Alte FriedmanBy the first trimester of your pregnancy, the usual symptoms (e.g., nausea, food aversion, fatigue, etc.) will earnestly start to show themselves. Along with these symptoms are the inexplicable pains and aches that many women have to deal with during pregnancy. While some symptoms don’t last only until the first trimester, the soreness will usually stay with you until after you give birth.
This doesn’t mean that you should endure the hurt and discomfort for the next nine months. Most, if not all, pain medications are not safe for pregnant women to take, but there are many ways to relieve pain without resorting to those. Here are some safe and simple remedies you can try to alleviate pregnancy pains and aches.
Good Posture
As your stomach grows, your center of gravity will shift. The additional weight in your tummy will make you tip forward, causing you unconsciously lean back to stay balanced. Doing this will put more strain on your lower back muscles, causing pain and discomfort in the area.
When standing, it’s best to maintain a wide stance, relaxing your shoulders and back and holding your chest high. Remember that you’re carrying more weight than usual. Avoid staying on your feet for too long. Take a seat every few minutes or so to rest your legs.
Maintaining a good posture while sitting down is also vital to reduce back pain. Make sure that your back is supported with a cushion or pillow, or choose an ergonomic chair with proper back support.
Comfortable Pregnancy Shoes
Wearing the right footwear while you’re pregnant can do a lot for your comfort. You’re carrying a growing human being in your body, which means your feet are also bearing more weight than is usual. Plus, it’s common for expectant mothers’ feet to swell and ache during pregnancy.
Donning shoes with superb arch support and sole cushion can help reduce the suffering of your poor feet. Choose a well-fitting pair of pregnancy shoes to wear whenever you go out and comfortable slippers to use indoors.
For both safety and comfort, It’s generally not recommended to wear high heels while pregnant.
Regular Exercise
Contrary to what people used to believe, staying moderately active is good for women who are having a normal pregnancy. Most health-care providers will recommend regular physical activity to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy.
Exercise boosts the mother’s bone strength and muscle strength, making it easier for her to bear the extra pounds. Stretching also encourages good circulation and helps ease tension and pain.
In the final trimester of pregnancy, your doctor or midwife will likely suggest doing Kegel exercises to help prepare your body for childbirth. Before that, though, consult your doctor for safe exercise routines you can do during the first and second trimesters of your pregnancy.
Belly Band
Using a belly band is another way to reduce the strain on your back caused by the extra weight in your abdomen. A belly band provides gentle compression and support to your middle, helping take away some of the weight you’re carrying and reducing the stress on your lower back.
Ask your doctor to recommend a safe belly band or pregnancy girdle for your use. Some belly bands may provide more compression than is necessary and cause adverse health effects.
Other body parts, like your knees, shoulders, arms, and legs, can also benefit from using compression tapes to relieve their aching. Consult your doctor about using therapeutic elastic tapes or kinesiology tapes for pain relief.
Other Therapies for Pain Relief
You may have heard of alternative therapies for pain relief during pregnancy. Acupuncture and chiropractic treatment are two of the most popular therapies for people who suffer from regular body pain.
If regular exercise, compression bands, and simple remedies aren’t working for you, talk to your doctor about trying one of the alternative treatments for alleviating your pain and discomfort.
Watch Out for Severe Pain
While pain and discomfort are usual during pregnancy, too much of them is not a good sign. It’s natural for your back and knees to ache since your body is rapidly growing and gaining weight, so you’re putting more burden on your bones and muscles.
Your expanding abdomen can also cause some soreness around your middle. Other pregnancy symptoms, like constipation, heartburn, and contractions, can also be a source of pain and discomfort. However, overwhelming pain does not commonly occur during pregnancy.
Severe pain, especially in the abdomen, is a red flag during pregnancy. If you feel it, visit your doctor immediately. They may make you undergo an ultrasound screening (using an ultrasound machine) and other medical tests to check the baby’s condition and find out the cause of the pain before prescribing a pregnancy-safe treatment or medication.
Last Thoughts
Seeking ways to relieve your ache and discomfort is natural. No person wants to suffer in pain constantly. However, pregnant women need to be more cautious about the remedies they use to treat any pain and illnesses. Furthermore, labor is one of the most physically painful life experiences out there, but thankfully nowadays there are things like a TENS machines to help us go through it more easily.
OTC and prescription drugs can have harmful effects on both the mother and the child. Considering a pregnant mother’s sensitive condition, one should be careful about selecting treatments for anything. To be safe, consult your health-care provider before trying any new pain-relief method.
