Low back pain is extremely common in pregnancy.  Over 50% of women experience it at some point.  It’s related to your changing body.  Your ligaments are loosening in preparation for delivery; this is secondary to hormonal influences.  Women who exercise three times or more a week seem to have less low back pain.  We recommend walking 30-45 minutes, three to five times per week to treat low back pain.  If the pain is severe you can seek treatment with a physical therapist or a chiropractor, but above all avoid any x-rays.  Tylenol may also be helpful for back pain.  We do not recommend you take it on a regular basis. It’s felt to be safe, but does not really change the underlying cause of the problem.  Almost all back pain resolves within six months after delivery.

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms in early pregnancy.  One in five women will suffer from fatigue.  Even in early pregnancy, your growing uterus and child require some of your body’s energy.   Also you are not feeling your best, you may have morning sickness and eating less, so you can become hypoglycemic.  Not to mention, nausea can certainly make you feel fatigued. Later in pregnancy, during your third trimester, you put on weight, your feet and ankles may swell and it is harder to move around.  You may develop more aches and pains and have difficulty sleeping.  All of this can lead to fatigue as well.  The best solution to fatigue is to listen to your body.  Get plenty of sleep and take an occasional nap. Make sure you eat properly, get a little bit of exercise each day, and walk 30 to 40 minutes five to…

All your internal muscle tissues relax a little bit during pregnancy, including the muscle around your bladder.  This is nature’s way of getting your body prepared for delivery.  Your ligaments and pelvis expand so that baby can pass easier through the birth canal.  The hormone progesterone is responsible for making your smooth muscles that line your bladder and intestines more relaxed.  You also drink a lot more liquid during pregnancy because both you and the baby need them. By the third trimester, you have a large uterus and baby sitting on your bladder.  You are now drinking more liquids; you have pressure on your bladder, and the bladder is relaxed.  This combination results in unintentional urination, or what we call incontinence.  It may happen when you sneeze or laugh.  The best thing to do is simply wear a pad if you are suffering from incontinence.  If you’re going out somewhere…

You may experience lightheadedness, dizziness, or just feeling out of sorts while you’re pregnant.  When you stand up from a chair you feel as though you are going to pass out.  If this occurs, please sit back down and ease out of the chair.  Sit on the edge, and then cautiously stand.  The reasons for lightheadedness are multiple.  You may be dehydrated and your blood pressure could be low because your hormones are making your blood vessels relax.  If you have low blood pressure, try eating more salty foods or simply add salt to your foods when appropriate.  Make sure you drink plenty of liquids so you don’t get dehydrated. Not getting enough sleep will result in lightheadedness and dizziness.  Get 8 hours of solid sleep every night, and don’t be afraid to rest in the afternoon.  Do not become a couch potato either, walking helps maintain the tone to…