Coping with Pregnancy Symptoms Present in the First Week

The most common early signs of pregnancy are: missed or unusual menstrual period, extreme fatigue, nausea and/or vomiting, frequent urination, tender breasts, backaches, constipation, headaches, mood swings, food cravings, feeling lightheaded and/or fainting, and heartburn. This list may seem daunting, but don't despair. Most women experience only a handful of these pregnancy symptoms and there are ways of coping with them. Here are a few methods I found helpful when dealing with my early pregnancy symptoms.

Dealing with Early Pregnancy Symptoms - Extreme Fatigue

Early in pregnancy, most women feel more tired than usual. The body is working overtime as it creates more hormones, pumps more blood to supply the baby with nutrients, and makes other necessary changes to prepare for the baby. All of these changes may cause extreme fatigue.

Try These Helpful Tips:

1. Walk it Off with Exercise.
When the sleepiness begins to sneak in, get up and move around for a few minutes. Unless your physician warns against it, try to exercise at least 30 minutes each day. I chose to walk because it was safe, could be done anywhere, and kept my body conditioned. Exercising regularly gave me more energy and also improved my mood.

2. Take Naps and Go to Bed Early.
Squeeze in sleep whenever possible. For me, coming home for a short nap during lunch break became a daily routine. Even when actual sleep isn't possible, taking a short break to relax will help reenergize your body.

In addition to taking daytime breaks and naps, get more sleep at night. As a chronic night-owl, going to bed early was a new concept for me. Instead of reading the last few chapters of the novel or watching the late show, I made my way to the bedroom. I found that allowing that extra hour or two of sleep at night meant less of the likelihood that I'd fall asleep at my desk the next day.

3. Don't Push Yourself Too Hard.
Don't try to do too much. If you are tired or not feeling well, let the dishes sit in the sink until the next day. It will be alright! You'll have more energy to tackle them the next morning. If you're lucky, someone else may even come along and take care of them for you.

Enlist the help of your partner, older children, family members and friends as much as possible. When the new baby comes along and demands your undivided attention, they'll already be pitching in. That way, you won't have to train them to do chores later!

4. Maintain a Healthy Diet.
Eat foods rich in protein, iron, and potassium. Stock up on energy-fueling foods such as lean beef and chicken, whole grains, beans, nuts, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Also, be sure to drink plenty of decaffeinated, non-alcoholic fluids. Lack of sufficient water and other beneficial fluids may add to fatigue.

Dealing with Early Pregnancy Symptoms - Nausea

Nausea during pregnancy is triggered by the body's reaction to the many physical and hormonal changes taking place. Although it is often referred to as morning sickness, nausea during pregnancy can occur at any time of the day or night. Morning sickness may vary from light nausea to severe nausea accompanied by vomiting. Some women experience nausea throughout their entire pregnancy. Others are fortunate to not have morning sickness at all. The majority of pregnant woman encounter a mild bout of nausea during the first few months.

Try These Helpful Tips:

1. Eat Before Getting Out of Bed.
For most pregnant women, the worst nausea usually hits first thing in the morning because the stomach is empty. Persuade a family member bring you breakfast in bed or leave a bowl of crackers or dry cereal on the bed stand the night before. This will help settle a queasy stomach.

2. Eat Small Meals.
Instead of eating the standard three square meals each day, break meals up into five or six mini-meals. This method prevents your stomach from becoming completely empty. Small portions are easy to keep settled when your stomach is uneasy. I found that eating small meals and snacks (not greasy, spicy, or heavy foods) helped control my nausea.

3. Avoid Foods with Strong Odors.
Avoid foods with strong odors when you feel nauseous. When you find an odor aversion to a particular food, stay away from it! I've been a coffee lover for years but when I was pregnant, even the smell of coffee brewing made me nauseous. Fortunately for me, since no one else in my home drank coffee it was easier to avoid the scent.

Dealing with Early Pregnancy Symptoms - Backaches

Backaches during early pregnancy usually result from postural changes. As your uterus begins to grow, your center of gravity shifts to the front and puts extra strain on the back. Another contributing factor is ligaments stretching and pulling. Throughout pregnancy, the ligaments and joints loosen up to prepare for delivery. This makes it easier to pull muscles and strain your back.

Try These Helpful Tips:

1. Use Heat to Alleviate Pain.

Although soaking in the tub may sound relaxing, it's best to avoid immersing yourself in hot water during pregnancy. Your baby may have a hard time adjusting to such a drastic change in temperature. I found that applying a hot pack directly on the affected area helped loosen the muscles and reduce the pain.

2. Sleep with Extra Pillows or a Body Pillow.
Backaches make sleeping through the night more difficult. To find comfort, try sleeping on your side with an extra pillow propped between your legs. During my first pregnancy, I discovered my new best friend...a body pillow. The pillow is long enough to rest the head on and place between the knees at the same time. It also offers extra support for your growing stomach later in pregnancy. The body pillow was a lifesaver (and back saver!) during my pregnancy. In fact, I'm so attached that I still sleep with it.

Dealing with Early Pregnancy Symptoms - Heartburn

Heartburn is a burning sensation in the lower chest or upper abdomen caused by food and stomach acid backing up. Early in pregnancy, heartburn is generally caused by the hormonal and physical changes in the body. My first experience with heartburn, as is the case with many women, was during pregnancy.

Try These Helpful Tips:

1. Eat Smaller, More Frequent Meals.
Just as with combating nausea, eating mini-meals throughout the day will also help reduce heartburn. Try to avoid eating heavy, greasy, and spicy foods as much as possible. Also, don't eat your last meal too close to bedtime. Eating a couple slices of pizza right before bedtime probably isn't a wise choice. Believe me, I found that out the hard way! Allowing the food time to digest before lying down will make a huge difference.

2. Don't Lie Flat.
It may seem like a good idea to lie down when you're full or don't feel well. It's not and will most likely make you feel worse. Stomach acid can't travel uphill, so sitting upright helps keep the acid in your stomach where it belongs. When you do lie down, elevating your head and upper body about 4-6 inches will prevent heartburn from returning. I found that sliding a wedge under the mattress at the head of the bed works wonders for warding off heartburn.

As I explained at the beginning of this article, pregnancy symptoms are different for every woman and for each pregnancy. If you're not experiencing the same symptoms as another pregnant woman, don't worry. Each woman's body responds differently to the shock of being pregnant. If, however, you are pregnant and experience a sudden loss of all symptoms, please consult your physician.