by Patricia Hughes
Leg Cramps are common during Pregnancy
Leg cramps are a common discomfort in pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester. The sudden cramping and tightening of the calf muscles is extremely painful and often happens at night, causing you to wake in pain from a peaceful sleep.
The exact cause of leg cramps is not known, but there are some factors believed to contribute to leg cramps. The increased weight of pregnancy, changes in blood circulation and pressure on the nerves from the growing baby are believed to cause the discomfort in the legs. The best way to deal with leg cramps is to prevent them.
Preventing Leg Cramps
There are some things you can do to prevent leg cramps. Standing or sitting for too long at one time can cause leg cramping. If your job requires you to stand or sit for extended periods of time, take breaks throughout the day. Put your feet up if you stand for work and get up and walk around periodically if you sit at a desk. More on Pregnancy Leg Cramps
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As a mom to four beautiful children, I have learned that pampering yourself isn't selfish, it's essential. Whether this is baby number one or ten, moms fare best when they take care of themselves first - starting with pregnancy. Find the time to relax and recharge, because once your little one is on the outside, finding time to relax will become more of a challenge than ever.
You probably already know that getting enough sleep is important, but with a new baby developing it is even more true. In order to help you sleep better at night, there are a few easy and enjoyable things you can do. Try soaking in a warm tub - not too hot, to get your body to unwind. Add lavender essential oils to enhance the experience. More on Pampering Yourself and Surviving Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a beautiful thing. I have difficulty putting into words just how amazing it is. You are creating life. It's exciting and at the same time it can be nerve wracking. So what are some of the common concerns when pregnant? Not only is your body changing, growing, and you are experiencing new aches and pains that you haven't felt before, your mind is also experiencing changes that you were not prepared for. You are not going crazy, what you are going through is normal. Whether this is your first pregnancy or your third, the aches, pains, concerns and emotionality are all unexpected and yes, they are normal.
I am going to address the most common concerns that women have when they are pregnant. The very first one that many pregnant women stress over is weight gain. I remember when I was pregnant the first time, some 16 years ago doctors watched the weight you gained, but they didn't tell you that you should only gain so much. So with my last pregnancy that ended only 5 months ago, weight gain is an issue and one that is monitored by the doctor. More on Common Pregnancy Concerns
During your first prenatal visit, your health care provider will take blood samples. Several things will be tested, including your blood type. The reason this is done is to check for the presence or lack of Rh factor in the blood. This is important because if your baby has Rh factor in his blood and you do not, this could cause problems in later pregnancies.More on Rh Factor in Pregnancy
Filed under Health, Pregnancy Tests by More4kids Inc.
Approximately 75 percent of all pregnant women experience some swelling during pregnancy. For the majority of these women, this is mild edema. The swelling generally occurs in the extremities, such as the feet, legs and hands. Swelling in the face can occur as well. this mild edema is most common in the third trimester.More on Edema (Swelling) during Pregnancy
by Patricia Hughes More on Pregnancy and Benefits of Kegel Exercises
by Patricia Hughes
The sciatic nerve runs from the lower back down to the feet. This nerve can become inflamed due to pressure of the growing baby during pregnancy. When this happens, severe pain results. Sciatica is one of the more painful complications of pregnancy.
If you have sciatic nerve pain, you will know it. Sciatic pain is unlike other lower back and leg pains you may get during your pregnancy. It is also very different from the leg cramps that may wake you in the night. Sciatic nerve pain is a sharp, shooting pain that goes from your lower back, down the back of the leg.
There are some things that contribute to sciatic nerve pain. If your job involves a lot of lifting or requires you to spend long periods of time sitting or standing, you may be at greater risk of developing sciatica in pregnancy. Also, if you have experienced sciatic nerve pain in a past pregnancy, you are more likely to have it again this time. For some women, excessive weight gain my also contribute to the problem. The extra weight results in more pressure on the nerve. More on Sciatic Pain During Pregnancy
by Jennifer Shakeel
There are so many joys of being pregnant. The excitement of carrying new life around inside you, the first kick, hearing the heart beat, the thought becoming a mom for the first time or for the second, third or fourth time. This is a wonderful time… all except for that morning sickness. While we all want to believe it will end after the first trimester, there are some of us that have to cope with it the entire pregnancy. My personal battle with morning sickness during my current pregnancy is the inspiration for this article. I am going to go over a number of natural remedies, but I wanted to make you aware that your OB doctor may have samples of “candy” that has been designed to help ease the nausea associated with morning sickness.
What to Eat
Yes, I know that is the last thing in the world you feel like doing when you feel nauseated. I am here to tell you that eating will actually help ease those feelings. Plus you need the calories to support that growing baby inside you. Eat foods that you would eat if you had the flu, dry toast, rice, applesauce.
More on Tips for Easing Morning Sickness
During pregnancy, you need enough of certain vital nutrients to support both your needs and the needs of your growing baby. Iron, calcium and protein are three important nutrients that may be lacking in a vegetarian diet. With proper meal planning and including the right foods in your diet, you and your baby can get all the nutrients you need while sticking to a vegetarian or even a vegan diet.More on Nutrition Tips for Vegetarian Mothers
You have just been told that you are pregnant! This is both an exciting and scary time for you. This is especially true if you are expecting your first child. Many changes will start to occur in your body, as it prepares to construct the body of the little one on the way. It is important that you know and understand the ways that you can assist in helping your unborn baby develop. Here are a few of several different methods that can be used to ensure the proper development and health of your unborn child.
More on Helping Your Unborn Baby Develop During Pregnancy
