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Pregnancy

How to deal with 4 not-so-pleasant side effects of pregnancy

How to deal with 4 not-so-pleasant side effects of pregnancy

by

Brandi Riley

posted in Pregnancy

I never felt more beautiful then when I was pregnant. Thanks to prenatal vitamins, my hair was lush and full. My skin was clear and dewy. The curves of my belly and breasts made me feel more feminine than ever. Of course, the compliments from my loved ones about how I was “glowing” didn’t hurt, either!

As lovely as I may have looked on the outside, no one (except a woman who has been pregnant) could imagine what was going on below the surface. Everything from skin issues to weird stuff happening underneath my pants helped me stay humble. All of those compliments would certainly have turned me into a diva had it not been for the not-so-pleasant pregnancy side effects I was dealing with.

Thankfully, moms are incredibly transparent and helpful when it comes to intimate, even unsavory, pregnancy issues. All I had to do was post my problem on Facebook, or send a text, and I’d have an answer within minutes. Now it’s my duty as part of the pregnancy sisterhood to share some of that information with you.

If you’re pregnant, it’s likely that at some point you’ll deal with some of these unhappy side effects.

1. Morning sickness

Morning sickness is one of the most common side effects of pregnancy. Try drinking ginger tea, increasing your protein intake, and wearing a motion sickness band to ward off nausea. Some women find relief by drinking cold carbonated beverages, and avoiding foods that are fatty, spicy, acidic or have strong aromas, all of which can activate nausea.

If you find that you are vomiting all the time, check with your doctor because you may be suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, which is more serious.

2. Constipation

Constipation was definitely my least favorite part of pregnancy. I have never been more uncomfortable in my life than when I was constipated during pregnancy. I had to drink way more water than I was used to, and even added a bit of fiber powder. Eat more leafy green vegetables to help move things along, if you can stomach them with finicky pregnancy taste buds. Exercise can really help awaken your digestion system, too.

3. Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are a condition in which blood vessels in the rectum and anus get inflamed and cause discomfort. Hemorrhoids often appear during pregnancy as a result of constipation; for other mamas, they just show up all on their own.

One of the best ways to find hemorrhoid relief is with Tucks Medicated Pads. Pregnant women swear by Tucks! The pads contain witch hazel that cools the affected area. Most importantly, they temporarily relieve the itching and burning associated with hemorrhoids — and anyone who’s had hemorrhoids know exactly how uncomfortable that is, and what even temporary relief can mean.

4. Itchy skin

Although I didn’t experience it with my first pregnancy, my skin itched so bad the second time around! I learned that itchy skin is a condition that many pregnant women deal with, caused by hormone changes, your stretching skin, and sometimes, skin conditions like eczema (though women with psoriasis often report less severe symptoms during pregnancy!). It helped to eliminate products like washing detergent with irritating chemicals, and to switch brands of soap. Make sure you pick up some fragrance-free lotion to stay moisturized and stay away from super hot showers, too.

Don’t let this list scare you. Sure, there are some parts of pregnancy that are uncomfortable, but keep your eye on the prize. At the end of the road is a sweet little baby who will make it all worth it!

What was the most uncomfortable part of your pregnancy?

This post is sponsored by Tucks.  All opinions are truthful and my own.

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