Discomforts of pregnancy can be minimized

The major physical and hormonal changes a woman undergoes during pregnancy can often come with unpleasant side effects, including morning sickness, sleeplessness, or aches and pain during certain activities.

But there is relief to be had, says Dr. Dean Bloch, who is a member of Health Quest Medical Practice’s Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as chief of OB/GYN at Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck.

Even simple changes to diet, increasing fluid intake, supplementing with certain vitamins and other natural methods may make a major impact on how a woman feels during her pregnancy.

“We don’t fully understand” the cause of nausea during pregnancy, Bloch says, but “the single most important thing that works is time,” since morning sickness typically abates after the first trimester.

Bloch tells sufferers to eat small, frequent meals and to listen to what their body requires — eating the foods that seem appealing, avoiding the ones that don’t.

Many women, such as Hyde Park resident Amanda Verven, found they crave carbs to quench nausea.

During her first pregnancy, Verven would need to eat Saltine crackers first thing in the morning, even before getting out of bed, in order to keep her morning sickness at bay. Now pregnant with her second child, the 25-year-old Verven has not experienced the same degree of nausea, and she finds she doesn’t need to snack as often, though she does wake up in the middle of the night to eat a bowl of cereal.

For other treatment options, Bloch says Sea Bands, which are wristbands that hit an acupuncture point called PC 6, can help. So can a variety of forms of ginger, including ginger ale, which should be sipped flat and at room temperature.

Do keep drinking fluids to keep hydrated while avoiding too much sugar and artificial colors. (Try unsweetened coconut water, suggests our expert.) Most of the time morning sickness isn’t a cause for concern, but do contact your doctor or midwife if you feel very ill or if your urine is dark, which can signal dehydration.

It’s no surprise a pregnant woman finds herself tired, says our expert, since pregnancy is such a physical event.

“Listen to your body,” Bloch said. “If you are tired, sleep. Have proper nutrition and hydration,” which will provide additional energy.

The first two to three months of pregnancy are particularly fatiguing, so take heart in knowing you may have more energy after the first trimester, although that may not always be the case. Poughkeepsie resident Vanessa O’Keefe, now pregnant with her second child, says that she finds herself much more tired during this pregnancy, mostly because of the demands of caring for her first child, Cole.

“I am a stay at home mom who is chasing a toddler around all day. That would even make a non-pregnant person tired!” O’Keefe said.