Morning sickness

Despite the name, the nausea or vomiting you experience may occur at any time of day.

• Munch on something before you even get out of bed in a morning, a few crackers will work.
• Don’t let your stomach get completely empty. Eat several small meals a day.
• Drink plenty of liquids, especially if you’ve been vomiting. If you stomach is very upset, try crushed ice or frozen ice pops.
• Suck on candy made especially for morning sickness.
• Try ginger tea.

Slight spotting

Very early in your pregnancy, you may experience some light pink spotting—much lighter than a normal period.

Douching is not recommended during pregnancy because of the chance of it provoking an infection. You can wear panty liners and know that this will stop soon.

Cramping

Cramping can also be common in early pregnancy as the uterus shifts.

• Try applying low heat to the lower abdomen with a heating pad or hot water bottle.
• Sometimes acetaminophen (like Tylenol®) will help with cramps. Never take ibuprofen during pregnancy and do not take any drug during pregnancy without running it past your doctor or caregiver.
• Eat well and drink plenty of water.
• Get plenty of rest. Take a break and slow down physical activity when cramps begin.

Frequent urination

Even early on in the pregnancy, your growing
uterus can start putting pressure on your
bladder.

This
is one of those symptoms to endure. Do not
decrease your fluid intake while your are
pregnant.

Breasts become larger or more tender

Your breasts may start to feel a little
swollen and tender, much like the days before
your period. This is just the start, they will
grow during the entire pregnancy.

Use good
supportive bra when you need to wear a bra. If
you can go more casual, try halters and shirts
with built-in shelf for light support that is
not binding.

If you need to get
bra with an increased cup size, do so, but
don’t invest in a maternity bra until your
third trimester. Your breasts will continue to
grow larger right up to you start
breastfeeding.

A very common symptom, you might start to
feel tired, even exhausted, often during the
first trimester. This is because your body is
going through significant metabolic changes and
it needs time to adjust to the new process of
growing a baby. For most women, the fatigue
starts to go away by the 12th week of
pregnancy.

• Get the rest you need. Take
  naps during the day or after work. Go to
  bed when you are tired.
• Cut down on commitments
  (volunteering, social events, etc) for a
  while, especially if they’re wearing you
  out.
• Get help. Ask your
  partner, children, other family members, or
  friends to help out as much as
  possible.
• Moderate exercise, such as
  walking for up to 30 minutes a day, can
  help you feel more alert and
  energetic.
• Make sure you are getting
  a healthy diet. Especially check with
  your doctor that you are getting enough
  iron. Foods rich in both iron and protein
  include red meat, eggs, poultry, seafood,
  whole-grain bread and pastas, and
  iron-fortified cereals.
• Avoid caffeine, which may not
  help  a lot and anyway may be
  harmful to your baby high
  doses.
• Do not take any medication
  unless approved by your
  doctor.

Constipation

Your bowel habits may change in early
pregnancy. The extra hormones produced during
pregnancy cause the intestines to relax and
become less efficient.

• Eat
  high-fiber fruits (prunes), vegetables, and
  whole grains like whole wheat and
  oatmeal.
• Eat on a
  regular schedule and eat until you are
  satisfied, not overfull.
• Drink plenty
  of liquids — at least eight glasses a
  day.
• Get some
  exercise every day, a 20 – 30 minute walk
  will do.
• With your
  doctor’s approval, try fiber supplements
  (Metamucil,  Citrucel, etc.) or
  a mild laxative such as milk of
  magnesia, which is safe.

Many pregnant women experience burning in
the middle of the chest, burping, or the taste
of acid in the throat at some point during
pregnancy. Heartburn and indigestion are
extremely common. The pregnancy hormone
progesterone makes your stomach work slower but
also relaxes the muscle at the top of the
stomach, the one that stops food from coming
up. A full stomach and a loose valve is a
formula for acid reflux and heartburn.

• Eat several small meals
  instead of two or three large ones. No
  matter how small the meal, eat
  slowly.
• Drink plenty of fluids,
  especially water.
• Don’t eat common heartburn
  triggers: chocolate, fried foods,
  chocolate, peppermint, garlic and
  onion.
• Avoid coffee even
  decaf.
• Don’t go to sleep on a full
  stomach, have your last meal 2 or 3 hours
  before going to bed.
• Raise the head off your bed
  four to six inches if you get heartburn
  when lying down.
• Talk to your caregiver
  about using antacids or other medications
  that relieve heartburn. These products can
  be used safely in pregnancy, but your
  caregiver needs to approve
  it.

Discharge

The amount of vaginal discharge increases
early in pregnancy. There’s just a lot more of
it now, partly because of increased estrogen
production and greater blood flow to the
vaginal area.

Douching will not
help the normal increase in vaginal discharge
and could cause an infection in your uterus
that could actually provoke the premature
delivery of your baby. Never douche during
pregnancy. If you have symptoms of itching,
odor, burning or other vaginal discomfort, it
may be an infection and should be evaluated and
treated by your doctor.