Your 40-week Journey : Sick and Tired The side effects of pregnancy part 1)

There are practical measures you can take to relieve nausea and vomiting (see Coping with morning sickness).

Another cause of fatigue is anemia, a common condition in pregnancy that needs to be monitored. Although it's more likely that your fatigue is due to the pregnancy itself, when you see your doctor or midwife you will be offered a blood test to check your iron level, and if this is found to be low you will be offered supplements. To avoid anemia, eat iron-rich foods, such as dark green leafy vegetables, red meat, whole-grain cereals, legumes, and prune juice. Vitamin C helps your body to absorb more iron from your diet, so try drinking fresh orange juice with meals, and limit your tea and coffee intake since caffeine inhibits iron absorption.

Other causes of faintness include lying on your back (since this can put pressure on several large blood vessels involved in returning blood back to your heart, which can cause low blood pressure and in turn make you feel dizzy and faint); a lack of food or drink; getting overheated; and fast breathing (hyperventilating).

Sometimes, feeling faint can be more serious. If the feeling does not pass by eating, drinking water, cooling down, or taking things slowly as you stand up, it may need further investigation and you should seek the advice of your midwife or doctor since this could be due to anemia (see the question on pregnancy and tiredness) and you may need treatment in the form of iron supplements.

Since hemorrhoids often develop as a result of straining due to constipation, increasing your fiber and fluid intake may help you to have regular bowel movements, which in turn may help to relieve the problem. Eat fresh fruit and vegetables and drink lots of water. If you are very constipated, you could ask your doctor or midwife to prescribe suppositories or a stool softener. You may feel embarrassed, but it is best to approach someone rather than to suffer alone.

If you are suffering with headaches at around 28 weeks or more, you should inform your doctor or midwife of these, especially if your headaches are accompanied by blurred vision, an inability to focus, or flashing lights. These may be a sign of pregnancy-induced hypertension (high blood pressure), which could indicate preeclampsia. Try not to worry, since even though many women complain of headaches and some will have high blood pressure in pregnancy, few go on to develop preeclampsia. It is thought that the incidence is somewhere between two and five percent of all pregnancies.

Also, some women crave sweet foods in pregnancy, an excess of which can affect the gums, causing them to become tender, swollen, and more likely to bleed, and increasing the chances of developing gingivitis, a gum infection. Pregnant woman are encouraged to see a dentist early in pregnancy for a checkup.

It is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly when pregnant to minimize the risk of an infection. Unlikely as it may sound, it has been suggested that there may be a link between premature birth and gum disease.

It is recommended that you do Kegel exercises to reduce the likelihood of leakage. These can be started at any stage of pregnancy, but the earlier you begin the better; once you get the technique right they are simple. Since these are such discreet exercises, it is easy to practice without anyone else realizing what you are doing.

Stress incontinence should improve following the birth, although it can take up to six weeks. There is some suggestion that the problem can persist longer depending on the type of birth you have, with a natural vaginal birth more likely to cause ongoing problems than a cesarean delivery.

When you have a nosebleed, sit for a few minutes with your head upright and apply pressure to the nostrils. To avoid further nosebleeds, make sure you blow your nose gently, drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, use vaseline on dry nostrils, avoid smoky environments, and open your mouth when you sneeze to relieve nasal pressure.

For lower backaches, warm baths and a warm compress can help, and gentle massage done by an experienced practitioner. Regular exercise, such as yoga, pilates, or water aerobics classes , strengthens back muscles, but check with your doctor before embarking on a new exercise regime. Watch your posture, making sure that you sit upright—you could try using a birthing ball—and wear flat shoes.

If you have sciatica, ask your doctor or midwife to refer you to a physical therapist to assess your condition and teach you exercises to help relieve the pain and minimize a reoccurrence. Some women find a maternity girdle or support belt to be useful.

In general, skin either becomes quite oily in pregnancy, due to an increase in the production of the skin's natural oil, sebum or, if skin is prone to dryness, it may become even drier and more sensitive. Many women experience a darkening of the skin, while others notice a pattern on their face that looks like a patchy suntan, called chloasma. If your skin is sensitive, avoid scented creams and oils, and perfume. Regular cleansing of the skin and avoiding oil-based products may also help.

If varicose veins do appear during pregnancy, they usually improve within three months of giving birth, although unfortunately in subsequent pregnancies they are likely to recur.

If you also have swelling in your hands or face, it is worth having a blood pressure check to rule out preeclampsia. Most women find that the swelling gradually disappears after they give birth.

There are ways to reduce the symptoms, such as circling and stretching exercises to improve circulation and increase wrist mobility. Wearing wrist splints and elevating your hands on a pillow at night can also help. A referral to a physical therapist can be made if the condition is severe.

To reduce the incidence of cramps or their severity, drink lots of water to prevent dehydration and try leg stretches and ankle exercises, circling your heel first and then wiggling your toes, before going to bed. Gentle exercise, such as walking or swimming, can also help and getting your partner, friend, or relative to massage your legs, particularly the calf muscle, can improve circulation. Some research suggests that taking magnesium supplements reduces the incidence of cramps, but further studies are needed.

Using a nonperfumed moisturizing lotion or emollient cream daily after washing may help, and avoid bathing in very hot water. Try not to scratch, since broken skin is vulnerable to infection; wearing cotton gloves at night may stop you from scratching in your sleep. After 28 weeks, five drops of essential lavender oil in a bath helps soothe the skin. Hydro-cortisone creams or tablets may be prescribed if the itching is severe and other measures aren't working.

To relieve indigestion, eat little and often, eat slowly, don't eat late at night, and cut down on fatty or spicy foods. Rather than lie flat, prop yourself up with pillows. Talk to your midwife, doctor, or pharmacist about remedies that are safe to use in pregnancy.