Mild swelling of the ankles and legs is related to the normal and necessary increase in body fluids during pregnancy. To ease the discomfort, elevate your legs or lie down when you can, wear comfortable shoes, and avoid elastic-top socks or stockings.
Tylenol is considered safe to take for a headache, fever or any general discomfort. Follow the recommended dosage on the bottle. Call the office if your headache continues beyond 24 hours.
Sudafed or Actifed is considered safe to take for decongestant. Robitussin is considered safe to take for a cough. Tylenol is safe to take for a fever, aches, and pains. Sore throat lozenges are safe to take for a sore throat.
It is highly recommended by the CDC if you are pregnant or having your baby during the flu season that you get the flu shot.
On your first blood draw for lab testing, you are checked for your immunity. Please call the office if you have been exposed.
Please call your physician if you have been exposed. It is likely that you have had the disease as a child and are, therefor, immune. If you are not sure, a blood test can be done to determine if you are immune.
Please discuss with your doctor if you plan to travel during the third trimester. You should never fly in an airplane after your 35th week of pregnancy. When traveling, it is important to drink plenty of water and to get up and walk about the cabin of the plane every hour.
You may sleep on your back until the third trimester as long as you are comfortable. At that time, if your uterus compresses your major blood vessels, you may become nauseated or dizzy. Placing a pillow under one hip should prevent these symptoms.
Increase oral fluids, dietary fiber (fresh fruits and vegetables), and exercise (walking). You may try Citrucel, Metamucil, Colace or Fibercon. Coffee can also have a laxative effect and alleviate constipation. In an emergency, Dulcolax suppositories or Fleet’s enema may be used.
Early in pregnancy, it is normal to feel cramping as the uterus grows and discomfort as the ligaments stretch. During the second trimester, it is normal to feel pains in the pelvis as the uterus grows, your skin stretches, and the baby moves around. During the third trimester, it is common to have a backache and sciatica. Sciatica causes shooting pains down the back of the leg and buttocks.