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Problems 80 NAUSEA AND MORNING SICKNESS Nausea is very common in the early weeks of pregnancy. Some women feel sick, some are sick. Some feel sick in the mornings, some at other times, some all day long. The reasons are not fully understood, but hormonal changes in the first three months are probably one cause. Nausea usually disappears around the 12th–14th week. Nausea can be one of the most trying problems in early pregnancy. It comes at a time when you may be feeling tired and emotional, and when many people around you may not realise you are pregnant and expect you to be your normal self. • If you feel sick first thing in the morning, give yourself time to get up slowly. If possible, eat something like dry toast or a plain biscuit before you get up. Your partner could bring you some sweet tea. • Get plenty of rest and sleep whenever you can. Feeling tired can make the sickness worse. • Eat small amounts often rather than several large meals, but don’t stop eating. • Drink plenty of fluids. • Ask those close to you for extra support. • Distract yourself as much as you can. Often the nausea gets worse the more you think about it. • Avoid the foods and smells that make you feel worse. It helps if someone else can cook but, if not, go for bland, non-greasy foods, such as baked potatoes, pasta and milk puddings, which are simple to prepare. • Remedies containing ginger may be helpful. • Wear comfortable clothes. Tight waistbands can make you feel worse. If you are being sick all the time and cannot keep anything down, inform your doctor or midwife. Some pregnant women experience severe nausea and vomiting. This condition is known as hyperemesis gravidarum. (See page 150 for the support group Blooming Awful.) NOSE BLEEDS Nose bleeds are quite common in pregnancy because of hormonal changes. The nose bleeds are usually short but can be quite heavy. To help the bleeding stop, press the sides of your nose together between your thumb and forefinger just below the bony part of your nose for ten minutes. Repeat for a further ten minutes if this is unsuccessful. As long as you don’t lose a lot of blood, t<strong>here</strong> is nothing to worry about. Blow your nose gently and try to avoid explosive sneezes. You may also find that your nose gets more blocked up than usual. PASSING WATER OFTEN Needing to pass water often is an early sign of pregnancy. Sometimes it continues right through pregnancy. In later pregnancy it’s the result of the baby’s head pressing on the bladder. If you find that you’re having to get up in the night, you could try cutting out drinks in the late evening but make sure you keep drinking plenty during the day. Later in pregnancy, some women find it helps to rock backwards and forwards while they are on the toilet. This lessens the pressure of the womb on the bladder so that you
Problems can empty it properly. Then you won’t need to pass water again quite so soon. If you have any pain while passing water, or pass any blood, you may have a urine infection which will need treatment. Drink plenty of water to dilute your urine and reduce irritation. You should contact your GP within 24 hours. Sometimes pregnant women are unable to prevent a sudden spurt of urine or a small leak when they cough, sneeze or laugh, or when moving suddenly or just getting up from a sitting position. This may be temporary because the pelvic floor muscles relax slightly to prepare for the baby’s delivery. The growing baby will increase pressure on the bladder. If you find this a problem, you can improve the situation by doing exercises to tone up your pelvic floor muscles (see page 16). Ask a midwife or obstetric physiotherapist (see pages 62 and 63) for advice. PILES Piles, also known as haemorrhoids, are swollen veins around the back passage which may itch, ache or feel sore. You can usually feel the lumpiness of the piles around the back passage. Piles may also bleed a little and they can make going to the toilet uncomfortable or even painful. They occur in pregnancy because the veins relax under the influence of pregnancy hormones. Piles usually go shortly after delivery. If you suffer from piles you should: • • eat plenty of food that is high in fibre, like wholemeal bread, fruit and vegetables, and you should drink plenty of water – this will prevent constipation, which can make piles worse; • avoid standing for long periods; take regular exercise to improve your circulation; • sleep with the foot of the bed slightly raised on books or bricks; • use an ice pack to ease discomfort, holding this gently against the piles, or use a cloth wrung out in iced water; • if the piles stick out, push them gently back inside using a lubricating jelly; • ask your doctor, midwife or pharmacist if they can suggest a suitable ointment; • consider giving birth in a position w<strong>here</strong> the pressure on your back passage is reduced – kneeling, for example. SKIN AND HAIR CHANGES Hormonal changes taking place in pregnancy will make your nipples and the area around them go darker. Your skin colour may also darken a little, either in patches or all over. Birthmarks, moles and freckles may also darken. Some women develop a dark line down the middle of their stomachs. These changes will gradually fade after the baby has been born, although your nipples may remain a little darker. If you sunbathe while you are pregnant, you may find you tan more easily. Protect your skin with a good, high-factor sunscreen. Don’t stay in the sun for very long. Hair growth is also likely to increase in pregnancy. Your hair may also be greasier. After the baby is born, it may seem as if you’re losing a lot of hair. In fact, you’re simply losing the increase that occurred during pregnancy. If you sometimes can’t help wetting or soiling yourself, you can get help. Incontinence is a very common problem. It can affect anyone, sometimes during and after pregnancy. In many cases it is curable, so if you’ve got a problem talk to your doctor, midwife or health visitor, or ring the confidential Continence Foundation helpline on 0845 345 0165, Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 1pm. www.continencefoundation.org.uk 81
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Pre the nancy gbook Your complete g
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Pre the nancy gbook Your complete g
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11 LABOUR AND BIRTH Getting ready f
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Your pregnancy at a glance 16-20 we
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Introduction Every parent is differ
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Your health in pregnancy • Eat pl
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Your health in pregnancy VEGETARIAN
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Your health in pregnancy S MOKING W
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Your health in pregnancy P HYSICAL
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Your health in pregnancy Foot exerc
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obstetrician. If you do catch toxop
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2 Conception To understand about co
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Conception T HE WOMAN’ S MONTHLY
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Conception T HE BEST TIME TO GET PR
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Conception K NOWING THAT YOU’ RE
Page 31 and 32: How the baby develops WEEKS 4-5 Wee
Page 33 and 34: How the baby develops WEEKS 15-22 T
Page 35 and 36: 4 Deciding where to have your baby
Page 37 and 38: Deciding where to have your baby HO
Page 39 and 40: Deciding where to have your baby B
Page 41 and 42: 5 Feelings and relationships From t
Page 43 and 44: Feelings and relationships WORRYING
Page 45 and 46: Feelings and relationships FAMILIES
Page 47 and 48: Feelings and relationships C OPING
Page 49 and 50: 6 Mainly for men Some pregnancies h
Page 51 and 52: Mainly for men PRACTICAL SUPPORT Yo
Page 53 and 54: 7 Antenatal care and antenatal clas
Page 55 and 56: Antenatal care and antenatal classe
Page 69 and 70: The feeding question B REASTFEEDING
Page 71 and 72: The feeding question Support contac
Page 73 and 74: The feeding question HOW OFTEN AND
Page 75 and 76: The feeding question B OTTLE FEEDIN
Page 77 and 78: The feeding question The temperatur
Page 79 and 80: 9 Problems Your body has a great de
Page 81: Problems FEELING HOT IN PREGNANCY D
Page 85 and 86: Problems VAGINAL DISCHARGE Almost a
Page 87 and 88: 10 What you need for the baby This
Page 89 and 90: What you need for the baby O UT AND
Page 91 and 92: 11 Labour and birth This chapter de
Page 93 and 94: Labour and birth PAIN RELIEF IN LAB
Page 95 and 96: Labour and birth • your contracti
Page 97 and 98: Labour and birth AT THE HOSPITAL Go
Page 99 and 100: Labour and birth • The heartbeat
Page 101 and 102: Labour and birth You can have your
Page 103 and 104: Labour and birth treatment takes ab
Page 105 and 106: Labour and birth A vaginal breech d
Page 107 and 108: When pregnancy goes wrong been due.
Page 109 and 110: 13 The first days with your new bab
Page 111 and 112: The first days with your new baby c
Page 113 and 114: The first days with your new baby b
Page 115 and 116: Babies who need special care I NCUB
Page 117 and 118: The early weeks: you L OOKING AFTER
Page 119 and 120: The early weeks: you T HE ‘ BABY
Page 121 and 122: 16 The early weeks: your baby The b
Page 123 and 124: The early weeks: your baby Sadly, w
Page 125 and 126: The early weeks: your baby CHANGING
Page 127 and 128: The early weeks: your baby WASHING
Page 129 and 130: The early weeks: your baby W HERE T
Page 131 and 132: as green, leafy vegetables and brea
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Rights and benefits How much is it?
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Who gets it? Pregnant women and new
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Rights and benefits You must have n
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• your baby is born before your M
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Rights and benefits (MAT B1 form),
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Rights and benefits Giving notice f
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Rights and benefits If you return t
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• state that this is an applicati
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USEFUL ORGANISATIONS Some of these
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In Northern Ireland: Northern Irela
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INDEX A abnormalities tests to dete
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The Pregnancy Book “It contains e
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