Caused by increased weight, postural changes, and pressure from a growing pregnancy.

Recommendations:

• Avoid lifting and high heels
• Maintain good posture
• Exercise and stretch regularly; use back exercises
• Use a maternity belt- available at Motherhood and BabiesRUs
• Can use heating pad, Tylenol, or ice packs to lower back

Caused by a growing pregnancy pushing on the bladder. This may be worse in the 1st and 3rd trimester.

Recommendation: Call if it is accompanied by burning, pain, blood, or fever

Common in late pregnancy

Recommendations:

• Exercise regularly, stay active in the day
• Try relaxation techniques… warm bath before bed, decrease stimulus in bedroom (for example, no TV), meditation, stretching before bedtime
• Can use Benadryl, Tylenol PM

May increase with dehydration.

Recommendations:

• Increase water
• Stretch (especially before going to bed)
• Exercise regularly
• Increase calcium to recommended daily dose with diet or Tums
• Increase Potassium in your diet with bananas or figs

Okay anytime during pregnancy unless your physician has recommended otherwise.

Very common in pregnancy. Symptoms include white clumpy vaginal discharge, itching, and burning.

Recommendations:

• Can use Monistat/Femstat 3 or 7 day treatments (although applicators may be contraindicated if you are at risk for preterm labor or if you have certain placental condition so please call our office if you have any concerns prior to use).
• Wear loose fitting clothes and cotton undergarments
• Dry off completely after bathing; may use a hair dryer to decrease moisture
• Change out of moist clothes quickly after exercise, swimming, etc.
• Call if discharge is yellow, green, or has a foul odor, or continues despite treatment.

Usually cause by nasal drainage into the throat or viral infections in which case, antibiotics don’t help.

Recommendations:

• Decongestants (like Sudafed) to help decrease drainage
• Warm saltwater gargles
• Can use throat lozenges and Chloraseptic

Remember that water is the best expectorant.

Recommendations:

• May use Robitussin or Triaminic
• Drink water
• Call if you have a fever and a productive cough
• Get your flu vaccine!

Caused by dry nasal passages and worsened by vascular changes in pregnancy

Recommendations:

• Saline nose spray 3-4 times daily
• Use a humidifier
• Vaseline jelly to lower nasal septum

These problems can be worse in pregnancy and can result in increased mucous secretions, dry mucosal membranes and increased symptoms in which case, antibiotics don’t help.

Recommendations:

• Increase fluids, use humidifiers, use saline nose spray
• Can use decongestants like Dimetapp, Tylenol Cold & Sinus
• Can use antihistamines like Claritin, Benadryl, Tavist
• Get your flu vaccine!