Getting Pregnant

Lower back pain is common in pregnancy. It is most likely caused by the softening of the ligaments of the lower back and pelvis in preparation for childbirth, and by the extra weight of the uterus. Back-mobility exercises can help, as can your other regular exercises, including walking.

Try to alternate standing and sitting activities, but do not stand when you can sit. Have a rest each day (preferably lying down) and avoid wearing high-heeled shoes in the second half of pregnancy.

Elbow circling helps to relieve pain in the upper back – put your finger on your shoulders and make circles backwards with your elbows. Tell your doctor or healthcare professional if backache is severe or persistent.

It is normal to feel short of breath when you exert yourself in the last few weeks of pregnancy. It is caused by your growing uterus restricting your breathing. Breathlessness can also happen when you are lying down – sleeping propped up on a couple of pillows should help.

If you have a bad cough or cold, with sudden attacks of breathlessness or breathing problems, tell your doctor or healthcare professional.

Hormonal changes can make bowels less efficient during pregnancy. Counteract this with regular exercise (walking is good), plenty of fluids and fibre-rich foods, such as wholegrain bread and cereals, unprocessed grain, vegetables, fresh and dried fruits, nuts, dried beans and dried peas.

Muscle cramps in the foot, leg or thigh can strike at night, usually in late pregnancy. Try rubbing the muscle hard or stretching it by walking around for a while. Relieve a foot cramp by bending your foot upwards with your hand.

Some doctors think these cramps can be caused by a lack of calcium. Ask your doctor or healthcare professional about taking a calcium supplement.

Pregnancy affects the circulation. Standing for too long, especially when it is hot, can make you feel faint, or you may feel dizzy if you get up quickly after lying down. Lie or sit down at the first sign of faintness and put your head between your legs until you feel better. Drinking plenty of fluids also helps.

Sudden urges for lots of sweets, fruit or cereals, or cravings for unusual foods are probably caused by hormonal changes. It is fine to indulge these cravings occasionally, as long as your diet remains healthy and balanced.

In early pregnancy, frequent urination is possibly caused by hormonal changes, but in later pregnancy, it is probably due to the weight of the uterus pressing on the bladder. You may find emptying the bladder completely more difficult in later pregnancy.

In the last few weeks of pregnancy, you may “leak” a little urine when you sneeze, cough or lift something. This is why it is important to do pelvic floor exercises regularly, see Exercise for Pelvic Floor Muscles in the Postnatal Exercise section. The condition usually improves a few weeks after the birth.

Any pain or scalding when you urinate may mean an infection, so see your doctor promptly.

Headaches are more likely in the early months. Rest and relaxation are the best solutions. If headaches are frequent and severe, tell your doctor or healthcare professional. In later pregnancy, this could be a sign of high blood pressure.

A burning feeling in your chest, sometimes accompanied by a taste of bitter fluid in your mouth, is common in the second half of pregnancy.

The best remedy is to sit up for a while and to neutralise the acid with a drink of milk. Preventative measures include: eating slowly; eating frequent small meals instead of one large one; drinking fluids separately from meals (half an hour before or an hour and half after); and avoiding foods that make the problem worse (e.g. fatty or spicy food).

Sleeping in a semi-upright position, supported by pillows, can also help – this makes it harder for the fluid to spill into the food passage. If these measures do not help, your doctor may prescribe an antacid.

As your baby grows, the skin of your abdomen gets tighter and may itch a lot. You should tell your doctor about persistent itchiness as it may indicate liver problems.

Itchy genitals may mean a thrush infection, so see your doctor.

Although nausea is more common in the morning, it can happen at any time of the day. It ranges from mild queasiness to actual vomiting. Starting early in pregnancy, it usually continues until the 12th to 14th week, but there is a lot you can do to prevent or minimise it.

Nausea usually strikes when you stomach is either very empty or very full, so it makes sense to eat frequent, small meals rather than large ones hours apart.

Nibbling on dry biscuits, dry toast, peppermints or pieces of apple can help. If you work, remember to keep a supply of these things with you.

Avoid anything that triggers your nausea—common culprits included fatty or spicy foods, coffee, tea, alcohol or tobacco smoke. If you feel sick first thing in the morning, stay in bed for a few minutes with a dry biscuit and a cup of tea.

Sudden movements, such as jumping out of bed or racing to the shower can make you feel sick too. If nothing works and you feel exhausted, or you are vomiting a lot and losing weight, see your doctor.

Nose bleeds can occur because of the increased supply of blood to the lining of your nose during pregnancy. Blowing your nose gently helps prevents nose bleeds. However, if they do occur, try applying pressure or an ice pack. If this fails to stop the bleeding, see a doctor as soon as possible.

These are varicose veins in the rectum and anus which cause soreness, itching and slight bleeding. They can be triggered by constipation (read the section on Constipation) and/or pressure from the baby’s head. The best remedy is to avoid straining (squatting rather than sitting on the toilet may help). Ask your doctor or healthcare professional to suggest a soothing ointment or suppository.

It is quite normal if you produce extra saliva and even dribble in your sleep.

The chances are your skin will improve during pregnancy but sometimes acne can develop for the first time or be worse than usual. Do not worry if you develop patches of darker skin on your face. These are called chloasma and will disappear after the baby is born. Oral contraceptive (the Pill) can cause the same effect. If it worries you, disguise it with a cosmetic concealing cream.

Insomnia can strike in the last few weeks of pregnancy. Sleep is easily disturbed by visits to the toilet, heartburn, a kick from the baby or difficulty getting comfortable. Many women experience disturbing dreams or nightmares in the last couple of months which can be due to anxiety about approaching childbirth and parenthood.

The relaxation technique described in Learning to Relax, can help you get back to sleep. Also try sleeping with one pillow under your tummy and another under your top leg, or reading for a while with a drink of warm milk and honey.

If nothing works and you feel exhausted, see your doctor.

Not everyone gets stretch marks—fine, red lines which usually appear on the abdomen and breasts—but they are more likely to appear if you put on weight rapidly. They do not disappear completely after pregnancy, but they do fade to a faint, silvery-white.

There is extra fluid in the tissues of your body during pregnancy and some of it collects in your legs. If you stand for long periods, especially in hot weather, this fluid can cause swelling in the ankles and feet. It is more noticeable towards the end of the day and usually goes down at night while you sleep. Wearing comfortable shoes and putting your feet up as often as possible will help.

Although this swelling is common, tell your doctor or healthcare professional when you first notice it happening. If the swelling is more than slight, if it is there early in the day and does not go down at night or if you notice it in other parts of your body (like hands and fingers), see your doctor or healthcare professional as soon as possible. It could be the first sign of high blood pressure.

In the first 12 weeks, it is normal to feel tired and lethargic—do not be surprised if your eyelids are drooping at 8pm. The changes going on in your body are probably to blame—but it may also be nature’s way of making you rest while the baby goes through its most important stage of development. After this, your normal energy levels should return until the last weeks of pregnancy when carrying the increased weight of the baby may slow you down again.

During pregnancy, there is usually an increase in normal vaginal discharge (clear mucus). Tell your doctor about any discharge that smells unpleasant, causes soreness, itching or irritation, is discoloured, or is causing you concern.

As the uterus grows, it presses on the veins of the pelvis and slows down the return of blood from the legs to the upper body. This, plus hormonal changes, is why some women develop varicose veins—a common cause of aching, swollen legs during pregnancy. They are more common in women whose parents have varicose veins.

To help prevent varicose veins:
• Avoid wearing tight underwear or anything which fits tightly around the top of the leg—it can restrict circulation;
• Change weight frequently from foot to foot when you are standing for long periods of time;
• Put your feet up whenever you can, with your legs supported;
• Speed up circulation with foot exercises—move feet up and down at the ankles and around in circles a few times;
• Put on support pantyhose before you get up in the morning and wear them all through the day.

Varicose veins can also develop in the vulva (external genitals), making it sore and swollen. Tell your doctor or healthcare professional—he/she may recommend wearing a sanitary pad firmly against the swollen part as a support. Sleeping with your bottom on a pillow may also help.