Pregnancy is mostly a beautiful thing and a very special time in a woman’s life, and despite embracing the joys of motherhood, pregnancy itself can sometimes be challenging.
Pregnancy comes with normal symptoms that can be quite challenging like morning sickness (nausea), backache, heartburn, swollen feet or ankles, tiredness, indigestion or constipation, stretch marks, itchy belly, fatigue, stomach ache, mucus discharge, etc.
These symptoms occur mostly because the woman’s body is making preparations for the new life growing inside of her.
There are natural ways to reduce these discomfort. Here are some of them:
1. Stay Hydrated
The body requires water to function well, whether one is pregnant or not.
Most times, not able to breath well during pregnancy is a common symptom of dehydration. Water can greatly help to prevent shortness of breath and as well as cramps in pregnancies.
Avoid beverages like alcohol, coffee or soda because it can excessively increase your body weight – which can also cause you shortness of breath.
Also, it is most important to stay hydrated in the last trimester in order to avoid dehydration – which can cause contractions that trigger preterm labour.
2. Light Exercise
Going to the gym would be the last thing on your mind during pregnancy. Nevertheless, you do not have to go to the gym before you can exercise. A simple walk around your environment, stretching and yoga can go a long way to relieve some stress you face during pregnancy.
Also, squatting, on the other hand, can help open your pelvis to prevent prolong labour and assist the baby to descend well during labour time.
3. Reduce or avoid spicy food intake
When pregnant, you may have a variety of cravings which may also include cravings for spicy food.
It is okay to eat spicy food while pregnant because they do not necessarily harm your baby but they could affect you as a mother and cause you digestive problems, heartburns and worsen morning sickness.
It is advisable to minimize your intake of spicy foods to reduce complications during pregnancy.
4. Cold or hot compress
A cold compress or a warm compress can be used to reduce abdominal discomfort, sore breast, headaches, swollen ankles and feet.
You can try covering your breast with a warm towel for about 10-15 minutes, it will help to increase blood circulation, reduce swelling and tenderness in the breast. Same also applies to swollen ankles or feet.
5. Ginger intake
Ginger root was used often to fight challenges facing pregnant women like indigestion and saliva flow during ancient times.
However, ginger is a very strong anti-oxidant that can aid easy digestion, flow of saliva and can also help to relieve nausea (morning sickness), vomiting and constipation.
Read also: Preterm Labour: 7 Great Ways To Lower Your Chances Of Giving Birth To Your Baby Prematurely
Ginger can be added to already prepared meals as flavour, fruit juice and can also be taken as a tea (ginger tea).
On the contrary, the intake of ginger may not be suitable for all pregnant women as some may find it irritating and too spicy. Therefore, it should be taken moderately and not in excess to avoid irritation.
6. Constipation
The following tips can help you know if you are constipated:
- Your stools are lumpy or hard
- You are straining to have a bowel movement
- It is difficult to completely pass all of your stools
- Feeling like there is a blockage that’s preventing you from passing stools
There are a few natural treatments you can do to help soften your stools and reduce hemorrhoids:
- Eat more fiber
- Drink more water
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