Real Solutions From Real Moms
Heartburn
Pregnancy hormones relax muscles in the lower esophagus, allowing stomach acids to splash upwards, causing painful acid indigestion. Ouch.
Real Mom Remedy:
“To ease my heartburn, I made apple cider vinegar tea using 1 cup of hot water, 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon of honey and a bit of lemon. Drinking some before and after every meal really helped.” – Tiffany W.
“Peppermint tea and gum made a difference.” – Jenny S.
Fatigue
Particularly in the first and third trimesters, pregnant women often feel exhausted, and it’s no wonder—you’re growing an entire human!
Real Mom Remedy:
“I drank green smoothies. They gave me more energy than caffeine ever did.” – Angel L.
Swollen Hands and Feet
Additional blood and fluid in your body can cause extremities to swell. Watch out for those wedding rings!
Real Mom Remedy:
“Spinning class! Exercise really helped control my swelling. I used a heart rate monitor to make sure I wasn’t overdoing it.” – Manda D.
“Drink homemade barley tea. Worked like a charm for me. Ancient Chinese secret.” – Rachel T.
Gas
Digestion slows down during pregnancy, which can lead to burping and flatulence. Oh joy.
Real Mom Remedy:
“I’ve noticed less gas when I eat smaller meals and take a walk right afterwards. Soda always makes me burp, and it’s worse when I’m pregnant, so if I’m trying to be ladylike, I stick to flat water.” – Amy W.
Constipation
Slower digestion, the pressure of your uterus on your rectum and even the iron in your prenatal vitamins can back up your system.
Real Mom Remedy:
“A nurse gave me a tip for when things start to get blocked up. She told me to get a small step stool and position myself into a completely crouched position so that my butt was pretty much hovering over the toilet and most of my weight was on the step stool. Then apply strong pressure to my perineum while bearing down. I don't quite understand how this works but it's amazing!” – Lindsey R.
Leg Cramps
Painful spasms, especially in the calves, are very common, and may be caused by increased body weight or compression of the blood vessels.
Real Mom Remedy:
“Eating bananas before bed seemed to prevent my leg cramps.” – Nory R.
“Pillows. Lots of pillows! I went to sleep in my own mini-nest.” – Angel L.
“Medical-grade compression socks helped my sore legs. Expensive but worth it.” – Marie R.
