Tiredness

Most women feel tired, particularly in the first three months of pregnancy. As your body adjusts to the enormous changes necessary to grow your baby, the tiredness usually subsides (around 12 to14 weeks of pregnancy), and you feel more energetic.

 

Remedies:

• Check to see if your iron levels are ok and discuss with your midwife how to increase them if they’re low

• Good nutrition like eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and wholegrain foods can help support giving your body energy.

• Take naps and/or go to bed earlier if you’re able too

• There’s some evidence magnesium supplementation can help with sleep issues

• Listen to your body and slow down if you’re able

• Regular gentle exercise can make you feel better

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Nausea and vomiting

Nausea and vomiting affect many pregnant women. Despite commonly being referred to as "morning sickness", nausea and vomiting can occur at any time of the day and can last throughout all of pregnancy. While nausea and vomiting aren't normally dangerous, persistent, severe sickness may need treatment as the condition develops into hyperemesis gravidarum. You should be able to keep most fluids down and some small meals as a minimum so please call your midwife if you cannot.

 

Remedies: 

• Small, frequent meals of simple foods such as crackers, almonds, wholegrain toast, plain rice etc. 
Often hunger makes the feeling worse.

• Eating something small before getting out of bed if you feel unwell upon waking. 



• Keep hydrated by sipping on water throughout the day. If water isn’t appealing, try healthy alternatives like coconut water to maintain hydration.


• Try motion sickness bands, homeopathic remedies such as nux vomica or anti nausea sweets like gin-gins all bought from the pharmacy.

• Alternative practices like accupuncture may help.

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Constipation 

In pregnancy, there is an increase in the progesterone hormone which relaxes smooth muscles throughout your body. Your digestive system is made up of smooth muscle and therefore can become less active in pregnancy. Constipation occurs when you struggle to empty your bowels or have infrequent bowel movements. Iron tablets are also a common supplement in pregnancy that further increases your chances of constipation. 

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Remedies: 

• Regular exercise. 


• Plenty of fruits and vegetables and limit processed foods.

• Increase in fibre rich foods such as kidney beans, pears, green kiwifruit, avocado, oats, lentils.

• Add fermented foods to your diet such as kombucha, kefir or saurkraut.

• Increase in fluid intake (aim for 2-3 litres per day). Adding fresh lemon juice and having your water warm or room temperatur can help.

• Drinking 1 glass of green kiwifruit juice a day

• Psyllium husk capusles are a natural and easy way to aid constipation and can be bought online. Take 2 capsules with a large glass of water or juice, preferrably first thing in the morning on an empty stomach or last thing before bed.

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Heartburn/Reflux 


In pregnancy, there is an increase in the progesterone hormone which relaxes smooth muscles throughout your body. Smooth muscle helps to keep food in your stomach, due to the relaxation of this muscle the acid in your stomach is able to come back up your oesophagus (the pipe connecting your throat and stomach). The acid can cause an unpleasant burning sensation. As your pregnancy continues, your baby will displace your stomach, possibly causing or worsening the heartburn. 


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Remedies: 


• Eat small meals regularly instead of 3 large meals. 


• Limit greasy/fatty/fried foods as they take longer to digest. 

• Limit spicy food. 


• Wear loose fitting clothes around the waist. 


• Remain upright for at least 1 hour after meals. 


• Try having some milk or yogurt after meals

• If needed, over the counter reflux medications are generally safe to take or can be prescribed if needed.

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Haemorrhoids 

Haemorrhoids are varicose veins of the rectum that can cause significant pain. 

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Remedies: ​

• Plenty of fruit (particularly 'P' fruits: plums, peachs, pears etc.) and fluids will minimise constipation and haemorrhoids along with it.

• Discuss this with your midwife as they may be able to prescribe cream or stool softeners if needed.