FAQ: Common Concerns in Pregnancy

Back pain in pregnancy is common and has many possible causes that include an enlarging uterus, weakened abdominal muscles and pregnancy hormones. Some tricks to help prevent back pain include wearing low heeled, but not flat shoes with good support, squatting to pick up things and asking for help if they are heavy, sitting in chairs with good back support and sleeping on your side with a pillow between your legs. There are a number of stretches that can help alleviate back pain in pregnancy. Learn more...

A small amount of vaginal bleeding can occur after intercourse or vaginal exams. However, if you have bleeding that is spontaneous, is as heavy as a menses, or is associated with pelvic pain or cramping, please call the office. Learn more...

Persistent sore throats should be cultured at your primary care physician’s office. Antibiotics are ineffective therapy for colds or flu unless there is an additional bacterial infection. Please, do not take left over antibiotics that you have at home. For a runny or congested nose, take plain Sudafed or Claritin following the label directions. For a cough, take plain Robitussin following the label directions. Tylenol Cold & Sinus works similarly to regular Tylenol and Sudafed taken together.

Remember that the iron in prenatal vitamins can darken your stool and contribute to constipation. We recommend eating a diet high in fiber including whole grain products, fresh fruits and vegetables. And—don’t forget—drink plenty of water! If you still need a stool softener, try Surfak or Colace; both can be purchased over-the-counter from your local pharmacy.

Drink plenty of fluid to replace what you’ve lost. Most bouts of diarrhea are due to a viral or food-born illness and resolve without treatment. If your diarrhea lasts more than 48 hours, please contact the office.

Ideal weight gain is 1/2 to 1 pound per week if you are of normal weight before pregnancy. Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet that contains lean protein sources, whole grain foods, fresh fruits and vegetables. Take a prenatal vitamin daily that contains at least 400 mcg of folic acid. We also recommended that you take 300 mg of DHA daily. Limit caffeine to 1-2 small (6 to 8 ounce) cups of coffee per day. Drink 2 to 3 liters of water every day. Learn more...

Fish

We recommend limiting your fish intake to 12 ounces (2 average-sized meals) per week. Try to choose fish that are low in mercury such as salmon, shrimp, Pollock, or catfish. Avoid fish high in mercury such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tile fish. It may surprise you to know that canned light tuna is actually a better choice than albacore to avoid mercury!

Meat

Make sure all meat you consume is cooked thoroughly. Avoid eating hot dogs, deli meats (unless they are heated to steaming), pates or meat spreads as these foods can place you at high risk of Listeria infection.

Cheese

Make sure all dairy products are pasteurized, this is especially important for soft cheeses such as feta, brie, queso, camembert, and blue-veined cheeses. When in doubt, check the label!

Please avoid alcohol. There is no research available to tell us exactly how much alcohol one needs to consume to have an effect on the fetus. We do, however know that large amounts of alcohol can cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome which is characterized by physical deformities, mental retardation, learning disorders, vision difficulties and behavioral problems. The best policy is no alcohol while attempting to get pregnant and once pregnant.

Don’t smoke cigarettes! It is associated with miscarriage, preterm birth, low birth weight, placental abruption and can lead to stillbirth.

Please do not use marijuana during pregnancy. Although studies are limited, some do show that it can cause problems with baby’s growth and brain development as well as increase the risk of stillbirth. It is also difficult to assess possible long term effects on children.

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Regular exercise, at least 3 times a week, helps prevent gestational diabetes and decreases your risk of postpartum depression. The general rule of thumb is that you should be able to hold a conversation during your exercise program. Most forms of exercise are safe during pregnancy, however, avoid activities that can cause you to fall or involve heavy contact. Avoid lying flat on your back. We recommended activities such as walking, swimming, elliptical or stair machines, cycling (using a stationary bike later in pregnancy), yoga (not hot yoga) and water aerobics.

Exercises such as racquet sports, running, and strength training are considered safe when done in moderation during pregnancy if you're familiar with these before becoming pregnant. Contact sport such as ice hockey, soccer and basketball should be avoided.

ACOG recommends avoiding skiing during pregnancy, as even if you are skilled and careful, some hazards on the mountain are beyond your control. We recommend not to travel over 10,000 feet while pregnant, and exercise above this altitude could place you at risk for developing altitude sickness. If you develop a headache at higher altitudes, we recommend that you come down to a lower elevation. If you have any questions regarding skiing in pregnancy, please discuss this with your provider.

Scuba diving should be avoided during pregnancy—snorkeling is ok. Learn more...

First, don’t worry! Except in unusual circumstances, fever is not harmful to your fetus. Take Tylenol following the label directions for a fever over 100 degrees. If your fever is associated with chest pain, abdominal, side or back pain, painful urination, productive cough, or leg pain/swelling, please call the office after taking your temperature.

Try Mylicon or Gas-X (simethicone) as the package directs.

Sharp pain in the groin area that may also "shoot" towards the vagina is called "round ligament pain." This is a normal occurrence that is caused by stretching of the ligaments around the uterus. The pain is typically caused by walking and position changes and may be improved with resting. Typically, this resolves after the sixth or seventh month of pregnancy.

Take Tylenol according to the label directions. A caffeinated beverage or Excedrin may also help. Contact our office if your headache persists.

Try dietary recommendations as under "Nausea and Vomiting." Remember not to eat or drink before lying down. Elevating the head of your bed may also be helpful (place wood planks beneath the head of the mattress). You can also use Tums, Maalox, Mylanta or Pepcid.

Avoid constipation and try ice packs to the area. Try Anusol cream or suppositories as the package directs. A prescription medication can be prescribed if these measures do not work.

Avoid spicy/greasy foods and odors that cause nausea. Eat frequent, small meals and make sure to eat something as soon as you wake up. Ginger products (tea, cookies, etc.) and acupressure bands ("Seabands") may be helpful. Vitamin B6 (25mg every 8 hours) with or without Unisom 12.5 mg (half tablet) every 8 hours can also help. Prescription therapy is reserved for those patients who do not respond to the above measures. Learn more...

We recommend that you refrain from travel at 34 weeks, especially long car trips. We may ask you to refrain from travel earlier if you are having pregnancy complications such as bleeding, preterm labor, or elevated blood pressures. Any time that you travel, stay well hydrated and get up and walk around every 1½ to 2 hours to prevent blood clots in your legs. Also, please be aware that some airlines require a note from your doctor if you are traveling late in your pregnancy. Learn more...