Although a “comfortable pregnancy” might actually be an oxymoron for some women, there are many natural remedies out there which can lessen the discomfort of common pregnancy ailments.

HEARTBURN
A few common sense moves can keep you off the over-the-counter chewables and questionable pink liquids:

Elevate the upper part of your mattress (stick something underneath it to prop it up – a great trick for a congested baby, too).
Avoid foods likely to upset your smushed-by-baby stomach and don’t go to bed right after eating.
Eat small meals frequently, rather than large meals three times a day.
Consider taking a natural digestive aid. Talk to your Practitioner about which one is best for you.

HEADACHE

Are you avoiding drinking because of the endless bathroom trips? This can be detrimental to your health. Drink plenty of it – it’s important to stay hydrated.
Rest, even if your To Do List is a mile long.
Tension headaches can be effectively relieved by massage or acupuncture.
Magnesium can also be good to take. Talk to your Practitioner instead of self-prescribing.

NAUSEA

Drink ginger or peppermint tea. Freshly infused ginger in warm water is the best. Try ginger cookies if you can’t stomach tea.
Never have an empty stomach – slightly counterintuitive that hungry equals nausea but for some reason when you’re pregnant, it can. Even when you can’t keep large amounts of food down, make sure to not be too hungry. Keep snacks that don’t make you queasy (such as crackers) by your bed and in every purse you currently have in rotation so you’re never stuck with nothing to nibble.
Acupuncture is very effective in reducing nausea so try a session with one of our trained acupuncturists.

BODY PAIN INCLUDING SCIATICA

Get a prenatal massage. Massage has been proven to reduce pain (both immediate and delayed) and is safe in pregnancy when performed by a trained professional. We offer pregnancy massage at the clinic.
Acupuncture is also highly effective in managing pain, as it works directly with the nervous system and pain receptors. Again, acupuncture is safe in pregnancy when performed by a trained professional.
Get aligned. Often, with the changing structure of a woman’s body as she makes room for her growing baby, hips can be pushed out of alignment and lower back bones – like the coccyx – can become skewed. This presses on nerve pathways and can cause a great deal of pain. Setei is a gentle technique we use in the clinic to realign structures (like the hips) and it can create profound relief for pregnant women.
Get a full body pillow for side sleeping – it can help with overall alignment and reduce pain.
Lumbar pillows can help ease the pains that arise sitting at a desk all day long.
Find out more tips to ease sciatica specifically here.

CONSTIPATION

INSOMNIA

There are many safe, natural herbs and supplements you can take when pregnant to help promote sleep. Talk to your Practitioner about which ones are best for you.
Acupuncture is also effective in reducing insomnia.
Limit caffeine, and especially do not drink it after midday. Try chamomile tea at night instead.
Incorporate healthy sleep habits into your bedtime routine – you can read more about that here.

STRESS OR ANXIETY

Pregnancy can be a stressful time in a woman’s life, and some women even suffer anxiety – for reasons known, and even unknown.

There are many natural herbs and supplements which reduce feelings of stress and anxiety like magnesium, B vitamins and passionflower. Always talk to your Practitioner before taking – never self-prescribe during pregnancy.
Acupuncture and massage are both therapies which calm the nervous system and release endorphins – the body’s natural feel-good anti-stress hormone.
Diet modifications can be helpful in reducing feelings of edginess and you can read more about that here.
Meditation, guided imagery, yoga and using affirmations are also powerful tools in keeping calm and engaging a positive mental outlook.

Natural therapies can help make your pregnancy more comfortable, so speak with one of our Practitioners about how we can help.