Pregnancy is meant to be such a joyous moment for every mom, but unfortunately, most moms hardly get to enjoy it fully. Some experience severe morning sickness that lasts for eternity (well, nine months can seem like an eternity when in this state), some are strictly put on bed rest for one reason or the other while others have backache issues.
But the most common is the lack of any meaningful sleep and general fatigue and body aches. While there is nothing much a doctor can do about all these issues, there are a few things that you can do to make your pregnancy more comfortable.
Invest in a good mattress and lots of pillows.
The ultimate determinant of comfort during pregnancy is your night sleep. First and foremost, quit sleeping on your back as soon as you hit the second trimester and shift to sleeping on your sides. The weight of the uterus will put so much pressure on your back, rendering you to sleepless nights.
Second, invest in a good firm mattress. You will enjoy your time in bed. If you don’t know how to select a good one, just walk into a reputable mattress store in Salt Lake City that stocks top-quality mattress and explain to them what you want. They will be more than willing to assist you.
Third, stock up on fiber pillows for support. Although if you can get a pregnancy pillow, it’s the best. It will give you the much-needed support and comfort to make you sleep soundly.
Other things that can help improve your night sleep is avoiding caffeine or too much fluids after dinner, sleeping in a cool room, maintaining the same bedtime routine, wearing loose comfortable clothes and avoiding any spicy foods as they cause heartburn.
Drink lots of water.
You and your baby need to be well hydrated so drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water a day. Make sure that you drink a lot of water during the day to avoid bathroom breaks interrupting your night sleep. It’s important to emphasize how important drinking water is. It is especially important for pregnant women who are much more prone to acid reflux symptoms due to the pressure the baby creates on the stomach. So ideally you don’t want to consume any liquids that could make things worse like soda or alcohol as an example. In fact the drinks that are recommended for acid reflux tend also to be an extremely good choice, drinks that are soothing and not acidic like chamomile tea.
Rest your body.
Learn to listen to your body and obey. If you feel tired, don’t force it, take rest. Even if you are at work, am sure your boss will understand. So, sit down and put your legs up, lie down, or take a nap. Your growing baby is taking up a lot of your energy, and so you need to constantly stock up on energy.
Be mindful of your back.
Back pains are the most common aches in pregnancy. As the uterus grows your back bends inward in a bid to support the heavy uterus thus causing back strains. To alleviate this pain, maintaining a good posture is important. Try and walk, sit, and stand with your back upright.
If you have to lift heavy objects, don’t just bend your waist as normal, start with bending your knees first then slowly lift the object. But in any case, you should avoid lifting very heavy objects. Also, invest in comfortable flat shoes; avoid high heels till post-delivery.
Even with all the above, you might still not achieve maximum comfort. So, the best thing is to embrace the situation and try making the best of it. In the end, it will all be worth it.
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