What to expect when you're expecting (70 page)

If your stools are very frequent (more than three a day) or watery, bloody, or mucousy, check with your practitioner; this kind of diarrhea could require prompt intervention during pregnancy.

“I’m very bloated and I’m passing gas all the time. Will it be like this the whole pregnancy?”

Are you passing gas like a college frat boy (make that
more
than a college frat boy)? Sorry, guys, but nobody does gas like a pregnant woman. Fortunately, while the same can’t be said for those who work and live within hearing and sniffing distance of you, your baby is oblivious and impervious to your digestive distress. Snug and safe in a uterine cocoon that’s protected on all sides by impact-absorbing amniotic fluid, he or she is probably soothed by the bubbling and gurgling of your gastric Muzak.

Baby won’t be happy, though, if bloating—which often worsens late in the day and, yes, generally persists throughout pregnancy—prevents you from eating regularly and well. To cut down on the sounds and smells from down under and to make sure your nutritional intake doesn’t suffer on account of your intestinal outtakes, take the following measures:

Stay regular.
Constipation is a common cause of gas and bloating. See the tips on
page 173
.

Graze, don’t gorge.
Large meals just add to that bloated feeling. They also overload your digestive system, which isn’t at its most efficient anyway in pregnancy. Instead of those two or three supersize squares, nibble on six mini meals.

Don’t gulp.
When you rush through meals or eat on the fly, you’re bound to swallow as much air as food. This captured air forms painful pockets of gas in your gut, which will seek release the only way they know how.

Keep calm.
Particularly during meals. Tension and anxiety can cause you to swallow air, which can give you a full tank of gas. Taking a few deep breaths before meals may help relax you.

Steer clear of gas producers.
Your tummy will tell you what they are—they vary from person to person. Common offenders include onions, cabbage, fried foods, rich sauces, sugary sweets, carbonated beverages, and, of course, the notorious beans.

Don’t be quick to pop.
Ask your practitioner before popping your usual anti-gas medications (some are safe, others are not recommended) or any remedy, over-the-counter or herbal. Sipping a little chamomile tea, however, may safely soothe all kinds of pregnancy-induced indigestion. Ditto for hot water with lemon, which can cut through gas as well as any medication.

“I find that I’m getting a lot more headaches than ever before. Can I take something for them?”

That women are more susceptible to headaches during the time they’re
supposed to stay away from certain pain relievers is one of the ironies of pregnancy. It’s an irony you’ll have to live with, but it’s not necessarily one you’ll have to suffer with—at least, not too much. Prevention, teamed with the right remedies (medicinal and non), can offer relief from the normal recurrent headaches of pregnancy.

The best route to headache relief depends on the cause or causes. Pregnancy headaches are most commonly the result of hormonal changes (which are responsible for the increased frequency and severity of many types of headaches, including sinus headaches), fatigue, tension, hunger, physical or emotional stress, or any combination of these.

There are plenty of ways around a headache (and some surprisingly effective ones don’t come in capsule form). In many cases you’ll be able to fit the probable cause with the possible cure:

What’s a Corpus Luteum Cyst?

If your practitioner has told you that you have a corpus luteum cyst, your first question will probably be—what is it? Well, here’s all you need to know. Every month of your reproductive life, a small yellowish body of cells forms after you ovulate. Called a corpus luteum (literally “yellow body”), it occupies the space in the follicle formerly occupied by the egg. The corpus luteum produces progesterone and some estrogen, and it is programmed by nature to disintegrate in about 14 days. When it does, diminishing hormone levels trigger your period. When you become pregnant, the corpus luteum hangs around instead of disintegrating, continuing to grow and produce enough hormones to nourish and support your baby-to-be until the placenta takes over. In most pregnancies, the corpus luteum starts to shrink about six or seven weeks after the last menstrual period and stops functioning altogether at about 10 weeks, when its work of providing board for the baby is done. But in about 1. percent of pregnancies, the corpus luteum doesn’t regress when it’s supposed to. Instead, it develops into a corpus luteum cyst.

So now that you know what a corpus luteum cyst is, you’re probably wondering—how will it affect my pregnancy? The answer. probably not at all. The cyst is usually nothing to worry about—or do anything about. Chances are it will go away by itself in the second trimester. But just to be sure, your practitioner will keep an eye on your cyst’s size and condition regularly via ultrasound (which means you get extra peeks at your baby).

Relax.
Pregnancy can be a time of high anxiety, with tension headaches a common result. Some women find relief through meditation and yoga (which also makes a fabulous pregnancy exercise). You can take a class, turn to a DVD or CD, read a book on these or other relaxation techniques, or try the one on
page 142
.

Of course, relaxation exercises don’t work for everyone; some women find that they step up tension instead of easing it. If that sounds like you, lying down in a dark, quiet room or stretching out on the sofa or with your feet up on your desk for 10 or 15 minutes may be a better foil for tension and tension headaches.

Get enough rest.
Pregnancy can also be a time of extreme fatigue, particularly in the first and last trimesters, and often for the full nine months for women who work long hours at a job and/or have other children to care for. Sleep can be elusive once the belly starts swelling (“How will I ever get comfortable?”) and the mind starts racing (“How will I ever get everything done before the baby comes?”), which compounds fatigue. Making a conscious effort to get more rest, day and night, can help keep headaches at bay. But be careful not to sleep too much—excess sleep can also give you a headache, as can sleeping with the covers over your head.

Eat regularly.
To avoid hunger headaches triggered by low blood sugar, be sure not to run on empty. Carry high-energy snacks (such as soy chips, granola bars, dried fruit and nuts) with you in your bag, stash them in the glove compartment of your car and in your office desk drawer, and always keep a supply on hand at home.

Seek some peace and quiet.
Noise can give you a headache, especially if you’re extra sound-sensitive. Make it a point to avoid noisy locales (the mall, loud parties, restaurants with bad acoustics). If your job is extra noisy, talk to your boss about taking steps to reduce the excess noise—or even ask for a transfer to a quieter area, if possible. At home, lower the volume on the telephone’s ringer, the TV, and the radio.

Don’t get stuffy.
An overheated room or unventilated space can give anyone a headache—but especially an expectant mom, who’s overheated to start with. So try not to get stuffy, but when you can’t avoid it (it’s two days before Christmas and you have to brave that jam-packed mall—or you work there), step out for a stroll and a breath of fresh air when you can. Dress in layers when you know you’re going somewhere stuffy, and keep comfortable (and hopefully, headache free) by removing layers as needed. Stuck inside? Try to crack a window, at least.

Switch lighting.
Take the time to examine your surroundings, particularly the lighting around you, in a whole new … well, light. Some women find that a windowless work space lit by fluorescent bulbs can trigger headaches. Switching to incandescent lighting and/or a room with windows may help. If that’s not practical, take outdoor breaks when you can.

Try alternatives.
Some complementary and alternative medical approaches—including acupuncture, acupressure, biofeedback, and massage—can bring headache relief (see
page 85
).

Go hot and cold.
For relief of sinus headaches, apply hot and cold compresses to the aching area, alternating 30 seconds of each for a total of 10 minutes, four times a day. For tension headaches, try ice applied to the back of the neck for 20 minutes while you close your eyes and relax. (Use an ordinary ice pack or a special neck pillow that holds a gel-based cold pack.)

Straighten up.
Slouching or looking down to read or do other close work (knitting baby booties?) for long stretches of time can also trigger an aching head, so watch your posture.

Take two.
Haven’t got time for the pain? Acetaminophen (Tylenol) usually brings quick relief and is considered safe for pregnancy use (skip the ibuprofen and aspirin). Check with your practitioner for the right dosage and headache protocol. And don’t take any pain medication (over-the-counter, prescription, or herbal) without your practitioner’s okay.

If an unexplained headache persists for more than a few hours, returns very often, is the result of fever, or is accompanied by visual disturbances or puffiness of the hands and face, notify your practitioner.

“I suffer from migraine headaches. I heard they’re more common in pregnancy. Is this true?”

Some women find their migraines strike more frequently during pregnancy; luckier ones find they are less frequent. It isn’t known why this should be true, or even why some people have recurrent migraines and others never have a single one.

If you’ve had migraines in the past, discuss with your physician which migraine medications are safe to take during pregnancy so you’ll be prepared for dealing with these killer headaches should they strike while you’re expecting. Think prevention, too. If you know what brings on an attack, you can try to avoid the culprit. Stress is a common one, as are chocolate, cheese, and coffee. Try to determine what, if anything, can stave off a full-blown attack once the warning signs appear. You may be helped by one or more of the following: splashing your face with cold water or applying a cold cloth or ice pack; avoiding noise, light, and odors by lying down in a darkened room for two or three hours, eyes covered (napping, meditating, or listening to music, but not reading or watching TV); or trying CAM techniques such as biofeedback or acupuncture (see
page 85
).

“I’m afraid I’m going to get stretch marks. Can they be prevented?”

Nobody likes stretch marks, especially come skin-baring season. Still, they’re not easy to escape when you’re expecting. The majority of pregnant women develop these pink or reddish (sometimes purplish), slightly indented, sometimes itchy streaks on their breasts, hips, and/or abdomen sometime during pregnancy.

As their name implies, stretch marks are caused by tiny tears in the supporting layers of tissue under your skin as it becomes stretched to its limit. Expectant mothers who have good elastic skin tone (because they inherited it and/or earned it through years of excellent nutrition and exercise) may slip through several pregnancies without a single telltale mark. And actually, your mother may be your best crystal ball when it comes to predicting whether you’ll end up with stretch marks or not; if she sailed through her pregnancies with smooth skin intact, odds are you will, too. If stretch marks struck her, they’ll likely strike you, too.

You might be able to minimize, if not prevent, stretch marks by keeping weight gain steady, gradual, and moderate (the faster skin stretches, the more likely the stretching is to leave its mark). Promoting elasticity in your skin by nourishing it with a good diet (especially those vitamin C foods) may also help. And though no topical preparation has been proven to prevent stretch marks from zigzagging their way across your skin, there’s no harm in applying moisturizers, such as cocoa butter. Even without the scientific proof to back them up, some women swear they work—and if nothing else, they’ll prevent the dryness and itching associated with pregnancy-stretched skin. An added plus: It may be fun for your spouse to rub them on your tummy (and baby will enjoy the massage, too).

If you do develop stretch marks (frequently referred to as the red badge of motherhood), you can console yourself
with the knowledge that they will gradually fade to a silvery sheen some months after delivery. You can also discuss with a dermatologist the possibility of reducing their visibility postpartum with laser therapy or Retin-A. In the meantime, wear them with pride.

Body Art for Two?

Heading off to The House of Ink for a “hot mama” tattoo? Think before you ink. While the ink itself won’t enter your bloodstream, there is a risk of infection any time you get stuck with a needle, and why take that risk when you’ve got a baby on board?

Something else to ponder before getting a tattoo for two. What looks symmetrical on your pregnant skin might become lopsided or distorted after you regain your prepregnancy shape. So keep your skin free of any new marks for now, and wait until after you’ve weaned your baby to express yourself through body art.

If you already have a tattoo, no problem—just sit back and watch it stretch. And don’t worry about that lower back tattoo and how it might affect the epidural you were hoping for come labor day. As long as the tattoo ink is fully dried and the wound healed, sticking that epidural needle through it won’t be risky.

What about using henna to decorate your body during pregnancy? Since henna is plant based—and temporary—it’s probably safe to use during pregnancy. Still, it’s wise to follow certain caveats: Make sure the henna artist uses natural henna (it stains the skin reddish brown), not the kind that contains the potentially irritating chemical paraphenylendiamine (which stains black), and check the artist’s references (read: no fair doing it at a street fair). To be extra-cautious (always the best way to be), ask your practitioner before using henna.