Your Body Is Under Construction
Growing a human being involves every single system in your body working staggering overtime. Your blood volume doubles. Your organs literally shift out of the way to accommodate a growing uterus. Your hormones surge to levels you have never experienced.
Given this reality, it is entirely unsurprising that pregnancy comes with a vast array of physical discomforts. Some are fleeting, others persist for weeks. Some appear early in the first trimester, others emerge only in the final, heavy days before delivery.
Nearly all of them are perfectly normal, even when they feel alarming to you.
However, "normal" does not mean you simply have to suffer through them. Below is a practical guide to the most common pregnancy complaints, the physiological reasons why they are happening, what you can safely do at home to find relief, and, most importantly, when to call MomDoc.
Aches and Pains (Round Ligament Pain)
As your baby grows, you will likely experience backaches and sharp, pulling pains in your lower abdomen or groin. This is often "round ligament pain." The ligaments supporting your uterus are stretching like rubber bands to accommodate the extra weight.
How to find relief: Practice good posture. Rest with your feet elevated. Avoid sudden, jerky movements. A maternity support belt can work wonders by taking the mechanical strain off your lower back and pelvis.
Braxton-Hicks Contractions
These are often called "practice contractions." Your abdomen may briefly harden, feel tight, and then soften. They are your uterus preparing for the marathon of labor, and they are usually painless (though they can be surprising).
How to find relief: They are often triggered by dehydration or overactivity. Empty your bladder, drink two large glasses of water, and lie down on your side.
When to call us: True labor contractions do not stop when you change position or hydrate. If you are less than 36 weeks pregnant and contractions occur more than six times per hour after resting, call MomDoc Triage.
Digestive Chaos: Constipation and Heartburn
According to ACOG, these are the most widespread complaints in pregnancy, and they share a common culprit: progesterone. This essential pregnancy hormone relaxes smooth muscle tissue throughout your body. Unfortunately, it also relaxes your digestive tract, slowing everything down to a crawl.
For Constipation: The slowed digestion, combined with the iron in your prenatal vitamins, often leads to severe constipation.
- Relief: You must aggressively increase your water intake. Eat whole grains, fresh fruit, and vegetables. Safe over-the-counter options include stool softeners (Colace, MiraLAX) and bulk-forming fiber supplements (Metamucil).
For Heartburn: That same relaxed muscle tone allows stomach acid to splash back up into your esophagus, causing relentless heartburn, especially in the third trimester when the baby physically presses against your stomach.
- Relief: Eat 5–6 smaller meals instead of 3 large ones. Do not lie down for at least one hour after eating. Avoid highly acidic or spicy foods. Tums (up to 4 per day) and Pepcid are considered safe.
Nausea and Vomiting
Often misnamed "morning sickness," nausea can strike at any hour and is driven by the rapid rise in the pregnancy hormone hCG.
How to find relief: Keep your stomach from ever being completely empty. Eat dry crackers before getting out of bed. Try ginger (tea, candies, or capsules). A regimen of Vitamin B6 combined with a half-tablet of Unisom at bedtime is widely recommended by OBs.
When to call us: Call if you cannot keep any fluids down for more than 12 hours, if you are losing weight, or if you feel dizzy upon standing. You may have Hyperemesis Gravidarum, which requires medical intervention to prevent dehydration.
Swelling (Edema)
You will likely notice swelling in your hands, face, legs, ankles, and feet. Your body is producing roughly 50% more blood and body fluids to meet the needs of your developing baby.
How to find relief: Counterintuitively, the best treatment for swelling is to drink more water. Raise your feet whenever possible. Avoid standing in one place for long periods. Supportive compression stockings can significantly reduce ankle pooling.
When to call us immediately: A slow, gradual swelling at the end of a long day is normal. Rapid, sudden-onset swelling, particularly in the face or hands, accompanied by a severe headache or visual changes (like seeing spots or flashing lights) is a massive red flag. This can indicate preeclampsia, a dangerous blood pressure condition. Contact MomDoc immediately.
The MomDoc Promise
You do not have to guess whether a symptom is normal. We have seen every variation of pregnancy discomfort, and we know exactly how to manage it safely. If a symptom is keeping you awake, causing you anxiety, or simply feels "wrong," call or text MomDoc Triage at 480-821-3601. We are here to help.