How To Stay Comfortable When Pregnant

Pregnancy is a very special and unique period in the life of a woman and her family.

So many things go on at the same time. From the hormone changes to the rapidly increasing abdominal size, food cravings and very frequent sleepiness, a woman has to cope with these things in the process of getting ready to deliver her baby.

Pregnancy can be quite uncomfortable for obvious reasons, and knowing how to increase one’s comfort can go a long way in preventing unwanted distress.

In this article, we will be going through 7 practical strategies a woman can use to promote her comfort and ease during this challenging and special period.

1. Sleep Comfortably With Pillows

A lot of pregnant women report that they feel uncomfortable when they sleep, not knowing how exactly to sleep or which surface is best for them. What is recommended is that a pregnant woman should sleep on her left side, for comfort and safety. So, if you’re very used to sleeping on your back or tummy, you’ll need to adjust before your bump gets big enough to make you uncomfortable.

Also, a gravid woman can do no wrong with many pillows. Back support pillows, body pillows, and head pillows can be very helpful. They help in providing enough support for the abdomen and body during pregnancy.

2. Wear Maternity Clothes

While you’ll want to be fashionable during pregnancy, you should prioritize your comfort. Modern maternity clothes are designed to be both trendy and loose so that there’s enough room for you to feel at ease and not choked up.

Also, it’s expected that a woman should gain weight and experience a significant growth in the size of her tummy during pregnancy. Proper maternity clothes are designed to accommodate these changes, so you can be comfortable and avoid buying new clothes every trimester.

3. Elevate Your Legs

During pregnancy, it is not uncommon to experience feet and leg swellings. The reason is that a woman’s body accumulates a lot of fluids when pregnant, and the pressure exerted by the womb on the large abdominal veins, slows down the venous return of blood from the feet to the heart, hence, the accumulation of fluid and the development of swollen feet.

Leg elevation on a stool or on a pillow helps to reduce or prevent this swelling by countering the effect of gravity on this pooling of fluids.

4. Get As Much Rest As You Can

Pregnant women are encouraged to participate in some form of physical activity, but care must be taken to get adequate rest. Rest helps the body cope better and prevents different kinds of aches and pains.

During pregnancy, a chair lift for stairs can be put in place instead of running up and down the staircase, also, shower wheelchairs can be utilized to sit while showering. All these are to increase rest and comfort.

It is also advised that prolonged standing and other strenuous activities be avoided during pregnancy.

5. Embrace A Good Posture

A good posture can help you stay comfortable during pregnancy. How do you achieve this?

Sit on chairs with back support and don’t slouch on chairs. Also, when walking, try to keep your back straight as much as you can.

You should avoid wearing high-heeled shoes too frequently as this could disbalance you, making you more likely to fall. They could contribute to bad posture by changing your center of gravity. Generally, in pregnancy, comfortable shoes should be worn.

6. Eat Frequent Small Meals

Pregnant women may experience indigestion and frequent heartburns. One way to combat these is to eat small but frequent meals. If you’re one that is specifically used to having three meals only per day, you should try to adjust this, as this will keep you more comfortable, and protect against heartburn.

7. Stay Hydrated

Drinking water and other fluids are not only essential in keeping a healthy pregnancy but are also necessary for comfort. Fluids help you stay hydrated and avoid dehydration which can harm you, and make you uneasy. It helps in the proper functioning of the kidneys and other body organs. It also helps to protect against unwanted pain and generalized body aches.

You should also avoid caffeine because it can lead to dehydration.

Guest post by Dr. Charles-Davies of https://www.25doctors.com