In the course of being pregnant, I have had terrible morning sickness (only for the first three months though-lucky me!). I went through a phase where I could not stomach the thought of consuming any kind of dairy product (VERY strange for me as I could normally have cheese for breakfast lunch and dinner and be completely satisfied).I was then struck with a terrible, wheezing cough for about 6 days that only allowed me an average of about three hours of sleep a night (sometimes two). I called my primary health physician a couple times over these six days and was told that the cough was just something that was “going around”. She gave me a list of acceptable medications I could take and told me that no amount of coughing could hurt the baby but that I should definitely come in if I began to feel any significant amount of pain, or if I began vomiting, contracting or spotting. Throughout all of this and seemingly continuing with no end in sight, I have been suffering from the occasional 3 day migraine headache, terribly painful bouts of nightly heartburn and the sensation that I am going to pull my back out every time I get out of bed or get up off the couch too quickly.
Now, I know that I have had an easier pregnancy than some, but with my low threshold for pain tolerance and with this being my first pregnancy, I have sometimes felt overwhelmed and lost as I figure out what medications are safe for the baby, what I can and cannot eat, what I should and should not be eating and what it all means for myself and the baby. Luckily, I am an information junkie and I am relentless in my pursuit of that information, esp. when it pertains to something close to my heart (i.e. the health of myself and my baby). Although getting my hands on the information I need has been a sometimes difficult and tiresome process and has entailed me pulling together a wealth of information from Internet searches, doctors visits and incessant reading, I am eager to share what I have learned and to pool that information in the hopes that it will possibly put someone else’s mind at ease or make their foray into the unknown a bit less confusing and a bit more comforting. Please note that the below recommendations have all been verified by my doctor. I am sure not all of these remedies will work for everyone but they are what worked for me and what I was assured are safe for both mom and baby!
Morning (or all day) Sickness
I know that there are a variety of blogs and discussion groups out there, all recommending a wide range for tips and remedies for morning sickness. I can only speak for what worked for me. It seemed that anything sour or anything with an overpowering flavor seemed to settle my stomach. Chewing any type of mint gum worked quite well as did drinking water with lemon juice in it. Popsicles also worked at holding off any stomach upset but gum and lemon water seemed to work best. I also found that anything carbonated seemed to do the trick but that sometimes the syrup in sodas would make me feel equally as sick. To get around this, I began mixing ¾ of a glass of club soda with a splash or two of fruit juice which proved to be refreshing, non-nausea inducing and helped me get the necessary amount of water I needed each day. Another trick that worked for me was taking my prenatal vitamin at night, right before bed. I found that if I took it in the morning, it increased my feelings of nausea throughout the day.
Exercise
Having to cut back on my regular exercise regimen of 30 minutes of high intensity aerobic kickboxing followed by 30 minutes of weight training 5 times a week has been difficult. I felt that modifications to my normal routine were not sufficient and I found myself feeling sluggish and overly tired. I have tried different programs (including prenatal yoga and swimming) but I have found what really has given me the best results and left me feeling my best has been water aerobics. I found an ongoing, three days a week water aerobics program in my neighborhood where the instructor presents challenging exercises while encouraging me to only do what I can do and to stop if I feel any pain or over exertion. In this program we use Styrofoam weights that are the equivalent of 8 lb weights when used with the resistance of the water. This class has been esp. enjoyable during these summer months and I feel that I am getting a similar workout to what I am used to only at a lower level of impact.
Headaches
I found that the best remedy for headaches was getting enough sleep. My headaches subsided once I began taking an hour nap every afternoon, getting to bed at a set time of
Heartburn
This has been a difficult one for me as almost everything I consume seems to give me heartburn. However, the following should help and are considered safe by doctors as long as they are taken in moderation:
Tums- As long as you are not taking more than 4 a day, Tums can help to reduce heartburn and can be used to assist you in get any additional calcium you may be lacking If you are not getting the daily recommended allowances through other sources.
Milk- now that I am able to stomach some dairy products, milk can help to coat the stomach lining and reduce heartburn.
Cutting out greasy, spicy and overly processed foods- I have found that foods that are natural or organic and not filled with too much junk content has really helped to reduce heartburn. The more natural the food, the easier it is for your body to process.
Not lying down right after eating- This can be helpful at bedtime too. If I am suffering from heartburn at bedtime, I take one Tums tablet and prop some pillows behind my head and then fall asleep in a half sitting position. Not the most natural sleeping position but better than sleeplessness inducing heartburn!
Water- Drinking a glass of ice cold water has worked well for me when I have mild heartburn. However, I have heard that for some, this increases heartburn. So, once again, every person is different and what works for some, might not work for others.
Cough or Cold Symptoms
Regular Robitussin- This was recommended by my doctor and worked well for holding off my coughing at night so that I could sleep.
Benadryl- Also worked well for reducing coughing as well as runny nose and helped me sleep better at night.\
Vitamin C- While I was sick, I took a daily vitamin C supplement on top of drinking a half glass of orange juice mixed with a half glass of club soda two to three times a day.
Cough Drops- Helped me breathe easier, reduced coughing and stuffy nose
Vicks Vapo Rub-Applied to the chest, throat and under the nose, this helped to reduce coughing, ease congestion and relax sore throat muscles.
The above are all the remedies I can think of at the moment that have gotten me through the magical, somewhat debilitating, never dull adventures of pregnancy thus far. Hope these ideas help. And, of course, if you are pregnant and have ANY questions about symptoms, are noticing anything out of the ordinary or are considering a new treatment for any symptoms your first call should always be to your medical advice nurse or your primary health care physician as they will be able to help you identify options that are safest and will work best for both you and your baby!
A happy mom makes for a happy baby!
-New Mommy in Town
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