HealthPartners - Preparing for childbirth

CONGESTION AND NOSEBLEEDS

of pregnancy on your body. Try to rest more often, eat healthy foods, and ask for help if you need it. Even though you might not feel like walking or moving, light exercise can help boost your energy.

A stuffy nose, or nasal congestion, is another common problem during

HAVING A HEALTHY

pregnancy. Because you have more blood in your body, your nasal passages may swell, feel very dry and raw, or start to bleed. To reduce nasal congestion: • Try saline nose drops or a humidifier to ease dryness • Avoid medicated nose drops or sprays • Drink more fluids to help reduce dryness To stop a nosebleed, press your finger firmly against the side that is bleeding for a few minutes. If the bleeding is heavy and/or you can’t stop it by applying pressure, call your health care provider. problems during pregnancy. They may be caused by high levels of iron in prenatal vitamins and pressure from your growing uterus on your lower bowel. If you have symptoms, natural remedies such as these may help: • Drink lots of water; prune juice can also be helpful • Eat high-fiber foods (vegetables, fruits, whole grains) • Find time to take a walk or do some exercise every day • Eat frequent small meals, which are easier to digest • Avoid processed foods, fatty meats, and high-fat dairy • Avoid gassy foods (beans, cabbage, carbonated soda) NOTE: Certain laxatives may cause contractions and dehydration. Bulk-forming agents or stool softeners are the safest choices during pregnancy. CONSTIPATION AND BLOATING Constipation and bloating are common

FEELINGS AND MOOD SWINGS

PREGNANCY

During pregnancy, your feelings and moods can change quickly. You may feel happy one minute, then suddenly

burst into tears the next. Emotional changes may also make you feel more tired. Mood swings are often related to changes in your hormone levels. You may also feel worried at times about your baby’s health, going through labor, or becoming a parent. A good way to feel more confident and relaxed is to learn as much as you can about pregnancy, labor, and birth. Going to prenatal classes, reading books, watching videos, and downloading pregnancy apps can be very helpful.

FREQUENT URINATION When your uterus expands, it puts pressure on your bladder so you feel like you need to urinate more often. Don’t try to control

this by drinking less fluid. It’s more important to stay hydrated and drink whenever you are thirsty. Late in pregnancy, you might experience urine leaks when you laugh, cough, sneeze, or bend over. Bladder leak pads or panty liners can help you stay dry. This usually corrects itself after pregnancy. Kegel exercises may help with this issue. See page 20.

FATIGUE Feeling very tired (fatigue) is a common early sign of pregnancy. Some people feel more energy after their first

trimester, then become tired again near the end of their pregnancy. You may be feeling extra tired because of hormone changes or the physical strain

Chapter 2: Having a Healthy Pregnancy 25