15 Common Pregnancy Problems and Solutions

We’ve all been there. Not long after you rejoice over a positive pregnancy test, a host of frustrating (but normal) pregnancy ailments come along to take the wind out of your sails. But you don’t have to suffer for nine months. We asked real moms to share their tried and true remedies for the some of the most common pregnancy problems.

DISCLAIMER: None of these moms are doctors, so—as always—check with your physician before trying anything new.

Rising hormone levels and a heightened sense of smell can lead to dry heaves, vomiting and persistent queasiness, like you’ve been trapped below deck on a deep sea fishing boat.

Real Mom Remedy:

“The key was to eat something as soon as I felt sick to keep my blood sugar up. I found that if I sucked on a hard candy, the ill feelings faded.” – Jennifer D.

“Ginger candy and peppermint tea both helped.” – Ariana B.

Pregnancy hormones relax muscles in the lower esophagus, allowing stomach acids to splash upwards, causing painful acid indigestion. Ouch.

Real Mom Remedy:

“To ease my heartburn, I made apple cider vinegar tea using 1 cup of hot water, 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon of honey and a bit of lemon. Drinking some before and after every meal really helped.” – Tiffany W.

“Peppermint tea and gum made a difference.” – Jenny S.

Particularly in the first and third trimesters, pregnant women often feel exhausted, and it’s no wonder—you’re growing an entire human!

Real Mom Remedy:

“I drank green smoothies. They gave me more energy than caffeine ever did.” – Angel L.

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Additional blood and fluid in your body can cause extremities to swell. Watch out for those wedding rings!

Real Mom Remedy:

“Spinning class! Exercise really helped control my swelling. I used a heart rate monitor to make sure I wasn’t overdoing it.” – Manda D.

“Drink homemade barley tea. Worked like a charm for me. Ancient Chinese secret.” – Rachel T.

Digestion slows down during pregnancy, which can lead to burping and flatulence. Oh joy.

Real Mom Remedy:

“I’ve noticed less gas when I eat smaller meals and take a walk right afterwards. Soda always makes me burp, and it’s worse when I’m pregnant, so if I’m trying to be ladylike, I stick to flat water.” – Amy W.

Slower digestion, the pressure of your uterus on your rectum and even the iron in your prenatal vitamins can back up your system.

Real Mom Remedy:

“A nurse gave me a tip for when things start to get blocked up. She told me to get a small step stool and position myself into a completely crouched position so that my butt was pretty much hovering over the toilet and most of my weight was on the step stool. Then apply strong pressure to my perineum while bearing down. I don't quite understand how this works but it's amazing!” – Lindsey R.

Painful spasms, especially in the calves, are very common, and may be caused by increased body weight or compression of the blood vessels.

Real Mom Remedy:

“Eating bananas before bed seemed to prevent my leg cramps.” – Nory R.

“Pillows. Lots of pillows! I went to sleep in my own mini-nest.” – Angel L.

“Medical-grade compression socks helped my sore legs. Expensive but worth it.” – Marie R.

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Your growing body puts pressure on your skin, sometimes causing stretch marks on the abdomen, breasts, buttocks and thighs.

Real Mom Remedy:

“I swear that The Body Shop body lotion prevented me from getting stretch marks. I was told over and over again that stretch marks are genetic but I am the only one out of my mom, my sister and me to not get them (except for a couple of tiny ones on my back). I rubbed it all over throughout both of my pregnancies.” –Stephanie W.

“Split a vitamin E capsule and rub the oil on your stretch marks.” – Arianna B.

Pressure from the uterus on your bladder may cause you to leak a little pee, especially when you sneeze, cough or laugh.

Real Mom Remedy:

“Gotta do those Kegel exercises. Imagine your muscles are an elevator: Practice going up a few floors, then back down, then hold it.” – Jenny S.

What doesn’t make your back sore during pregnancy? Weight gain, posture changes and relaxed muscles can all contribute to those unwelcome aches and pains.

Real Mom Remedy:

“I used a foam roller to release the muscles and help my sciatica.” – Marie R.

“A warm Epsom salt bath soothes my aching back.” – Abrill A.

Remember how teenage hormones messed with your skin? It might happen again now that you’re pregnant.

Real Mom Remedy:

“For pregnancy acne, I found that using limited-ingredient soap (homemade lavender/tea tree bar soap) and natural lotions, along with a facial brush, helped keep the acne at bay.” – Erin M.

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Estrogen swells the mucus membranes in your nose, often causing pregnancy rhinitis, aka a stuffy nose that won’t quit.

Real Mom Remedy:

“I used saline spray in my nose 3-4 times a day my whole pregnancy. It was the only way I could avoid being a constant mouth-breather.” – Kelli N.

“I love essential oils. I use a combo of peppermint oil applied over my sinuses (beware eyes may tear), RC oil on my chest and a lovely homemade tea using hot water, honey, thieves oil and lemon oil (just a drop or two of each). I also do a daily nasal rinse, mixing salt and baking soda with warm water in a squirt bottle from the drug store—so easy!” – Carrie G.

“A Neti pot is great. Before, during and after pregnancy, it's my go-to congestion reliever.” – Emily S.

One of the great paradoxes of pregnancy is that you’re so tired, yet you struggle to get a good night’s sleep due to difficulty getting comfortable, frequent trips to the bathroom, leg cramps and even anxiety about the baby.

Real Mom Remedy:

“I found the pregnancy sleep elixir: warm milk with cinnamon and honey!” – Angela D.

“For insomnia, I have to work out, preferably early in the day. Cardio (walking, elliptical), weight lifting and yoga all help me sleep. A body pillow helps keep me comfortable throughout the night so I'm not constantly waking up, although I haven't found a cure for frequent nighttime urination!” – Erin M.

Dehydration is common in pregnancy due to frequent urination, vomiting and even sweating, leaving you feeling parched. (Gestational diabetes can also be a factor, so make sure to get checked by your doctor between 24-28 weeks.)

Real Mom Remedy:

“I invested in a pregnancy pillow to keep me from rolling on my back and I placed a cool air humidifier right by my head. Now I don't wake up with cotton mouth.” – Linda M.

First comes constipation, then straining, then voila—you have hemorrhoids, which are swollen veins near the anal opening.

Real Mom Remedy:

“Apply some witch hazel on a cotton ball. It’s soothing.” – Angela D.

“I take powdered magnesium, 1/4-1/2 teaspoon a day or every other day. It loosens you up, and looser stools will help with the 'roids.” – Tiffany W.