Common Pregnancy Symptoms and How You Can Help Them

Are you, a loved one, or a partner pregnant? First thing’s first: congratulations!

Now that we’ve said that, let’s get to the emotion that likely comes second to excitement: nerves. Anxiety is common when a little one is on the way, perhaps especially for the person carrying the child. Your body is about to go through some of the most incredible, and uncomfortable changes, that it can experience.

The good news is that there are ways to help with common pregnancy symptoms without affecting your growing baby. In this post, we’re going over ways you can start dealing with pregnancy symptoms safely and naturally. 

Let’s get started! 

Back Pain

About 50-70 percent of women experience back pain during pregnancy. This makes sense: the extra weight of the growing fetus puts a lot of pressure on your back, and you’ll likely walk, sit, and stand differently, which can lead to tension and pain. Hormonal changes, stress, and additional weight also can cause back pain.

The problem is that many pregnant women cannot take pain medication because of the effects it can have on the growing baby. It’s also difficult to mitigate this pain since there’s no way to adjust hormone levels or reduce the weight that you put on.

There are natural ways you can help with this back pain, though! The first is specific stretches and exercises that can reduce back pain. You can find some examples of those here.

Dr. Scott Rosner, a certified chiropractor and owner of Weymouth Chiropractic Clinic, also suggests that pregnant women try chiropractic care to reduce their pregnancy related back pain. Chiropractic adjustments can greatly reduce pregnancy related back pain without the need for invasive treatments or medication that can affect the baby.

Other options for back pain include staying hydrated, avoiding high heels, support belts, and resting often.

Nausea and Vomiting

Perhaps the most well-known symptom of pregnancy is morning sickness, which can actually occur at any time of the day. This includes both nausea and vomiting; it’s experienced by about 85 percent of pregnant people.

This is usually confined to the first trimester of pregnancy, but some people can experience nausea and vomiting throughout their pregnancy. 

Eating small meals more often is one easy way to manage this common pregnancy symptom. You should also pay attention to what foods trigger your nausea as this can vary wildly from person to person.

Staying hydrated can also reduce your feelings of nausea. Drink water, ginger tea (great for nausea), and things with electrolytes to replenish yourself (especially if you find that you’re vomiting often). Smelling fresh scents can also help reduce nausea.

Distraction is another great tool. Sitting there thinking about how sick you feel will only make you feel sicker. Try reading a book, taking a walk, doing a puzzle, and other mind stimulating activities to take your thoughts away from the queasiness.

Heartburn

Hormonal changes during pregnancy cause your stomach valve to become more relaxed, which can allow the stomach acid to rise up your esophagus and cause heartburn. As the baby grows and pushes on your stomach, this can also force more acid up, resulting in worsening heartburn as your pregnancy progresses.

Avoid heartburn-inducing foods like citrus, tomatoes, chocolate, caffeine, garlic, onion, and other acidic foods. You should also avoid lying down after eating for at least 30 minutes. 

Smaller meals can also reduce your heartburn as well as reducing nausea. There are also medications you can take for some relief, but speak to your doctor or midwife before starting. 

Constipation

Many common pregnancy symptoms are thanks to hormonal changes, and constipation is no exception. As progesterone levels rise during pregnancy, this can cause your intestines to contract less, which means fewer bowel movements and increased constipation. 

Hydration is going to be key for this and other symptoms on this list. Try to drink at least 2 liters of liquid per day. If you’re finding it hard to drink all of that water (especially with the pressure of the baby on your bladder), try eating hydrating foods like watermelon, cucumber, and other fruits.

Fiber is also super helpful for reducing constipation. Increase your intake of fruits and veggies, and talk with your doctor or midwife about taking a fiber supplement and/or a stool softener. 

Fatigue

Pregnancy is hard work! Not only is it more weight to carry around combined with stress, but the hormonal changes you experience also induce fatigue.

The best advice you can take is to allow yourself to be tired! Take naps, rest when you need to, and make sure you’re getting at least 8 hours of sleep at night. Energy levels usually pick up after the first trimester ends, but just allow yourself to rest when you need and sleep as much as possible.

Remember, once the baby is born, you won’t be getting much sleep anyway!

Try These Tips for Common Pregnancy Symptoms

If you don’t experience any or all of these symptoms, don’t worry! You’re just one of the lucky ones.

If you are experiencing these common pregnancy symptoms, hopefully these tips help mitigate some of the discomfort. Just remember that you have a ton of support and there’s a ton of advice and information out there to help you through this amazing time of your life.