6 Common Pregnancy Ailments and Easy Remedies to Help

Pregnancy is a beautiful time in your life. You are growing a living, breathing miracle inside your body. Trust me, your body is amazing. Don’t forget to soak in this moment and reflect on how much your body is doing. I know it can be hard to focus on that. 

Mostly because…

While your body is creating new life, sometimes not-so-great side effects come with it. Nothing extremely serious, but discomforts that appear at inconvenient times. 

If you’re pregnant right now, you get it. 

Pregnancies vary, but many tend to experience similar side effects. There are also several at-home remedies to try to alleviate your symptoms.

And I’ll remind you, it’s okay if pregnancy doesn’t always feel like a miracle. Because, sometimes it’s just uncomfortable. And that’s okay.

Let the following solutions be a comfort to you, no matter where you are in your pregnancy journey.

Morning Sickness

Morning sickness is a common pregnancy symptom. It affects up to 85% of pregnant women and often varies in severity. Some women never actually vomit, while others are vomiting all day long. 

Great, right?

This pregnancy ailment can be difficult to ignore and can interfere with your life, making daily living seem impossible, especially if it lasts longer than a few weeks. Morning sickness may end after the first trimester, but sometimes it lasts longer.

It’s important to have patience with yourself during this time. Know that it will not last forever, and is the result of hormones changing in your body. 

Here are a few options for treating morning sickness: 

• Stay hydrated 
• Take ginger
• Use aromatherapy 
• Eat small meals 
• Avoid nausea triggers 

Ginger is especially effective. Not only is it widely used and safe for your growing baby, but it is also the most analyzed herbal remedy to help with nausea. Many use ginger to alleviate nausea that arises for different reasons. 

How does it work? As ginger enters your body, it decreases stomach activity and suppresses other hormones in the body that may be causing your nausea symptoms.

Consider adding ginger to your food or taking ginger drops throughout the day to help. 

Constipation

Constipation is another unpleasant side effect of pregnancy. It impacts approximately 11% to 38% of pregnant women. Several factors may cause constipation during pregnancy specifically. While pregnant, your body makes more of the hormone progesterone. It relaxes your intestines and tells your bowels to take a break. They don’t work as hard to release waste, causing bowel movements to slow down. 

The baby growing in your uterus is also a contributing factor. Especially as your baby grows larger, it puts more pressure on your bowel, making it harder to go number two. 

Here are a few remedies to help pregnancy constipation: 

• Take a probiotic 
• Increase daily fiber 
• Increase fluids
• Take a gentle laxative (if nothing else works)

I know this is yet another inconvenience to go through on the journey to meet your baby. Remember, give your body patience. She’s going through a lot. 

Fatigue 

Dragging your feet to complete daily tasks? Always in need of a nap?

If so, you might be experiencing fatigue.

Fatigue is a step above “being tired.” The definition of fatigue is constant tiredness that continues to drag you down for days on end.

Forbes reported a study done on 20 pregnant women to analyze fatigue levels. Compared to a group of nonpregnant women, results found that 15 of the pregnant women reported a greater degree of fatigue. Clearly, being pregnant takes it out of you. 

While you are pregnant, your blood volume increases by 45%. This means your blood volume increases by 1,200 to 1,600 ml above a non-pregnant woman’s blood levels. Keep in mind, this increased blood production does not come easily. Your body is working hard to produce this increased blood flow to support your pregnancy and your growing baby. In fact, it is an astronomical difference compared to a non-pregnant woman. 

Give yourself grace. You are tired for an important reason. 

Here are a few at-home remedies for fatigue: 

• Rest more frequently
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Light exercise 
• Adjust your schedule if you are able

Above all else, listen to your body. You may need to rest longer and more often than you did before. It is more than okay. 

Heartburn

You’re regretting that burrito you ate for lunch… 

Oh, it was delicious, and you’d been craving it all day. But, your body is turning on you. That unpleasant yet familiar burning sensation in your throat comes back yet again. 

You are so annoyed! It seems to happen no matter what you eat. 

Say hello to heartburn. 

Heartburn is an extremely common ailment during pregnancy. In one study of pregnant women,  17% to 45% reported heartburn issues. 

Progesterone release is the culprit for heartburn too. Because of the relaxation of smooth muscle, it creates lower pressure in your esophagus. This allows more food and gastric acid to pass from the stomach to the esophagus. This leads to the “burning” sensation you feel, aka heartburn. Increased pressure from your growing baby may also contribute, but it is mainly because of progesterone release. 

Here are some ways to decrease heartburn: 

• Reduce fatty food intake
• Reduce the size of meals
• Drink less caffeine 
• Raise the head of your bed
• In more severe cases, take an antacid (without alginates)

Be present and aware of what you put in your body. Following a few guidelines may save you from “the burn.” 

Leg Cramps

You’re finally in a deep sleep, able to close your eyes after a long day. Then suddenly, you wake with a cramp climbing up your leg. 

Fantastic. 

You wait for it to pass. Every night it seems to happen this way. 

I’m telling you, you’re not alone!

Leg cramps are very common for pregnant women, in fact, 30 to 45% of pregnant women complain of leg cramps. 

Don’t fret. 

Here are a few solutions for leg cramps during pregnancy: 

• Hydrate often
• Stretch often
• Wear comfortable shoes 
• Take a magnesium supplement

If the first three options don’t seem to work, consider taking a magnesium supplement. Oral magnesium supplements may greatly improve the frequency and intensity of leg cramps. It may solve your leg cramp issues and can allow you to get much-needed sleep.

Insomnia

You are so tired, yet you can’t sleep. The minute your head hits the pillow– you’re completely wide awake. 

Don’t lose heart! I promise you’re not the only one. Many women complain of insomnia throughout their pregnancy. It tends to increase as pregnancy progresses. 

Here are a few ways to beat pregnancy insomnia: 

• Create a better sleep routine
• Drink tart cherry juice at night
• Increase intake of iron and folic acid
• Take magnesium
• Try breathing and meditation exercises
• Partake in low-intensity exercise for 30 minutes 4 to 6 hours before bedtime

Try one or all of these ideas, and chances are, something may help you through your pregnancy insomnia. 

Contact Your Medical Provider 

Always speak with your medical provider before taking any supplements or vitamins to ensure these are appropriate for you. Regarding any of these pregnancy ailments, if you are still not feeling well speak to your health care provider who can recommend additional treatments. 

They will help you make these important decisions, and will discuss what will work for you personally.

Reach Out To Us

We are always here for you as you travel through your pregnancy and birth journey. Having a doula on your side is proven to give you a more satisfying birth and postpartum experience.

Reach out to us, we’re here for you!

Also check out: Nutrition During Pregnancy: Nourishing Yourself and Your Baby