Over-40 Pregnancy: Easing the Physical Discomforts
Nausea/Morning Sickness. While some women only experience nausea/morning sickness during the first few months of pregnancy, others experience this throughout pregnancy. Try eating crackers before getting out of bed. Check with your doctor about drinking ginger tea which have helped eased morning sickness for a great deal of women.
Fatigue & Insomnia. My first commonsense tip of the day is rest when you are tired. Listen to your body. Insomnia is caused by many reasons during pregnancy. Anxiety concerning the pending birth experience is believed to be one of them. Try to read a good book before bedtime. A warm shower may help. Also, avoid caffeinated beverages.
Nasal Congestion. Your blood volume increases nearly 45% during pregnancy. This increase causes the membranes inside of your nose to swell. Increase your intake of water and place a cold steam humidifier in your room
Backache. My second commonsense tip of the day is to stop wearing shoes with high heels. The weight and position of your growing baby is already affecting your posture and how you walk. You don’t need the added pressure of high heels that look good but are not good for you. Also, practice maintaining proper posture (walk with back straight).
Sit down throughout the day to rest your back.
Swelling. Evaluate your legs whenever possible. Try not to cross your legs when sitting. Stop wearing knee high nylons or thigh high stockings with tight elastic bands. Check with your doctor about exercises such as walking or swimming.
Constipation. This is not one of the things you thought about when you envisioned yourself being pregnancy but it’s reality. Drink lots of water and eat a high fiber diet (fruits and raw vegetables).
Heartburn. Water is going to help you more than any other liquid during pregnancy. Drink lots of water if you have heartburn. Avoid spicy, hot, and greasy foods. Check with your doctor before taking any over the counter medication.
While the physical discomforts of pregnancy may feel as though they will last a lifetime, take comfort they won’t. As my mother would say, “honey, you’re going to make it because this too will pass.”