Aches, how do you cope with inconveniences during your pregnancy?

Those swollen veins surrounding the anus are caused by a relaxation of the blood vessel walls under the influence of progesterone. Next to this, more and more pressure is put on your lower body during pregnancy. When constipation arises, all the conditions to develop piles are present. They are often itchy and painful. They may also bleed during a bowel movement.

Tip: make sure your stool is soft and try not to strain during a bowel movement.

There are several topical piles creams that you can use safely during pregnancy. We recommend a treatment of Curanol with cream and tablets. They can be purchased at most drugstores and pharmacies or you can order them at www.curanol.nl.

The blood flow in your vagina increases substantially during pregnancy. As a result, the glands in your vaginal wall produce more moisture. You may notice you have more vaginal discharge than usual. This is usually odourless and watery. Does it burn, feel itchy and is the discharge thick? Then you may have a yeast infection. It is important to treat it. You can purchase a cream or vaginal capsules at the drugstore and pharmacy. You can also contact your general practitioner. 
Tip: wear cotton underwear and avoid pantyliners made with a lot of plastic.

Your uterus is connected to your pelvis with ligaments, like a kind of trampoline. As your uterus grows, your ligaments can become tense. This can sometimes cause sharp pain on the side of your belly towards the groin area. Round ligament pain is completely normal and disappears when your uterus is used to the new situation.

Tip: try to prevent sudden movements. Sit down when you start to feel sharp pain and try to relax. Then the pain will disappear by itself.

To prepare the pelvis for labour it is softened. Unfortunately, this is a slow process that starts during pregnancy. As a result, your pelvis gets more flexible. Many women notice this because of lower back pain or a sore feeling in the pubic bone, usually after a tiring day.

Tip: take it easy! Try not to burden the pelvis too much by lifting, bending and walking a lot. Check your posture and wear flat shoes. Change your position regularly as well. For more advice, you can always contact us.

Having to urinate regularly is something almost all pregnant women suffer from. Do you have to pee small amounts very often, is it painful to pee and do you also have a sore belly, then you might have a urinary tract infection. You should then contact us or your GP. Then, your urine will be checked and in the case of an infection you will be prescribed a course of antibiotics. Always notify your GP that you are pregnant or are breastfeeding. 
Tip: drinking a lot of water, taking vitamin C and cranberry juice or tablets may prevent a urinary tract infection.

Do not worry about a bleeding nose or gums when brushing your teeth. During pregnancy the walls of the blood vessels in the nose and oral mucosa are a bit thinner and better supplied with blood. As a result, they tend to bleed more quickly. 
Tip: use a soft toothbrush and continue going to your dentist and dental hygienist during your pregnancy.

Pregnancy hormones and the growth of your uterus can make the valve at the entrance to the stomach relax so that it doesn’t close as it should. As a result, stomach acids move up into the oesophagus. This usually gives you an uncomfortable burning feeling and the feeling your food doesn’t go down.

Tip: eat several small meals throughout the day. Avoid drinking coffee and soft drinks, fried, greasy or spicy foods. Raising your head when you sleep with an extra pillow can decrease the symptoms.

Sometimes it helps to take a spoon of custard (Dutch: vla) or a sip of milk. If this doesn’t help, there are several remedies available to ease heartburn, such as Aalox, Antagel or Rennies.

When laying on your back for a while, you may become very dizzy, start to sweat and feel that you are going to faint. This often passes when turning on your side. We call this the vena cava syndrome. It is caused by the heavy, pregnant uterus pressing on the inferior hollow vain (vena cava). This is unpleasant, but not dangerous for your baby. 
Tip: make sure you have an extra pillow under your back or raise your backrest a bit when using an electrically, adjustable bed.

Your uterus is a hollow muscle that contracts regularly. During pregnancy you experience this as stomach tightening. You often notice this with a sudden movement or at the end of the day when you’ve been busy. Stomach tightening is harmless and part of pregnancy. However, when you get it more often, it is painful or you have any other symptoms, always contact us! 
Tip: take enough rest and try to relax. A warm bath or a hot water bottle works miracles.

A cold sore is caused by the herpes simplex virus. Once you are infected with the virus, it will come back. The cold sore will pop up every once in a while. Having a cold sore during pregnancy is harmless for your baby. However, during the first three months after the baby is born, your new-born baby can get infected with the herpes virus and may become very ill.
Tip: treat your cold sore during pregnancy and postpartum period with a cream or a specific plaster. Make sure you wash your hands regularly. Do not cuddle or kiss your baby.

Did you just go to sleep, are you suddenly sitting upright in bed due to a huge cramp in your calf. Almost half of the pregnant women suffer from this symptom. It is not exactly clear what the cause is, but it probably has to do with several factors. Leg cramps can be very uncomfortable, but they are harmless. 
Tip: do not sit with your legs crossed, make sure you move enough, drink enough water and exercise regularly to bend and stretch your legs. Taking some extra magnesium may help sometimes. When having a cramp: stretch your leg and press your toes towards you. A massage and some warmth can work miracles as well.

During the first months of your pregnancy, you have a high level of the hormone hCG in your body. It is an important hormone, because it makes sure that the early pregnancy is maintained. Unfortunately, it is the major cause of (morning) sickness as well.

After the 16^th week of pregnancy, the levels of hCG decrease slowly and the nausea usually disappears as well. 

Tip: start your day with a cup of tea and a cracker in bed. Make sure you eat small meals regularly throughout the day, so that you do not have an empty stomach, and take it easy. Drinking ginger sirop can help as well. It can be purchased at Asian supermarkets, also in the form of tablets. Nuxvomica is a homeopathic remedy and can be purchased at most drugstores. Acupuncture and foot reflex therapy can also help decrease symptoms.

Excessive vomiting can lead to dehydration. Then the toxins in your body cannot be disposed properly. So, try to keep drinking enough and pay attention to whether you are still urinating! Always contact us (in case you are in doubt), if you vomit regularly.

During pregnancy the functioning of your intestines slows down. This is caused by the hormone progesterone. As a result, many women suffer from constipation.

Tip: make sure your food has lots of fibre. For example, brown bread, mix flax seed into your yoghurt, a lot of vegetables and fruit (with peel). It is also very important that you drink plenty of liquids. By moving a lot your intestines are stimulated and you should go to the toilet as soon as you feel the urge.

Every pregnant woman retains fluid. Swollen fingers and ankles are harmless as long as your blood pressure is normal and you do not have any other symptoms such as vomiting, upper abdominal pain or stomach ache.
Tip: continue to drink enough water, eat various kinds of fruit and make sure you move regularly. Regularly sitting with your legs up and a pillow below your feet can also give some relief.

During pregnancy breast tissue grows due to the production of mammary glands and blood vessels. As a result, your breasts may be sore and painful. Some pregnant women might experience their breasts growing 1 or 2 cup sizes bigger, other women only experience their breasts becoming heavier. This is both completely normal and does not say anything about the quality of the nutrition after the baby is born. It may occur that you have some milk coming out of your breasts already during pregnancy, but usually feeding only starts after giving birth. 
Tip: make sure you wear a bra that fits well. You may sometimes need to buy some new bras due to a change in cup size.

Back pain is very common during pregnancy. Your posture usually changes a bit when your belly grows, and your pelvis and ligaments are softened due to hormones. 
Tip: Swimming and exercising the back muscles can keep your muscles flexible. It is better not to wear high heels and to lift (heavy) things. When your back pain doesn’t disappear, it is recommended to visit a therapist.

During pregnancy there is more pressure on the blood vessels in the power part of your body. This can cause varicose veins in your legs, but sometimes also on your labia. 
Tip: make sure you do not sit or stand for too long. Rinsing your legs with cold water can sometimes help. When your symptoms worsen, compression stockings may give some relief. Try to elevate your legs at night by placing a pillow under your feet.

Fatigue occurs in 90% of pregnant women. Being pregnant takes a lot of energy of course! Sometimes anaemia is the cause, but not always. 

Tip: listen to your body and give in to the fatigue. Try to take a nap during the day and go to bed early at night. 

Pregnancy stretch marks can suddenly appear. This is caused by the stretching of the skin due to the growing uterus. Because of the stretch of your skin, the epidermis starts to rip a bit. The stretch marks usually have a purple-reddish colour. They will fade and get smaller after the pregnancy. Unfortunately, they will never disappear completely. 
Tip: there are no tips to prevent stretch marks, unfortunately. Applying creams and oils can give some relief, but do not prevent stretch marks.