Yes, pregnancy is beautiful.... and I really did feel beautiful being pregnant. You don't realize how amazing your body is until you actually have a life growing inside you and nurturing from you. I loved the idea of being pregnant, growing a human inside of my body, feeling my baby grow, kick, stretch, turn, jump when startled, hiccup. But as much as I loved pregnancy, there were days when I downright hated it! The only thing that made it worth it was that I was creating a life, a child, a person, possibly even a future world leader or famous artist... My son. It was miraculous and sometimes unbelievable... speaking of unbelievable... those books, yes all of them! Don't believe them! They tend to generalize and downplay it all, some even had clear misinformation.. (Except my favorites: Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth About Pregnancy and Childbirth by Jenny McCarthy, Birthing From Within by Pam England and You: Having A Baby by Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen - get the audio set and listen to it in the car.)
The Pregnancy Books
When I discovered that I was pregnant, Google and I began having an affair... it was so intense I'd wake up in the middle of the night with search queries, reach over for my BlackBerry and indulge. I began getting regular shipments from Amazon and eBay (Buy used books ladies!) I read all of the pregnancy books on the recommended lists and thought that I knew exactly what to expect... I vicariously lived many of my friends pregnancies also, so here I thought I'd be alright. I'm one of those people who likes to be prepared for everything, so I researched the subject thoroughly. What I learned from my own experiences as well as from my friends was that most pregnancy books do little to convey the truth about pregnancy symptoms. Here are some things to keep in mind when reading those pregnancy books:
- Most symptoms will happen whenever they feel like popping up even if the books tell you that they happen at certain stages or at certain times of the day. The cause of the symptom varies with different stages, but the symptom itself can occur at any time. Ahem, morning sickness? How about the-entire-freakin-day sickness! :) Luckily, that was really only the first trimester for me.
- The books speak about pregnancy symptoms casually to ease your fears, but in reality the books' comments on symptoms are terribly understated, and most people I know who have had babies have horror stories to prove this. Sorry, it's true.
- Some women actually get worried if they don't have some of the common symptoms listed in their pregnancy book. Remember, not all symptoms happen to all women. Some women don't have any symptoms at all (and they annoy the rest of us); just be grateful if you are one of these women.
- No two women experience these symptoms in exactly the same way. Some have a symptoms so mildly that it barely exists at all while others need to be hospitalized. Most pregnancy books try to go somewhere down the middle, and I try to give you some of some of the worst case scenarios here just so you won't be in for a shock.
Book vs. Reality - What some of the symptoms feel like?
The book says: "You may feel a bit moody."
Translation:
You may cry when you see sentimental commercials, happy or sad moments in a Saturday morning cartoon, children, parents, families, beautiful scenery, ugly scenery, beautiful people, ugly people, your reflection, your partner, clothes you can no longer wear, clothes you could never wear, a cemetery, a hospital, a dead animal on the side of the road, any food product that may have once been alive (yes that includes vegetables ), and just about anything else that crosses your path. You may also become depressed by thoughts of life and death, feel guilty about everything from putting your mother through pregnancy to not being the sex goddess you would like to be for your partner, develop phobias, or feel paranoid for no reason whatsoever. You may also experience anger in a way that you've never experienced it before a la The Excorcist! Your husband who has been so sweet to you and whom you have never fought with will suddenly become the most despised thing on earth just because he didn't say "Hello" in a way that pleased you, and you may scream at him or even feel like hitting him for it. (Sorry baby... I must publicly give you credit. You were amazing during my pregnancy!)
Remedy:
Remind yourself that it's probably just hormones. Get a journal and write everything down; it will help you vent and will give you a good laugh after you have the baby. I wish I would've have done this. I must thank my friends for hearing me out! Just try to not take things out on your loved ones (or even complete strangers), and don't use it as an excuse to act bitchy... but you will be a bitch at times. A pregnant one. So lucky for you, people will actually tolerate you... for the most part.
The book says: "You may feel fatigued."
Translation:
You will be so tired that you sleep thirteen hours a night, sleep on the way to work (and I hope you're not driving), fall asleep at your desk, come home and take a nap, and then go to bed again. I actually fell asleep while sitting on the toilet. I woke up on the bathroom floor about fifteen minutes later still feeling exhausted and wondering WTH?.
Remedy:
They say that exercise helps, but I was far too tired to exercise. I walked here and there and really tried to muster the energy but to no avail. Extra sleep seemed to make a difference sometimes, but for the most part you just have to wait until it passes. I say sleep as much as you possibly can, when you can. Listen to your body.
The book says: "You may feel nauseated."
Translation:
You may feel the urge to vomit every time you see a food commercial, see food in reality, think about food, smell food, or get hungry. You may also feel this urge when you brush your teeth, which develops into an unusual ritual: brush teeth, throw up, brush teeth, throw up again, brush teeth again, have dry heaves, rinse with mouthwash, have dry heaves again, rinse with water, gag, and lay down on the bed until you don't feel like throwing up anymore. You may become nauseated by the smell of flowers, perfumes, deodorant, certain people, some detergents, pet food, smoke, gas stations, or anything else that may cross your nose. For me, the thought of meat just made me gag for the better part of my pregnancy. I had to run out of the grocery store once to vomit.You may become nauseated by movements, including movement in cars, planes, or trains, walking, and sex, or even imagined movement from dizziness or watching other things move around.
Remedy:
If you know something makes you sick, avoid it. Ignore all those books with lists of what things will cause nausea because it's different for everyone. Same goes for remedies like ginger tea, Preggie Pops, saltines, etc although eating something always helped me. You may actually crave everything on the "to avoid" list. The most important thing is to never let yourself have an empty stomach because that will make it worse. Nibble throughout the day instead of eating big meals. Sometimes I was so tired I didn't even want to go get lunch at work... needless to say, I ordered a lot of take out. Keep snack with you - I loved Belly Bars.
The book says: "You may experience heartburn."
Translation:
Even after your nausea goes away, you may continue to burp frequently and have the privilege of tasting the last ten things you ate over and over and over again all at the same time. Funny enough, I bought Tums and my pregnancy test together - it was almost immediate for me.
Remedy:
If you get it while you sleep, sleep on your right side (anatomically it does make a difference). Pay attention to foods that may make it worse and avoid them. Although Tums are OK per doctors, I would take a more natural reliever - papaya enzyme, it really helped and I'd take it right after meals as soon as I felt the heartburn creep up.
The book says: "You may experience food cravings."
Translation:
You may wake up at 3:00 am with the urge to have a jelly sandwich with marshmallows and pretzels. You may also have cravings for normal foods, but you will crave them with such desire that you will do anything to get them, including driving for several hours, spending hours on the Internet to find the recipe so you can make it from scratch, and making sure that you buy these favorite foods by the case when you go shopping, so you never run out. My favorites were: Oreo cookies and milk, lentil soup, anything with spinach, fruit smoothies, french fries, strawberries, pineapple, seltzer water and sushi (I stayed away from raw sushi or high mercury fish). Some women even crave things like dirt - I just don't get that but it happens.
Remedy:
Just don't eat anything dangerous to you or your baby and try to get some healthy foods in their too. You have a craving, give in.
The book says: "You may have breast tenderness."
Translation:
You may never want your partner to touch your breasts again, and if he tries, you'll hit him again and again until he gets the message. They will hurt if you wear a bra. They will hurt if you go braless. They will make you want to rip them off. You can't sleep on your stomach because of them, and sometimes you will go nuts wearing a seatbelt (but you have to do that anyhow). This was my first symptom and of course I thought, I was getting my period... not!
Remedy:
Wear a supportive yet stretchy bra (sports bras are best) or wear camis with a built in bra and just wait it out. Sorry.
The book says: "Your breasts may become larger and your areolas may darken."
Translation:
"Whose boobs are these, and how did they get on my chest?" Your bras may eventually become far too tight to wear, so you'll have to buy some new ones. Might as well buy maternity bras. Some shirts may also become too tight to wear. You may even develop back pain from the weight of your breasts. Your husband will like to touch your boobs because of their new "super fun size," but they'll probably still be sore, so you'll have to resort to hitting him again until he remembers that they hurt. For some women, their nipples get huge!
Remedy:
Live with it. Sorry. Again.
The book says: "You may experience frequent urination."
Translation:
I'm sorry, frequent is an understatement. How about you'll be peeing always... and it's the "I can't hold it, pull over right now I gotta pee" type of pee.
Remedy:
Birth. Whatever you do, don't cut back on your intake of fluids to reduce the amount you pee. You'll just get dehydrated and put your baby at risk. This will also help with water retention. There's no better time to get into the habit of drinking water, you'll need it later on when you're breast feeding.
The book says: "You may leak a small amount of urine."
Translation:
You may suddenly be shocked when you sneeze, laugh or cough and discover that you have to change your pants because you just peed in them.
Remedy:
It's time to get the sanitary pads and panty liners back out . . . and you thought you wouldn't need them for nine months.
The book says: "You may experience dry, itchy skin."
Translation:
You may beg your partner to scratch your back for hours on end while you attempt to slather yourself with a gallon of lotion several times per day.
Remedy:
Drink lots of fluids and use lotion immediately after you get out of the bath/shower (don't dry off first). Use cocoa butter, vitamin E, etc... but sorry, you'll still get stretch marks if you're meant to, this may help a bit thought.
The book says: "You may develop the pregnancy mask."
Translation:
Your face may develop dark patches that make you can't cover up with your foundation as well as you had hoped, and it makes you feel incredibly self-conscious This isn't too common but it happens.
Remedy:
It might go away after birth, but some people have it forever. If you have it for a few years after the birth of your child, you could consider seeing a dermatologist.
The book says: "You may develop acne."
Translation:
You may break out in the similar way that you broke out during those emotionally scarring teenage breakouts just before the big dance. I had clear skin and that quickly changed when I got pregnant.
Remedy:
Keep your face clean. Don't touch your face unless necessary. It will get better after your hormones get back to normal.
The book says: "You may develop the linea nigra."
Translation:
You may develop a dark line that goes from your navel to your pubic area. Nobody knows why it happens, but since your stomach is covered up most of the time anyhow, it probably won't be too much of a bother unless your partner makes an issue of it. I had a very light one almost unnoticeable, the color varies from skin to skin.
Remedy:
It will eventually go away after your baby is born.
The book says: "You may notice an increase in hair growth."
Translation:
Women aren't supposed to have hairy chests and stomachs, are they? The hair on top of your head gets longer, but you suddenly discover hair all over your body getting longer, especially in places where you don't want it to grow. I had hair coming out of the bottom of my chin, gross.
Remedy:
Just wait until after your baby is born when all of your hair starts to fall out. In the mean time get out that facial wax and rip off that mustache.
The book says: "You may develop stretch marks."
Translation:
You may discover what it feels like to look like a zebra. You can get these usually purplish marks on any place that gets bigger, such as your boobs, stomach, thighs, hips, butt, etc. The ones below your waste are the scariest because you can't see around your big belly to look at them. It's only after you have the baby that you scream out, "Dear God, what is that? Get it off! Get it off!" I got some on the way down, meaning I had none... baby was born and as my skin shrank back they became noticeable. I thought I was saved, luckily they weren't that bad but I think it has to do with not gaining to much weight too fast and your genes.. .
Remedy:
They'll probably be there for life, but they will lighten up over time. You can try all those creams (cocoa butter, vitamin E, etc.), but I know very few people who claim that it actually works. I saw a dermatologist after the baby was born and she recommended Mederma Stretch Mark Therapy.
The book says: "You may notice that your nails grow longer."
Translation:
This is one of the nice symptoms. Even though the rest of you seems to be falling apart, at least you can have nice nails.
Remedy:
Who would want one? If you don't like it, cut them. Get yourself a manicure/pedicure every week because you deserve to feel girly.
The book says: "You may experience an increase in saliva."
Translation:
You may discover that you are constantly swallowing, spit when you talk, and drool in your sleep.
Remedy:
Sometimes it will go away before the baby is born. Sometimes you'll have to wait until the little one arrives. The good news is that lots of saliva is actually good for reducing cavities.
The book says: "You may experience an increase in vaginal discharge."
Translation:
Get out the sanitary pads and panty liners again. Vaginal secretions increase, which can be good for sex (don't stop having sex) and keeping germs from invading your reproductive system, which helps protect the baby, but it's a nightmare on your underwear, which you may have to change several times per day. Sometimes it can have an odor that isn't always pleasant (this is due to an unbalance in pH even if you're clean) but if it smells really bad, be sure to tell your doctor or midwife, so he/she can check you out for an infection.
Remedy:
Just wait until your body recovers from the birth until then tell hubby not to go downtown.
The book says: "You may feel congested."
Translation:
Those vaginal secretions are made by mucous glands, similar to the ones in your nose, so naturally when your vaginal secretions increase, so does your nasal secretions. This also contributes to an increase in snoring, which interrupts your sleep as well as your partner's sleep and in some cases the sleep of individuals who live next door and your mother across town. The worst part is that you aren't supposed to take decongestants, so you just have to live with it. Get out your tissues, vaporizers, and saline nose drops.
Remedy:
Birth, but you can try using saline nasal spray and using a vaporizer. Also, Breatheright strips can help although I never used them but I read.
The book says: "You may experience an increase in thirst."
Translation:
You may begin to wonder exactly how much you can drink before you drown yourself. Water is best, but you'll be likely to grab anything wet. Sports drinks may cause you to swell up even more than you already will naturally because of the sodium, stay away from them... you may feel as though you ran a marathon but you didn't. Stick to water.
Remedy:
Drink more. Thirst is a sign of dehydration.
The book says: "You may experience constipation."
Translation:
This one is self explanatory but incredibly uncomfortable.Although for me, it was the opposite. Drinking water helps and I was also eating fruits regularly.
Remedy:
Eat lots of fiber. Prunes are still a favorite for dealing with this, and oatmeal and bran work well too. Don't forget to drink your water.
The book says: "You may have difficulty sleeping."
Translation:
You actually daydream about sleeping because you never get to do it. You toss and turn but every position is uncomfortable. If you lay on your right side, the muscles on the left side get strained. If you lay on your left side, the muscles on your right side get strained. If you lay on your back, your baby smooshes everything into your spine or diaphragm and you already know laying on you left side is best for your baby. Don't even think about trying to lay on your stomach because it's just not going to happen. Let's not forget how difficult it is to actually move your stomach from one position into the next. You suddenly become the queen of pillows because you'll have tons of them in all sorts of positions in order to prop your body in the perfect position. (You may even need to kick your partner out of bed or take up residency on the couch or recliner to do this.) Then when you find the perfect position the baby kicks and wakes you up, a loud noise wakes you up, incessant thoughts wake you up or it's just plain time to get up.
Remedy:
You won't get comfortable until after the baby is born, but then you'll be up all night with a crying baby. Not all night, but yes most of it at least..Later it will be a toddler who wants a glass of water, has monsters under the bed, and "I'm not tired." Eventually you'll be up all night waiting for your teenager to come home, most likely after curfew. (I guess that's payback, sorry mom!) Just learn to appreciate the moments you can sleep. Don't worry, you will get to sleep for an entire night once in awhile and you'll be amazed at how well you can function on such little sleep. While you're pregnant though, try using pillows (lots of pillows if necessary or try a body pillow or maternity pillow) to support various areas of your body (everyone is different, so experiment with your pillow locations).
The book says: "You may experience unusual and vivid dreams."
Translation:
Out of embarrassment I won't even begin to tell you the details of some of the weird dreams I had. Lots of women have dreams about taking their baby out of their stomach and playing with it, then putting it back. Others had those dreams psychologists say are all about your subconscious fears such as screwing things up, running away, being under pressure, etc. I personally kept having dreams about not being able to do anything right, of something happening to the baby to being lost in a maze and crying desperately.
Remedy:
None. Write them down and laugh at them later. I wish I had done that. If you tend to have nightmares (which I had often), write those down as well because it may help you work through whatever it is that is bringing out those nightmares. Ignore those books about dream interpretation. They're really not psychology text books, and when you consider how two people interpret something completely differently, there's simply no way to say that "this object symbolizes xyz."
The book says: "You may experience some pelvic discomfort or contractions."
Translation:
You may have some light cramps at the beginning. Later on these cramps will turn into contractions. Some people don't even notice their contractions, others have to stop and practice their breathing and relaxation techniques to get through every one of them. It may feel like your baby is trying to stretch out in every possible direction or as though your abdominal muscles have a mind of their own as they squeeze tighter and tighter.
Remedy:
None. Relax through them. The more you fight them, the more they'll bug you. Take slow, deep breaths. Even after birth you feel contractions as your uterus shrinks back to its normal size. If they seem unusually painful or strong or come at regular intervals, call your doctor or midwife.
The book says: "You may experience mild pains in your hips when you change position."
Translation:
Mild? Stabbing pains in your hips is just the beginning of it. Your body produces a hormone called relaxin to relax the ligaments of your pelvic joints. (Your pelvis is actually three bones, not just one. I bet you didn't know that.) Unfortunately it also works on every other ligament in your body, and if any of these ligaments become stressed, from let's say a baby pulling on them, it hurts. You can feel these ligament pains anywhere, even in your ribs.
Remedy:
Wait until your hormones go back to normal after birth. Until then, no quick movements. Try warm baths and heating pads. You may even need to change the way you move... bring on the funny pregnant-woman walk! My husband called me "his little penguin!"
The book says: "You may experience genital discomfort."
Translation:
Your vagina, clitoris, and labia may actually become swollen and sore as well as increase in sensitivity due to extra blood flow to the areas. Some people like the swelling and increased sensitivity because it enhances their sensations during sex and improves their experience, but others find these sensations to be too intense or even terribly painful.
Remedy:
If you like it, what's to fix? If you're in pain, just wait. Some people get better during pregnancy. Others say it didn't get better until they fully healed after birth You'll be surprised how back to normal you'll be after giving birth.
The book says: "You may have a change in libido."
Translation:
Two scenarios: the thought of your significant other attempting to have any type of sexual content is repulsive or sex 13 times a day just isn't enough. This new sex drive, or lack thereof , is caused by hormonal changes. It can make your significant other either incredibly frustrated and create tension in the relationship, or it can make him feel like the luckiest man alive and enhance your relationship... I wanted it all the time but I also had a boy. Women who are pregnant with boys tend to have higher libido's... already that testosterone is taking over!
Remedy:
It can take several weeks (and sometimes months) after the birth of your child for your hormones to return to normal (and even after they do, you may be too exhausted from taking care of a newborn to care about sex). If you and your significant other are happy with this new level of sex drive, enjoy it. If not, have patience and hope. Hormones change daily, so tomorrow could be better, but don't forget that it could also be a long time before such changes happen, so in the meantime get creative and have patience. Try not to abandon your lover, remember he has needs just like you - make an effort for alone time.
The book says: "You may occasionally feel a sharp pain in your vagina."
Translation:
You may feel a stabbing pain that seems to shoot to your cervix and makes you want to jump out of your chair. This is caused by pressure on the cervix. I read there are no nerves in the cervix, but this sensation makes that idea hard to believe.
Remedy:
It should be gone by the time you fully heal after birth. Practice your poker face in the meantime because there's nothing like suddenly developing the look of death while you shriek during a meeting. Shift in your seat, change position, breath deeply, and pray it goes away. If it's extremely strong, call your doctor or midwife.
The book says: "Your gums may bleed."
Translation:
Increased blood in the body and swelling makes it easy to make your gums bleed from brushing your teeth. It's just more annoying than anything else. Happened to me at work and was a bit embarrassing.
Remedy:
Keep brushing your teeth and flossing, and visit your dentist. Be aware that bleeding gums are like an open door for germs, so please be careful about what you put into your mouth because you may be inviting a nasty infection (and yes, I mean everything from nail biting to stuff to the x-rated).
The book says: "You may begin to have headaches."
Translation:
For no reason you may suddenly start having migraines, and you will be imprisoned in your bedroom with the blinds shut while you pray for everyone to shut up. Fortunately, most women just have minor headaches, and some don't get them at all. I had headaches from hell my first trimester and well into my second.
Remedy:
Try a cold compress or a warm compress. Drink more water because it could be a sign of dehydration. Do as much as you can to keep yourself relaxed. That means forget the laundry, cooking and even going to work. Listen to your body and just relax. I would sleep do get away from the headaches. If you use glasses (like me) go get your eyes checked, I learned that pregnancy makes your vision worse - my prescription actually changed while I was pregnant and I got a second pair. Now, my baby is almost 3-months old and the prescription is too strong and I have to use my original glasses.
The book says: "You may feel light-headed or dizzy."
Translation:
The room starts spinning even though you haven't had a drink in months. You suddenly start looking for places where you can pass out without hitting your head on anything hard. Standing up from a seated position or rolling out of bed without the sensation of dizziness caused by the sudden drop in blood to your head becomes an art form.
Remedy:
Don't move around too quickly. Go ahead and look for those soft places to land while passing out because it will make you feel more secure. And, don't forget to hold onto those hand rails when going up and down stairs, even hold on to the sink or whatever is closest to when you get up from the toilet.
The book says: "You may experience hot flashes."
Translation:
You sitting in a 60 degree F room when suddenly it feels like your face has been dunked in hot water or like you're sitting way too close to the heater. Even worse, you're in a 90 degree F room and suddenly you feel like the temperature just went up to 120 degrees.
The book says: "You may feel unbalanced."Remedy:
If it's cool, use it. Ice packs, frozen vegetables, or even running outside and sitting on the porch in your shorts and a t-shirt while it's snowing will make you feel a bit better. Fortunately, these don't usually last long. But they're a great preview of menopause.
Translation:
When you try to stand perfectly straight, without arching your back, you start to fall over.
This is because your center of gravity has shifted. This happened to me very often, felt like vertigo.
Remedy:
Be careful. Just pay extra attention to how you move, and try to always have something nearby to grab onto for support. Hold your hubby's hand. :)
The book says: "You may feel like you're in a daze."
Translation:
You may become stupid. Not just forgetful stupid, but really stupid. Pregnant women call it "prego brain." You have difficulty concentrating. You have difficulty processing information. You lock your keys in the car five times in one day. You get half way to work before you realize that you're still wearing your slippers. Even ordinary jokes may elicit a response of "I don't get it" from you. You just get stupid. Experts say it's because you're so excited about the baby. Mom's say it's because your brain is too busy telling your body how to grow a baby and just takes a vacation from normal, everyday thinking. (This information in no way should be taken to let anyone assume that pregnant women can't handle career and responsibility. It will just take a little extra effort... for me it took a lot of effort, couple feeling stupid with headaches, sleep deprivation and sheer exhaustion from working like crazy, moving, etc.)
Remedy:
It goes away after your hormones settle down, usually about six weeks after birth. Write down your stupid experiences because they're soooo funny later on. I'll share some...I was putting my seat belt on and instead of clipping it in, I tried to put it in the ignition. I left my cell phone in the fridge. Would try to open my house with my car key or car alarm. Silly, stupid things.
The book says: "Your stomach may become itchy."
Translation:
The combination of dry skin and a stretching stomach can make for a very itchy situation. You'll spend a lot of time scratching, and you won't even care if you're in public with people staring at you.
Remedy:
Get out that lotion. Drink your water.
The book says: "You may notice changes in your vision."
Translation:
You notice that it's getting more and more difficult to read, watch television, or drive. You may be getting headaches also which may be related.
Remedy:
If vision changes happen suddenly, call your doctor or midwife immediately because it could be a sign of preeclamsia.This happened to me while driving but luckily it's wasn't preeclamsia. If it's bad enough to make daily activities difficult for you, you might want to get a new glasses prescription, but your vision will change yet again after your baby is born (like mine did), so consider whether you want to go through the trouble of getting new glasses since you'll just have to change them again in a few months, if you're getting headaches change them... no reason to put up with that if you can avoid it.
The book says: "You may experience fluid retention."
Translation:
You may wake up one day to discover that your wedding ring doesn't fit. Your shoes may be too tight. My feet were so swollen it hurt to walk on them at all. Your legs are all bloated. Even your face can look puffy. Your skin may be stretched so tight from the swelling that you are constantly aware of your own skin (very annoying) and may feel as if you will pop.
Remedy:
If you're swelling occurs all over or especially in your face and neck, call your doctor or midwife because it could be a sign of preeclamsia. Otherwise, buy some comfortable, adjustable shoes. (My favorite shoes were flip-flops, even for work) Take off your rings. Get rid of those tight outfits (even the tight maternity outfits). Drink lots of water (yes, drink more water; don't cut back) because if you restrict your water intake, your body may respond by retaining even more fluid. It should go away several weeks after birth.
The book says: "You may experience backaches."
Translation:
You may experience back pain so severe that you can barely stand for more than a minute without wanting to scream. My backaches left me almost disabled from time to time.
Remedy:
Back massage. If you can't get your partner to do it for hours at a time, purchase a back massager. Try a shower massager with a lot of force, and make sure you can angle it directly on the painful spot. Heat also helps, so get a heating pad, or take a warm bath. If you work sitting down all day, this will only make back pain worse (and feet/leg swelling too) so get up and try to walk around as much as you can.
The book says: "You may experience leg cramps."
Translation:
You may experience a constant dull ache that goes right down into your bones or a feeling that your muscles have been tied in knots.
Remedy:
Heat. Massage. Also, try taking more calcium or talk to your doctor or midwife about a possible calcium, magnesium, or phosphorous imbalance which have been thought to cause the problem. Stretching can help, too. I would wake up in horrible pain in the middle of the night with leg cramps in my calves. I started eating more (organic) dairy for calcium and would have a YoBaby! yogurt sometimes even twice a day.
The book says: "You may experience stiffness."
Translation:
No matter how much you stretch, you still won't feel relaxed. Your range of motion may even be diminished. If you drive, it may become more difficult to look behind you when going in reverse and even turning to see your blind spots can be a strain.
Remedy:
Try to do stretching exercises every day. Yoga is great. Accept that there are two people living in your body now, so there's less room to move around, and you'll just have to deal with it until one of you decides to leave. Once it becomes difficult to drive, I highly recommend giving up the car keys. Yes, it's not fun to need a driver, but it's better than ending up in an accident and hurting somebody else... I was just too tired to drive most of the time and my hubby was afraid I'd go into labor.
The book says: "You may experience numbness and tingling in your hands."
Translation:
Every time you try to type, write, use the remote, chop vegetables, reach certain places (we won't describe in detail), or engage in a variety of other movements you will feel a tingle, jolt, lighting bolt, pain, and/or buzzing sensation in your hands. This is caused by the pressure of your swollen tissue in your arms, wrists, and hands pressing on your nerves. You might even feel carpel tunnel symptoms (like I did) which will make it even harder to work if you type all day.
Remedy:
It should go away after your swelling goes away, usually well after birth. Use a brace (such as a wrist brace) when doing repetitive movements if it's really bad.
The book says: "You may have difficulty getting comfortable."
Translation:
(This is the understatement of the year.) You may discover that there simply isn't a comfortable position for you to sit, lay, stand, walk, or whatever-that-weird-position-you've-put-yourself-in-using-all-those-pillows-is-called in. There will be days when you will beg God to give you just a five minute break from your body: "Please, just one out of body experience. I'll never ask for anything again." It makes you grumpy, too.
Remedy:
Daydream about how nice it will be to have your body back after your baby is born and your body starts to return to it's unpregnant state. Until then, pillows, pillows, pillows and patience.
The book says: "You may be able to feel your abdominal muscles separate."
Translation:
This is a bit gross. You may be able to actually feel your abdominal muscles with a large space in between them (running up and down right in the center of your stomach) as they stretch out to make room for the baby.
Remedy:
Birth.
The book says: "You may experience sciatica."
Translation:
Sharp pains may shoot though your lower back, hips, and / or legs when your baby or uterus presses on your sciatic nerve. (Mine was so bad with movement that I could barely walk at times, thank God it went away after about 3 weeks but it can go one for the duration of your pregnancy.)
Remedy:
Sometimes they go away when you move, or movement could just make it worse. Some people say that heating pads help. You just need to figure out what works best for you.
The book says: "You may experience shortness of breath."
Translation:
You may find yourself getting winded by just walking from the couch to the kitchen or during the process of simply trying to switch from sitting to standing. When you lay down, especially on your back, it may get even worse. I hated this!
Remedy:
Birth
The book says: "You may experience nesting."
Translation:
You may have a sudden urge to clean everything in your home, alphabetize your pantry and video library, organize your sock drawer, and throw out everything that you once cherished but now consider clutter, and you'll stay up until 3:00 am to get it all done.
Remedy:
Who wants one? Clean your house while you can. You won't have time after the baby is born. Just be careful about what you throw out because you can't get it back and don't overexert yourself... like I did. I stayed up until 3:20am on 5 hours sleep from the previous night of nesting.... at 3:29am my fore water ruptured, contractions began 10 minutes later... long story short, I was so exhausted that my body was just giving out, I had no energy and was awake for almost 48 hours, 26 of which were labor... but more on that later. "Rest don't nest!"
What I can assure you, is that it is so worth it all (I'm sure other mothers will tell you the same) and I'd go through it 100 times back to back for my son.... so don't let this entry discourage you because there is a lot of wonderful joys to be expected when you're expecting. Enjoy your pregnancy during the tolerable moments... hey, you may experience only some symptoms or maybe none at all. Listen to your body, rest as much as possible and take care of you and your baby during this very important time.
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