Sleep disorders during pregnancy
Later in pregnancy it can be difficult to find a comfortable resting position. And your bloated stomach and bathroom breaks aren’t the only things keeping you awake. From back pain to heartburn to anxiety, a variety of concerns can interfere with sleep. Hormones can also disrupt your sleep patterns, leaving you feeling exhausted during the day and wide awake at night. While you may not be sleeping well, this is when you need sleep the most. Your body needs to rest so it can nourish and house your growing baby.
recommendations
a. Don’t take sleeping pills.
b. Try drinking warm milk before bed.
c. Take a warm shower or bath before bed.
i.e. Use extra pillows for support while sleeping. Lying on your side, place a pillow under your stomach, behind your back, and between your knees to prevent muscle strain and help you get the rest you need.
e. Use blocks to raise the head of the bed a few inches. This can make breathing easier and help prevent a backflow of stomach acid from reflux.
f. You will probably feel better lying on your left side; this improves blood circulation throughout the body.
G. Sleep with your knees bent to take pressure off your back.
H. Get some exercise every day, try going for a 30-minute walk or a pregnancy exercise class. If you stay active, you can sleep better. Just do it early in the day. Exercising within 4 hours of bedtime can be energizing enough to keep you awake.
I. Relax before bed. Try a pregnancy yoga video or some breathing exercises.
j. Stretch: Do a few leg stretches to keep your legs from cramping at night. Limit drinks. Stop drinking within 2 or 3 hours before bedtime so you don’t have to get up in the middle of the night and go to the bathroom.
k. Avoid late meals and avoid spicy, greasy, or acidic foods just before bedtime.
l. Pee before sleep. Make one last trip to the bathroom before turning off the light.
m. Turn down the thermostat. You’ll feel warmer now because extra blood is rushing to your skin. Keeping your bedroom cool makes you feel more comfortable and you don’t have to take off the covers in the middle of the night.
Pregnancy heartburn or indigestion
Heartburn is a burning sensation that begins in the stomach and seems to rise to the throat. During pregnancy, changing hormone levels slow down your digestive system, weaken your stomach’s sphincter, and your uterus can clog your stomach and push up stomach acid.
recommendations
a. Eat several small meals each day instead of three large meals.
b. Eat slowly.
c. Drink warm liquids.
i.e. Avoid fried, spicy foods, or foods that appear to give you indigestion.
e. Don’t lie down immediately after eating.
f. Keep the head of your bed higher than the foot of your bed or place pillows under your shoulders to prevent stomach acid from rising up your throat.
G. Don’t mix fatty foods with sweets in a meal and try to separate liquids and solids at meals.
H. Try heartburn remedies.
pregnancy hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins that appear as painful lumps on the anus. During pregnancy, they can form as a result of increased blood flow and pressure on the rectum and vagina from your growing baby.
recommendations
a. Try to avoid constipation. Constipation can cause hemorrhoids and make them more painful.
b. Avoid sitting or standing for long periods; change your position frequently.
c. Do not strain when having a bowel movement.
i.e. Apply ice packs or cold compresses to the area, or take a warm bath a few times a day to provide relief.
e. Avoid tight-fitting underwear, pants, or tights.
f. If you still need further help, contact your doctor.
pregnancy varicose veins
Pregnancy hormones can cause the walls of your veins to weaken and swell. Pressure on the veins behind your uterus also slows blood flow to your heart, causing the smaller veins in your pelvis and legs to swell. You’re most likely going to get those bluish, swollen veins in your legs. But late in pregnancy, they can appear in your vulva, the area outside your vagina. Varicose veins are likely to get better after your baby is born, when the pressure on your veins eases.
recommendations
Although varicose veins usually run in families, try these home remedies given below to help.
a. Avoid standing or sitting in one place for long periods of time. It is important to get up and move often.
b. Avoid staying in a position that could affect circulation in your legs (e.g., crossing your legs while sitting).
c. Elevate your legs and feet while seated.
i.e. Do sports regularly.
e. Wear support tube.
f. Avoid socks or knee socks that are too tight or constricting.
G. Sleep or rest on your left side to relieve pressure on the vein that carries blood from your feet to your heart. It’s on your right.
H. Contact your doctor if the veins feel hard, warm, or painful, or if the skin over them looks red.
Leg cramps during pregnancy
The pressure of your growing uterus can cause leg cramps or shooting pains in your legs.
recommendations
a. Be sure to eat and drink calcium-rich foods (like milk, broccoli, or cheese).
b. Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes.
c. Try to wear support tights, but avoid overly tight leg wear.
i.e. Elevate your legs if possible; Avoid crossing your legs.
e. Train daily.
f. Stretch out your legs before going to bed.
G. Avoid lying on your back as the weight of your body and the pressure of your enlarged uterus can slow blood flow in your legs and cause cramps.
H. Gently stretch any muscle that’s tight by straightening your leg, flexing your foot, and drawing your toes toward you.
I. Massage the spasm or apply heat or a hot water bottle to the sore area.
Pregnancy Stuffy Nose
You may have a stuffy nose or feel cold. Pregnancy hormones sometimes dry out the lining of the nose, causing it to become inflamed and swollen. recommendations
a. Apply a warm, damp washcloth to your cheeks, eyes, and nose to reduce congestion.
b. Avoid using nasal sprays unless your doctor has prescribed them for you, as they can make your symptoms worse.
c. Drink plenty of fluids (at least 6-8 glasses of fluids a day) to thin the mucus.
i.e. Elevate your head with an extra pillow while you sleep to prevent mucus from clogging your throat.
e. Use a humidifier or vaporizer to add
shortness of breath during pregnancy
Shortness of breath can occur due to increased upward pressure from the uterus and changes in physiological lung function.
recommendations
a. Slow down as you walk and rest for a few moments.
b. Raise your arms above your head (this will raise your chest and allow you to inhale more air).
c. Avoid lying flat on your back and try to sleep with your head elevated.
i.e. If the shortness of breath lasts longer or you experience severe pain when you breathe in, contact your doctor. You could have a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs).
Vaginal discharge during pregnancy
Normal vaginal secretions increase during pregnancy due to greater blood supply and hormones. Normal vaginal discharge is clear, non-irritating, odorless, and may appear yellow on your underwear or panty liner after drying.
recommendations
a. Choose underwear made from cotton or brands made from natural fibers.
b. Avoid tight-fitting jeans or pants.
c. Don’t shower: Showering can introduce air into your circulatory system or damage your water pouch in a later pregnancy and cause vaginal infections and sexually transmitted infections.
i.e. Clean the vaginal area frequently with soap and water. Wipe it front to back.
e. Contact your doctor if you have burning, itching, irritation or swelling, a bad odor, bloody discharge, or light yellow or green discharge (these symptoms may be a sign of an infection).
pregnancy back pain
Back pain is usually caused by strain on the back muscles, altered hormone levels, and changes in posture.
recommendations
a. Wear low (but not flat) shoes.
b. Avoid lifting heavy objects.
c. Squat down with your knees bent when picking things up instead of bending at the waist.
i.e. Don’t stand on your feet for long. If you have to stand for a long time, put one foot on a stool or box for support.
e. Sit in a chair with good back support or place a small pillow behind your lower back. Also, place your feet on a footrest or stool.
f. Check if your bed is firm. If necessary, place a board between the mattress and the box spring.
G. Sleep on your left side with a pillow between your legs for support.
H. Place a hot water bottle or heating pad on your back on low, take a warm bath or shower, or try a massage.
I. Perform the exercises recommended by your doctor to strengthen your back muscles and reduce pain.
j. Maintain good posture. Standing up straight takes the strain off your back.
k. See your doctor if you experience back pain that radiates around your abdomen and doesn’t go away within an hour of changing positions or resting. This could be a sign of preterm labor.
abdominal pain or discomfort
Sharp, stabbing pains on either side of your abdomen can be caused by the stretching tissue that supports your growing uterus. This pain can also travel down your thigh and into your leg.
recommendations
a. Change your position or activity until you are comfortable; Avoid sharp turns or movements
b. If you experience sudden abdominal pain, bend forward to the point of pain to release tension and relax the tissue.
c. Place a hot water bottle or heating pad on your back, or take a warm bath or shower.
i.e. Try a massage.
e. Make sure you drink enough fluids.
f. Take acetaminophen/acetaminophen occasionally.
G. Contact your doctor if the pain is severe or persistent, or if you are less than 36 weeks pregnant and have signs of labor (signs of labor include “repeated spasms like labor”).
Braxton Hicks contractions
The muscles of the uterus contract (tighten) as early as the second trimester of pregnancy. Irregular, infrequent contractions are called Braxton Hicks contractions (also known as “false contractions”). These are normal during pregnancy.
recommendations
a. Try to relax
b. change jobs. Sometimes this can ease labor.
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