Pregnancy

Pregnancy symptoms are obviously a missed period. Morning sickness, changes in appetite, changes in how you're feeling overall, being more tired. Some people will say like the change in whether you have acne or not or how your hair looks, things like that. Those aren't specific, but a lot of the symptoms are different between each person. I'd say missed period is number one.

If you're experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions, a couple things you can try to help. Make sure that you're emptying your bladder. Make sure that you're drinking a lot of water, that you're staying very hydrated. Try laying on your side. Make sure it's your left side. That's best for the baby. And then just try to breathe through any contractions if they're uncomfortable. Definitely make sure you contact your healthcare provider if it's anything new or unexpected or if you feel like there's something a little bit more serious going on.

If you're experiencing constipation during your pregnancy, that happens to a lot of women, especially later in your pregnancy, it's pretty common. A couple things that you can try, number one, just like anything else, make sure you're drinking a lot of water. Stay hydrated. That's the best thing you can do to help with constipation. Also try to increase the fiber in your diet. Vegetables, beans, whole grain bread, pasta, even bran cereal, oatmeal, those are all good to help with that. Try taking short walks during the day. Get up and move. That's really good for your bowels to keep going. Works well in conjunction with the water. Definitely talk to your healthcare provider about any supplements you might be taking that might be adding to your constipation, and then double check with your healthcare provider before you take anything over the counter for constipation.

If you're experiencing leg cramps during your pregnancy, leg cramps are very common during second and third trimesters. Not a lot is really known or understood what causes it. A couple things you can try to help alleviate, do some good stretch, leg stretches before you go to sleep. Try wearing comfortable supportive shoes during the day. Try being active as much as you can during the day, so make sure you're going for at least one good walk a day if you're able to, or stretching, yoga, like anything like that is really good to do. You can also try to increase the amount of magnesium in your diet, good sources of magnesium, whole grain bread, pasta, nuts, beans, seeds, dry fruit, all good options. You can also talk to your healthcare provider about starting a calcium supplement.

If you're experiencing heartburn during pregnancy, that can oftentimes be a normal thing that happens expected as well. Several reasons for it, due to pregnancy hormones, due to the increase in your uterus kind of pushing up on your stomach, allowing that acid to creep up there. Here's some tips and tricks to help with that. If you can, use pillows for your upper body to kind of support during while you sleep. Helps keep you elevated a little bit so you're not laying flat. That acid doesn't have a chance, as much of a chance anyway, to sneak up. Avoid caffeine, spicy fried foods. As much as you can, avoid eating close to bedtime to give your stomach a chance to empty before you lay down. And try to eat five or six small meals during the day, again, versus a couple big ones. You can always take antacids. Definitely talk to your healthcare provider before you start any medications.

If you're experiencing nausea with your pregnancy, most of the time it's due to hormonal changes happening in your body. A couple things that you can try to help with that, eat five or six smaller meals during the day versus one, two or three big meals. Try to avoid fried foods and coffee, caffeine as much as possible. Sometimes eating a cold meal that doesn't have a lot of odor to it can be helpful. Try eating a mix of solid and liquids throughout the day. There's also motion sickness bracelets that you can try that are sometimes helpful. Sometimes you can try taking a B6 vitamin. Definitely talk to your healthcare provider before you start that. And then if it's really bad, of course you're not able to keep a lot of things down and you feel like you're losing weight versus gaining or maintaining, definitely talk to your healthcare provider.

If you're experiencing stress during your pregnancy, keep in mind a little bit of stress is okay and can be expected. A lot of stress you definitely don't want can be harmful for you and the baby. So here's a couple stress management techniques you can try. First and foremost, definitely spend time if you can with loving supportive people, people that make you feel good and who are uplifting. Make time for daily exercise, whatever that looks like, going for a walk, potentially trying prenatal yoga, meditating. There's a whole lot of things that you can try. The internet is a great resource, of course. Get a massage, try deep breathing exercises or techniques that you know, and definitely make time for yourself. Whatever that looks like, shutting off your phone, relaxing, just spending time with yourself and eliminate non-essential tasks and obligations as well.

It's common to experience swelling during your pregnancy, especially your feet, ankles, legs, sometimes your face and your hands as well. And especially towards the end of your pregnancy or in the warmer summer months, very common and expected. The best thing you can do to help with that is drink lots of water, which sometimes sounds counterintuitive when you have all this extra fluid that you're trying to get rid of. But drinking water, staying hydrated will help flush all that extra fluid out when you go to the bathroom, helps get rid of that. A couple other things you can try when you're sitting, elevate your feet above your heart, just to try to alleviate some of that swelling you've got going on. Don't sit with your legs crossed for a long periods of time. You can also try compression socks. Oftentimes those are great. Make sure that you reach out to your healthcare provider if you have any sudden or extreme swelling anywhere in your body.