One of my younger sisters is pregnant with her 3rd. (due in less than 3 months!) Now, some women love being pregnant (my mom was one of those crazy sorts….) but suffice it to say, that was never my sentiment towards either of my pregnancy experiences and for my sister, this particular pregnancy has been her hardest. Whether it’s your first or your 5th, pregnancy is a time that brings many new experiences and emotions. It’s also a time when women experience physical discomfort on top of the emotional changes. The good news is, there are many ways to deal with this discomfort and get back to feeling more like yourself again!
This article will cover some tips that can help you feel better during pregnancy.
Yoga
Yoga is known to help with back pain and other daily aches and pains, but you can also use it during pregnancy. However, it’s essential not to do any poses involving the stomach or being upside down as they increase blood flow, leading to premature contractions in the womb and harm your baby.
You can find many videos on YouTube with easy exercises that are safe for pregnant women to do at home without any equipment needed. You should always consult your doctor before starting yoga, as they must check that all poses are safe for you throughout each trimester in your pregnancy.
Use Different Types of Pillows and Clothing
Different types of pillows can help deal with back pain as well as hip pains while pregnant. A pillow can create extra support for you so that you do not have put pressure on your lower back or hips when sleeping, which will reduce body aches. Try having two pillows under one leg for it to elevate them from the bed. In addition, it will relieve any additional stress on your hips and legs from carrying around all the weight throughout day-to-day life activities like walking upstairs or using public transportation.
During pregnancy, many women experience what seems like extreme changes in their body size due to an expanding uterus. As a result, many maternity clothes are designed specifically with this change in mind. However, suppose these clothes are not available. In that case, finding looser fitting pants might be a good place to start, like leggings or sweatpants with elastic waistlines to provide extra room around the belly area, allowing more comfortability while still looking nice underneath tops.
You can also use specific types of socks that will help you alleviate the swelling of the legs. Even though massage and soaking the legs might do the trick, you can easily get similar effects with less hassle with compression sock benefits.
Understanding Your Journey
During pregnancy, you’ll experience many changes physically, emotionally, and mentally. It can be overwhelming at times, especially if this is your first time going through a journey! But it doesn’t have to be that way because there are ways in which you can manage the discomfort during pregnancy:
- Take short walks throughout the day; walking helps improve circulation and reduce swelling
- Limit standing for long periods as much as possible
- Eat smaller portions more frequently instead of large meals every few hours
- Keep track with what foods decrease or increase nausea/vomiting levels, so you know when to avoid them or not (for certain people)
- Drink plenty of water and fluids.
- Take a break when you can, with your feet up or reclining in bed. After all, rest is crucial during this period
Attending Ante-Natal Care
Antenatal care (or sometimes called “prenatal care”) will help you to understand what is going on with the baby and your body. It can also give you some insight into new things for you as a mother, whether it be breastfeeding or sleeping arrangements. Additionally, it offers women an opportunity to ask questions of their care providers to create a health plan relevant only to them throughout their pregnancy journey.
Post Partum Care
Something that is often overlooked is the care both the mama and the child need immediately following delivery. Many first time mamas are shocked that their bodies aren’t the same, or they aren’t prepared for the issues related to delivery, breastfeeding, sleep deprivation, and more. The most important thing to remember as a new mama (or as a support system for the new mom) is to try to stay calm.
Don’t worry about the jeans right now. Give yourself tremendous grace when it comes to household duties, physical capabilities, and even interpersonal relationships. The first 3 months are usually the most challenging as the family is getting acquainted with the “new normal,” so try to relax and enjoy the season. Even though it doesn’t feel like it, those hard days will fly by.
Conclusion
If you are experiencing pain or discomfort or even changes in your balance, bladder control, or posture, it may help to seek the help of a professional physical therapy for Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation. Whether you deliver our baby vaginally or through c-section, the pelvic floor was challenged throughout the duration of your pregnancy, and often a short stint with a qualified professional could be very beneficial in helping you manage your post partum care. Here at Thrive, we partner with a local specialist twice a year to host a Pelvic Floor and Core workshop designed specifically for folks looking to learn more about the role of these important muscles and how to identify and strengthen them. If you are interested in attending one of these workshops, please feel free to email us to find out more.
In conclusion, pregnancy is a beautiful time of seeing your baby grow, but there can be some discomfort along the way. Unfortunately, many women find it difficult to talk about this pain resulting in them not getting help when necessary whether it’s during the pregnancy or afterwards. Hopefully, this article explains how important it is for you to speak up to get the treatment needed.