At some point in your life, you may choose to start a family. If you are a woman, you know that you are the one who has to go through pregnancy and experience a lot of changes. Pregnancy is a remarkable and transformative journey marked by the creation of a new life. Along with the excitement and anticipation, it often brings a host of unique and sometimes challenging physical and emotional changes. These changes are due to the numerous hormonal and physiological shifts that occur during pregnancy. None of these are as easy to navigate or to understand as you are going through them such as spider veins. In this blog, we will explore some of the most common pregnancy symptoms that expecting mothers may experience and provide insights into managing them.
Morning Sickness
Morning sickness is perhaps one of the most widely recognized pregnancy symptoms. Contrary to its name, it can occur at any time of the day. Hormonal changes, especially a rise in human chorionic gonadotropin and estrogen, are believed to be the culprits. While it typically improves after the first trimester, morning sickness can be managed through dietary changes, small, frequent meals, and ginger-based remedies. Morning sickness can happen at all hours of the day. For some, it just means they are nauseous, while others will be throwing up. Talk with your provider about the different ways that you can help yourself to feel better and fight the morning sickness. Typically is subsides after about 12 weeks but for some it can last longer.
Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are often a result of increased pressure on the blood vessels in the pelvic area and lower extremities. They can lead to aching, swollen legs. Wearing compression stockings and avoiding prolonged standing can help manage varicose veins. They are also known as spider veins or snake veins, either way they are not a super fun symptom of pregnancy. For most, once your pregnancy is over and your body levels out, it will go away with time. Some may stick around but most should go away as your blood volume decreases during postpartum.
Fatigue
Fatigue is another early pregnancy symptom, often related to increased levels of the hormone progesterone. This hormone can make you feel more tired than usual. Adequate rest, gentle exercise, and a balanced diet can help combat pregnancy-related fatigue. Throughout the first trimester, you may find it hard to stay awake throughout the day. During this time it is not uncommon to go to bed much earlier than you used to.
Frequent Urination
In the early stages of pregnancy, the growing uterus exerts pressure on the bladder, leading to frequent urination. As the pregnancy progresses, this symptom may improve. Staying hydrated is important, but try to avoid drinking too many fluids close to bedtime to reduce nighttime bathroom trips. The first and third trimester is when you are likely to experience this the most and the second trimester is when you may feel that your bladder patterns are more normal.
