Health Tips, Health Care Tips, Pregnancy, Baby Care, Men and Women Fitness Care Tips

Your baby (now the size of a prune) has small indentations on his legs (soon to be knees and ankles!), and his tiny arms even have elbows that bend (how is that for magical?). Inside that little mouth, tiny buds of baby teeth are forming under the gums. His stomach and kidneys are kicking into gear, producing digestive juices and urine, and if it's a boy, his testes are making testosterone (how manly!).

Learn more about your baby's development this week.

All clogged up? For many moms-to-be, those pesky pregnancy hormones cause the smooth muscles of the large bowel to fall down on the job — they get sluggish and you get constipated. Whole grains and veggies can help, as can drinking lots of water and exercising regularly. You might also be coping with headaches and newly visible veins as your body's blood supply ramps up (it'll increase by 20 to 40 percent over the course of your pregnancy!).

Learn more about your body this week and visible veins during pregnancy.

Constipation is an all-to-common first-trimester pregnancy symptom. What can you do about it? First, steer clear of foods that'll clog up the works (refined breads, cereals, pasta, and rice). Second, fixate on fiber: Whole grains (especially fiber-rich cereals), fresh fruit (think kiwis, a fine, furry friend to those who are constipated), dried fruit (and don't stop at that geriatric favorite, prunes — try all your favorite fruits dried, from apricots and peaches, to pears, apples, blueberries, cherries…you name it!), raw or lightly cooked vegetables, and nuts and seeds. Third, wash that fiber down (and through your system) with plenty of fluids, particularly water and fruit and vegetable juices (close your eyes and V8 tastes just like champagne! Well, sort of…if you really use your imagination). And finally, remember that getting moving can keep things moving (another good reason to put exercise on the agenda). If the situation doesn't improve in a couple of days, swallow your pride (if you haven't already) and call your practitioner, who may have a few special tricks up that white-coated sleeve. (Don't use any over-the-counter remedies without consulting him or her first.)

Learn more about constipation during pregnancy.

Fatigue: You probably still feel as if your get-up-and-go has gotten up and gone, but don’t worry — in about a month you’ll be feeling less tired. In the meantime, don’t be super mom-to-be. Ask for help, get some rest, and work in some exercise when you can. Yes, it seems counterintuitive to go out for a walk when you want to crawl into bed, but you’ll feel peppier (promise!) — and you’ll sleep better. 

Nausea and vomiting: What’s the worst thing you can do if you’re feeling queasy? Skip a meal. (Missing a meal just makes those queasy feelings more intense.) But if eating anything is really turning your stomach, try acupressure or seasickness bands. And sucking on ginger candy (or drinking real ginger ale) will help, too. 

Food cravings and aversions: Between those queasy feelings and food aversions, you’ve probably kept your weight gain down. And that’s okay — your baby’s nutritional needs are minuscule at this point. But even so, you don’t want to go crazy on the cravings. It’s okay to indulge once in a while, or eat a bite-sized piece of chocolate instead of a brownie, but if your cravings are getting out of hand, try some distractions: Call a friend, read a book, head to the gym, or go for a walk. 

Heartburn and indigestion: A good way to prevent heartburn? Don’t eat while you’re lying down — or don’t lie down right after eating a big meal (even though the bed beckons you!). And use pillows to prop up your head (about six inches) when you sleep. That should keep those gastric juices down.

Flatulence: As your hormones continue to relax all your muscles, the muscles in your gastrointestinal tract are relaxing too, which means more indigestion (see above) and more intestinal gas. Your best bet is to stay away from foods that produce the most gas. You may find it helpful to keep a record of what you eat to see whether there’s a connection between certain foods — whether it’s fried foods or broccoli or beans — and gas. Then you can avoid those triggers (or at least warn your partner!).

Increased vaginal discharge:You’ve got more blood flowing to the pelvic area (good for your sex life) thanks to the pregnancy hormone estrogen, as well as more mucus. The result is a thin, milky-white discharge that you may be seeing now. It’s harmless, so don’t bother with special wipes or washes — these could change the delicate balance of your genital tract and lead to irritation.

Occasional headaches: What accounts for these new pregnancy headaches? Blame hormones (they’re a convenient scapegoat!), but other triggers include fatigue (check), hunger (check), and stress (check).Your doctor will probably okay acetaminophen but not ibuprofen. It’s also worthwhile to try other ways to soothe your savage head: Lie down in a dark room, put a cold compress on your face or neck, or take fresh-air breaks. 

Occasional faintness or dizziness: Your body is still getting used to all that blood pumping through it, so it’s no wonder you feel dizzy occasionally. Be sure to sit or lie down as soon as you feel light-headed (so you don’t fall). To decrease dizzy spells, carry healthy snacks around for a quick blood-sugar boost and stay hydrated. 

Visible veins on your body: That increased blood supply is also responsible for the road map of veins crisscrossing their way across your belly and breasts. Those veins are doing the important work of taking nutrients and blood to your baby. So there’s nothing you can do but wait. They will disappear though! 

Lower abdominal achiness: Like so many pregnancy symptoms, round ligament pain (which is just a fancy name for those growing pains in that burgeoning belly of yours) is probably something you never expected. What’s causing them? The ligaments that support your belly are stretching out (and getting thinner); and as your belly gets heavier, the weight pulls on the ligaments, causing pain (sharp or dull). The best thing to do is get off your feet and get comfy.