day will not cause a big effect on the baby.
» Eat regularly to avoid a drop of energy and blood sugar, which triggers food cravings.
» If there are options to the same type of food you crave for, focus on those with lower calories.
END:PG30/40-41