Family Physician: A Friend to Depend On

Posted on: 4 February 2015

If this is your first pregnancy, you will deal with things other than your growing belly. You'll also likely suffer from things like heartburn, restless leg syndrome, and nosebleeds and/or nasal stuffiness.Below are some tips to help you get through these things so you can enjoy watching and feeling your baby grow inside of you.

Heartburn

Heartburn can become much worse while you are pregnant. In many cases, changes in your hormone levels cause this problem.

Because you are pregnant, you likely do not want to take medications if you do not have to. Fortunately, there are natural ways you can deal with this problem. Instead of eating three large meals per day, spread them out and eat smaller meals. If your stomach is too stuffed, it can cause heartburn.

You can also chew sugar-free gum to help you get some relief for your heartburn. This works because gum increases the amount of saliva in your mouth, which buffers the acid.

Restless Legs

You may suffer from restless legs syndrome while you are pregnant, and it typically goes away once you have the baby.  If you have this, you will feel an uncontrollable urge to move your legs while you are lying down. You also may feel a tingling sensation going up your legs.

Because this problem usually happens while lying in bed, only go to bed when you are sleepy. Do not lay in bed and watch television, read a book, etc. Have your spouse massage your legs, try some relaxation techniques, and take a warm bath before you go to bed.

Nosebleeds and Nasal Stuffiness

It is common for pregnant women to have nosebleeds and/or nasal stuffiness while pregnant. When pregnant, the amount of blood in your body increases, which can cause your nose to bleed. Hormones can also play a part in making your nose stuffy, as they can cause changes to the tissue in your nose. To deal with this problem, drink more water and gently blow your noise when it feels stuffy. You can also start using a cool mist humidifier to put moisture in the air to keep your nose from drying out.

If any of these problems persist, talk with a gynecologist like Bee Ridge Obstetrics Gynecology. They may be able to prescribe you medicine that is safe to take while pregnant or give you some other tips on how to deal with these complications in a natural way.