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
The anticipation of the arrival of baby is exciting and nerve wracking. You have packed the diaper bag, you have your hospital bag, you have the quickest route to the hospital planned out and you have the list of people to call on the way to the hospital. Did you stop and think about what type of pain management you were going to use during labor and delivery? Most women think they have but have you really?More on Pain Management during Labor and Delivery
Filed under Childbirth, Pregnancy by More4kids Inc.
by Jennifer Shakeel
This piece is really going to be geared towards all of the first time moms out there. Now if it has been awhile between pregnancies, like it was for me… about 10 years, then you are going to want to read this too because pregnancy was not like I remember it. It wasn’t bad, so I am not going to give you horror stories here. I did love being pregnant, I didn’t like the weight I gained but I did like the experience. I would do it again in a heartbeat. So trust me when I tell you that there will be nothing else in life that will ever compare to the wonders of what you are going through and what you have yet to experience.
But I am going to tell you the truth. I am going to tell you what all of those wonderful books out there… leave out. Understand this first; no two pregnancies are the same. This means that your pregnancy is not going to be like your mom’s or your best friend’s and if you have been pregnant before… this pregnancy will be unlike that one. I don’t know why really, I think it is Mother Nature’s way of preparing you for being a parent. As a parent you have to be prepared for anything and be able to handle whatever your child is going to surprise you with. Well, that is my story and I am sticking to it anyway.
I don’t think it necessary to go all the way back to before you found out you were pregnant. You already know that you felt tired… or you were experiencing a lot of nausea. Whatever it was, you just weren’t feeling like yourself. Congratulations on your wonderful news! I will start with the way you feel. I want you to know right now that every woman out there that has found out she is pregnant, throughout time, is not always happy about the news.
More on What to Really Expect When You Are Expecting
Filed under Pregnancy by More4kids Inc.
You have probably heard about morning sickness—and may think that it is the only side effect of pregnancy. Oh if only that was the only discomfort you experience during pregnancy. In fact, each stage of pregnancy has its associated aches and pains.
For the first trimester of pregnancy, you will experience huge hormonal changes that are largely responsible for morning sickness. Many newly pregnant women report sensitivity to certain smells that are off-putting, such as coffee. They also feel nauseated due to these hormonal swings. Though “morning sickness” is the common term, women can feel nausea at any time throughout the day. Morning sickness is called such because this nausea is more common when you have an empty stomach. To combat this nausea, many women eat several saltine crackers immediately after awakening. It is also important for pregnant women to eat small meals throughout the day, even though their appetites may increase. For most women, nausea vanishes by the fourth month of pregnancy.
Though nausea is one type of abdominal pain, the other type is more of a shooting pain caused by the abdominal tissue stretching. These pains may occur in both your stomach and your upper thighs, since the uterus is pushing on those areas. To combat these pains, you can bend forward to ease the tension. You can also apply a heating pad to the affected area, though if the pain is agonizing you should contact your doctor.
More on Pregnancy Pains and Discomfort - What to Expect
Filed under Pregnancy by More4kids Inc.
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
Acupressure is a form of Chinese medicine which uses pressure at certain points in the body to relieve pain. These pressure points are also known as meridians. There are 14 meridians located throughout the body. Acupressure is a method of pain relief has been used successfully by thousands of women for natural pain relief.More on Acupressure for Relieving Pregnancy and Labor Discomforts
