Pregnancy Sucks (Sometimes) - and How to Make It Suck Less

Yup- you read that right. Pregnancy Sucks. Sometimes. Some lucky women sail through pregnancy and the only symptom is their growing belly. But for some women, it seems like a constant barrage of every single pregnancy symptom imaginable.  Although they are commonplace, some of these discomforts can be difficult to relieve, and believe it or not, the old wives tales for how to avoid them don't always work (shocker!), so we've put together a list of some natural remedies. If any of them persist, or if your intuition is telling you that there's something more going on, contact your care provider!

Morning Sickness:

  1. Magnesium oil in the bath or magnesium supplements orally
  2. A quality prenatal vitamin (such as this)
  3. Cod liver oil supplement
  4. Raw carrots instead of crackers-they help clear excess estrogen from the body
  5. Ginger tea or candies
  6. Gelatin that doesn't gel to add to smoothies or tea
  7. Avoid sugar and limit grains

Swollen limbs:

  1. Avoid salty foods
  2. Elevate your feet For 15-20 minutes several times a day
  3. Put your feet under cold running water for several minutes or soak
  4. Add a few spoonfuls of Coriander Seeds or Barley to boiling water and drink like tea
  5. Avoid alcohol, soda and coffee 

Heart Burn:

  1. Aloe Vera juice
  2. Papaya enzyme tablets
  3. Marshmallow root tea
  4. Modify your diet to avoid heartburn causing foods
  5. Slippery Elm lozenges

Difficulty Sleeping:

  1. Stop drinking liquids about 2-3 hrs before bed to minimize bathroom visits
  2. No electronics in the bedroom (cell phone, tablet, e-reader, etc). The blue light cast by these devices can disrupt sleep patterns. If you need a soft light, salt lamps work well and are beautiful to boot!
  3. Use a body or pregnancy pillow to get yourself comfortable
  4. Go to bed earlier - it seems counter-intuitive, but sometimes other pregnancy symptoms like restlessness, twitchy legs, insomnia happen in the earlier hours of the morning
  5. Practice relaxation techniques - progressive relaxation from head to toe, meditation, quiet music, guided meditation (ask us for recommendations if you're looking for ones specific to pregnancy and birth!)
  6. Massage, exercise and lotion your legs before getting into bed. We have a particular fondness for the Yoga Birth Method yoga flow because it's designed for women with growing bellies and is gentle and relaxing enough to do before bed.