FAQ
What if I have morning sickness?
- Eat a piece of toast or a cracker on rising or before getting out of bed.
- Early in the day, eat lightly and frequently. Avoid liquid with your meals.
- Avoid gassy vegetables (cabbage family and those with strong flavor or coarse texture).
- Cooked vegetables and canned fruits will be more easily tolerated.
- By lunchtime, food tolerance has usually increased and a well-balanced meal may be eaten.
What if I am constipated?
- Raw vegetables are excellent.
- Eat raw fruits plus one serving of prunes or prune juice daily. You may also try drinking lemon juice with water before breakfast.
- Maintain fluid intake to at least 10 glasses per day even though you may experience urgency.
- Eating meals regularly is most important.
What if I have heartburn?
- Avoid highly seasoned (spicy) foods.
- Avoid fried foods.
- Decrease coarse textured foods (i.e., those that require a lot of chewing: apples, celery, etc.)
- Eat small meals often rather than large meals.
- Avoid liquids with meals. They should be taken at least a half-hour before or after meals.
- Never lie down after a meal. It is better if you sit.
- Avoid the use of bicarbonate of soda.
- If problems still persist, speak to your doctor.
What if I have round ligament pain?
One of the most common complaints of pregnancy is round ligament pain. This is also known as round ligament strain or round ligament syndrome. The round ligaments are two cord-like structures made of the same smooth muscle tissue as the rest of the uterus. They extend from the top of the uterus on either side, down through the abdominal wall, and the fibers terminate in the vulva. During pregnancy, they stretch and grow with the rest of the uterus, and this is sometimes painful. This pain may occur on either or both sides, anywhere along the course of either ligament. It is often aggravated by walking, changing position in bed, or by fetal movement, but may occur for no apparent reason at all. It is most common in pregnancies after the first one and most common in the second trimester, although it may occur early or late in the pregnancy as well.
Its only symptom is sharp, cramping or stretching pain somewhere along the course of one of the ligaments. Sometimes it is severe enough to raise a question of some other condition such as appendicitis, kidney stones, placental abruption, or labor. However, round ligament pain is only pain unless it is associated with nausea, diarrhea, fever, bleeding, or contractions you can feel with your hand. If this is the case, the pain is from another source, and you should contact your physician.
Round ligament pain is not dangerous to your or your baby. The treatment consists of rest, a heating pad, and something for pain, such as Tylenol. If you need something stronger for it or have other questions, let us know.
What about medications in pregnancy?
It is best to avoid any medications during pregnancy, if at all possible. However, some medications that have not been found to cause any problems during pregnancy may be taken.
You May Take
- For headaches, aches and pain Tylenol (acetaminophen)
- For coughs or congestion Robitussin (plain or DM)
- For sinus congestion and allergies Sudafed (regular or 12 hour)
- For cold symptoms Chlor-Trimeton, Sucrets
- For itching and allergies Benadryl
- For skin rashes Cortisone creams (over the counter) and Neosporin
- For constipation/gastrointestinal problems Citrucel or Metamucil, Fibercon, Colace, Milk of Magnesia
- For diarrhea Kaopectate, Imodium AD, Mylanta II
- For indigestion Riopan Plus, Tums, Maalox
- For hemorrhoids Tucks pads, Anusol, Preparation H
- For yeast infections Monistat
- Okay in Limited Amounts NutraSweet and caffeine
Do Not Take Unless Prescribed by Your Physician
- Aspirin
- Advil/Nuprin/Aleve
- Alka-Seltzer
- Hormones or birth control pills
- Alcohol or alcohol-containing medications
- Strong laxatives
- Enemas or douches
- Multi-symptom cold medications
- Old prescriptions
- Nicotine
Do Not Stop Taking
Medications prescribed for medical problems such as seizures, hypertension, diabetes or asthma.
Do
Discuss these medications with us or the prescribing physician as soon as you know you are pregnant.