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Even very early on in your pregnancy, changing hormone levels can cause morning sickness and other conditions. You might also be sensitive to some smells or crave certain types of food. Don’t worry, it’s all completely normal. Learning how to manage these issues can make you more comfortable throughout your pregnancy.
Constipation
Your body releases certain hormones during pregnancy. Some slow down your digestion, which can lead to constipation. To ease the symptoms, you can:
- Drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day
- Eating fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole-grain breads and cereals
- Using bran tablets or fiber tablets like Metamucil and Fiberall
If your clinician says it’s ok, you can try over-the-counter stool softeners. Avoid laxatives like Ex-Lax or Miralax unless your clinician says it’s safe.
Cravings
You might find that you’re craving certain foods. Unless a clinician says otherwise, you can eat what you want. Try to focus on foods that provide you with good nutrition.
Gas
Feeling gassy is very common when you’re having a baby. Some foods — such as broccoli, beans, and lettuce — are more likely to produce gas. If you are having issues, try to eat less of these foods. You can also try to:
- Avoiding carbonated drinks
- Eating slowly and chewing food thoroughly
- Eating 5 or 6 small meals instead of 3 large meals
Headaches
Changing hormone levels can lead to headaches. The pain reliever acetaminophen is considered to be safe during pregnancy. You shouldn’t take aspirin, ibuprofen, or migraine medications unless a clinician tells you it’s ok. You can also try to:
- Asking your partner to give you a shoulder or neck massage
- Lying down and relaxing as much as possible
- Putting a cool cloth over your head and face
You should contact your clinician right away if you have a severe headache, especially after week 20 of pregnancy. Also call if you have a headache along with fever, muscle weakness, or vision changes, or if acetaminophen doesn’t relieve your pain.
Sensitivity to smells
Many people become very sensitive to certain smells while they are pregnant. This can lead to feeling sick to your stomach or even vomiting. You should try to:
- Getting outside in the fresh air
- Avoiding foods that you know make you queasy
- Removing cooking odors with an exhaust fan
Keep in mind that foods you normally enjoy may bother you. For most people, this passes.
Morning sickness
It’s called morning sickness, but it can happen at any time during the day. Morning sickness is caused by changing hormone levels. In most cases, it gets better or goes away after 3 or 4 months, but some people deal with it throughout their pregnancy.
Eating several smaller meals throughout the day can help reduce morning sickness. Eating every 2 or 3 hours, even if you don’t feel hungry, can help keep nausea from getting worse. You can also try to:
- Avoid fried, greasy, or highly seasoned foods
- Drink ice-cold beverages, since these can be easier on your stomach
- Eat fruits that contain lots of water, such as melons, oranges, or grapefruit
- Nibble on crackers or dry toast before you get out of bed in the morning and before you go to sleep at night
- Sip small amounts of caffeine-free carbonated drinks, apple or grape juice, or lemonade
- Eat popsicles to help you get more fluids