Caused by increasing uterine pressure, venous dilatation, constipation, and heavy lifting

Recommendations:

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

Caused by dry nasal passages and worsened by vascular changes in pregnancy

Recommendations:

• Saline nose spray 3-4 times daily
• Use a humidifier
• Vaseline jelly to lower nasal septum

Very common in pregnancy. 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.

May increase with dehydration.

Recommendations:

• Increase water
• Stretch (especially before going to bed)
• Exercise regularly
• Increase calcium to recommended daily dose with diet or Tums
• Increase Potassium in your diet with bananas or figs

Common in late pregnancy

Recommendations:

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

Caused by increased weight, postural changes, and pressure from a growing pregnancy.

Recommendations:

• Avoid lifting and high heels
• Maintain good posture
• Exercise and stretch regularly; use back exercises
• Use a maternity belt- available at Motherhood and BabiesRUs
• Can use heating pad, Tylenol, or ice packs to lower back

Caused by increased pressure from pregnancy and increased venous dilatation.

Recommendations:

• Avoid tight clothes
• Avoid squatting, sitting, or standing at length
• Wear support hose- available at Motherhood (full length hose are better than knee or thigh high)
• Wear Maternity belt – available at Motherhood or BabieRUs
• Elevate feet above the level of the heart when resting
• Call if warmth, palpable clot, chest pain, shortness of breath

Most common in late pregnancy and in hot weather and in women who are on their feet throughout the day.

Recommendations:

• Increase water
• Avoid salty foods
• Elevate feet above the level of the heart when resting
• Exercise
• Avoid squatting, sitting, or standing at length
• Wear support hose- available at Motherhood (full length hose are better than knee or thigh high)
• Wear Maternity belt – available at Motherhood or BabieRUs
• Call if warmth, palpable clot, chest pain, shortness of breath, concerns