Common Pregnancy Concerns

Hemorrhoids during pregnancy can be caused by increasing uterine pressure, venous dilatation, constipation, and heavy lifting. Therefore, there are a few suggestions we recommend to avoid them below.

Recommendations:

• Avoid constipation (See Constipation recommendations)
• Avoid heavy lifting during pregnancy
• You can use Tucks pads, ice packs (no heat), and Anusol/ Preparation-H
• Call Laurel OB/GYN (828.253.5381) if they are blue in color and painful

Nosebleeds are often caused by dry nasal passages and worsened by vascular changes in pregnancy.

Recommendations:

• Pregnant women can use saline nose spray 3-4 times daily
• Use a humidifier if you’re experiencing dry nasal canals
• Zycam nasal spray gel is okay to use
• Apply vaseline jelly to the lower nasal septum

Pregnant women are susceptible to leg cramps when they are dehydrated and not getting enough liquids. 

Recommendations:

• Increase your water intake
• Drink liquids with electrolytes like Gatorade, Pedialyte or coconut water
• Stretch (especially before going to bed)
• Exercise regularly and stretch
• Increase calcium to recommended daily dose with diet or Tums
• Increase Potassium in your diet with bananas or figs can be used

Backaches are caused by increased weight, postural changes, and pressure from a growing pregnancy.

Recommendations:

• Avoid lifting and high heels while pregnant
• Maintain good posture
• Physical therapy and chiropractors can help
• Exercise and stretch regularly; use back exercises
• Sleeping with a pillow between the knees, such that the upper hip and knee are on the same level can help
• Use a maternity belt- available at Motherhood, BuyBuyBaby, and Amazon
• Can use heating pad, Tylenol, or ice packs to lower back

Varicose veins (spider veins) can be caused by increased pressure from pregnancy and increased venous dilatation.

Recommendations:

• Avoid tight clothes
• Avoid squatting or standing at length
• Wear support hose- full length is better than knee or thigh high. These are available at Motherhood, Amazon, or local drug store
• Wear a maternity belt – available at Motherhood, Amazon or BuyBuyBaby
• Elevate your feet above the level of the heart when resting
• Call Laurel OB/GYN if you experience redness after warmth, palpable clot, chest pain, or shortness of breath occurs

Swelling is most common in late pregnancy. Women who are on their feet for long periods of time or in hot weather may experience swelling more.

Recommendations:

• Increase your intake of water and electrolytes
• Avoid salty foods
• Elevate feet above the level of the heart when resting
• Exercise
• Avoid squatting, sitting, or standing at length
• Wear support hose- Full length is better than knee or thigh high and are available at Motherhood, Amazon, or your local drug store
• Wear a maternity belt – available at Motherhood, BuyBuyBaby, or Amazon
• Call Laurel OB/GYN if you’re experiencing redness after warmth, a palpable clot, chest pain, shortness of breath, or other swelling concerns during pregnancy

Constipation during pregnancy can be caused by the hormonal changes of pregnancy.

Recommendations:

• Increase water. You need 64-96 ounces daily.
• Increase fiber in your diet (try a cereal each morning with > 3 gm fiber)
• Exercise regularly and stretch
• Fiber therapy- Metamucil, Fibercon, or Citrucel
• Colace and Milk of Magnesia can be used

Caused by a growing pregnancy pushing on the bladder. This may be worse in the 1st and 3rd trimester.

Recommendation: Call if it is accompanied by burning, pain, blood, or fever

Nausea and vomiting are associated with common pregnancy concerns throughout the first trimester.  However, nausea can last longer in some pregnancies. Your baby will be fine, even if you cannot eat very much during this time. The goal is to prevent dehydration.

Recommendations:

• Eat 5-6 small meals a day, increasing protein
• Avoid spicy or greasy foods and anything that is hard to digest
• Separate solids from liquids
• Eat crackers one half hour before getting out of bed
• You can try teas… raspberry, ginger, etc and ginger root capsules
• Emetrol, Dramamine, and Meclizine are safe to use
• Increase fluid intake including drinks high in electrolytes like coconut water and Gatorade
• Acupuncture, meditation, stretching and massage therapy can be used
• Call if you cannot tolerate anything by mouth, be sure to keep regularly scheduled appointments with your obstetrician so your doctor can discern if weight loss is dangerous or dehydration is occurring.

Heartburn and indigestion can be caused by hormonal and physical changes during pregnancy that slow down the digestive track. Therefore, we recommend the following steps.

Recommendations:

• Avoid spicy, greasy foods and foods with fat or are hard to digest
• Chew food slowly and don’t overeat
• Eat small, frequent meals
• Don’t lie down after eating; elevate the head of your bed
• Can use Maalox, Mylanta, Mylicon, Tums, Pepcid AC, or Prilosec

Diarrhea during pregnancy can be caused by stomach viruses, however, it’s very important to avoid dehydration. Below are some tips on easing symptoms:

Recommendations:

• Increase fluids to avoid dehydration
• BRAT diet – bananas, rice, apple sauce, toast
• Pregnant women can use Imodium AD
• Call if diarrhea persists after 2 doses of Imodium

During your pregnancy, usually, you may continue the same exercise program you had prior to becoming pregnant. However, it is always best to consult with your doctor about any exercise you plan to do during pregnancy

Recommendations:

• Decrease exercise as needed for comfort in pregnancy
• Don’t try to train for a new level of exercising
• Make sure you can still talk through your exercise (if you are too winded to talk, you should probably stop.)
• Try not to lift more than 25 pounds
• Don’t exercise while lying on your back
• Try to avoid exercises that test your balance (skiing, tennis, horseback riding)
• The goal is to avoid dehydration or falling during exercise

Yeast infections can be very common in pregnancy, however, if symptoms become concerning you can always contact your provider. Symptoms include white clumpy vaginal discharge, itching, and burning.

Recommendations:

• Can use Monistat/Femstat 3 or 7 day treatments (although applicators may be contraindicated if you are at risk for preterm labor or if you have certain placental condition so please call our office if you have any concerns prior to use).
• Wear loose fitting clothes and cotton undergarments
• Dry off completely after bathing; may use a hair dryer to decrease moisture
• Change out of moist clothes quickly after exercise, swimming, etc.
• Call if discharge is yellow, green, or has a foul odor, or continues despite treatment.

Consensual intercourse and sex is okay anytime during pregnancy, unless your physician has recommended otherwise.

Other Considerations:

• Vaginal tissue can be more dry during pregnancy so lubrication may be used to increase comfort during intercourse
• It is common to spot and/or contract for up to 3 days after intercourse. Call the Laurel OB/GYN office if bleeding requires more than a pantyliner or if it lasts beyond 3 days. Always call us if you have contractions that do not release.

You can have your teeth cleaned, have fillings, teeth pulled, and x-rays if they shield your abdomen. They can use local numbing medicine and certain antibiotics. However, make sure you tell your dentist you are pregnant and let us know if he or she would like a note from us. Pregnancy causes hormonal changes that can put you at increased risk for periodontal disease and for tender gums that bleed easily. This is a condition called pregnancy gingivitis. Because of this, it is best for your health if you maintain good dental hygiene during pregnancy.

Insomnia is very common in late pregnancy, however, there are some ways to ease this symptom. 

Recommendations:

• Exercise regularly, stay active in the day
• Try relaxation techniques… for instance, warm bath before bed, decrease stimulus in bedroom (for example, no TV), meditation, stretching before bedtime
• Can use Benadryl, Tylenol PM

Diet can have a large impact on the health of your pregnancy. Therefore, the American College of OB/GYN makes the following suggestions:

Recommendations:

• Add 100-300 cal/day to your diet. 300 calories is equivalent to a small snack. For example, ½ peanut butter and jelly sandwich and 1 glass low fat milk)
• Daily amount of Grains – 6 ounces
• Vegetables – 2 ½ cups
• Fruit – 1 ½ – 2 cups
• Meat/Beans – 5 – 5 ½ ounces
• Normal weight gain for underweight person – 28-40 pounds
• Normal weight person – 28-35 pounds
• Overweight person – 15-25 pounds
• Obese person – 15 pounds
• With twins – 35-45 pounds
• Avoid unpasteurized cheese/milk, raw/undercooked meat or fish. Avoid deli meat unless it has been re-heated until steaming.
• Avoid the following fish: shark, king mackerel or tile fish. If eating tuna, eat canned albacore light tuna. Limit fish to 2 meals per week.