During both of my pregnancies, I had the worst allergies. Add to that my difficulty sleeping, and my nightly Tylenol PM seemed like a godsend. But since that last baby was born, I've read more and more of the dangers of taking different medications, especially while pregnant. In fact, recent studies indicate that Tylenol may not be as safe as we thought and that medicines like Tylenol PM can up your risk of Alzheimer's later in life. Well, crap.
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So what's a mama to do? Luckily, there are plenty of natural remedies to try for just about every pregnancy symptom. I've rounded up a few here for some of the most common complaints.
NAUSEA
What's pregnancy without a little morning sickness? If you're pregnant, you probably have bouts of queasiness, so check out a couple of these natural nausea remedies:
- Try some ginger root, which even comes in chews, capsules.
- Peppermint oil, tea, candies… Basically peppermint works wonders to settle the stomach, which is why so many restaurants send you home with mints.
- Have some protein before bed and maybe keep a snack on your nightstand. This will help your blood sugar stay stable through the night so you won't feel so yucky upon waking.
FATIGUE
Growing a baby is exhausting work, so it's no surprise that expecting mamas are often totally wiped out. Instead of chugging a latte, try a few of these healthier energy-boosters:
- Nap! You may feel the need to nest, but nap if you can.
- Avoid caffeine. It may be counter-intuitive, but caffeine only masks your need for rest, which will have increased by the time the coffee has worn off. It's much better to listen to your body.
- Eat foods rich in iron and protein. Your diet has a tremendous effect on your energy level. Load your plate up with healthy food and you'll feel the difference.
TROUBLE SLEEPING
Sleeplessness can occur during pregnancy for multiple reasons: hormone changes, a big belly making you uncomfortable, heartburn from the pickle and grape jelly sandwich you just HAD to have… if you find yourself tossing and turning, give these a try:
- Chamomile tea is known to help people sleep, but do beware as it can cause seasonal allergies to flare up if you are allergic to ragweed.
- Magnesium affects your body in many positive ways. One of which is that it acts as a muscle relaxant. You can have a magnesium bath before bed or even buy it in a lotion, as it's absorbed through the skin. Be sure to ask your doc about the proper dosage for your pregnancy.
- Pregnancy pillows saved my life during both of my pregnancies. There are different kinds, so do your homework, but the one that worked for me was like this. It supported my back and my bump without taking up the whole bed. Yeah, they're expensive, but easy to make if you have a sewing machine.
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HEARTBURN
No, prenatal heartburn doesn't mean your baby has a ton of hair, but you may experience bouts of indigestion anyway. Luckily, there are a few things that could help alleviate your discomfort:
- Fresh lemon mixed with water becomes alkaline, and can neutralize acid reflux. So squeeze a wedge into your glass and let chemistry do its thing!
- Coconut water is also known to help with heartburn by soothing and neutralizing like lemon water.
- Aloe vera is anti-inflammatory and can be mixed with water or ingested as a juice, but run this one by your doctor first.
