Mom's feelings & symptoms

Month 2

There are several relief measures that may reduce your discomfort - if possible, medication should be avoided.

• Spread your food out into six or more mini-meals throughout the day, as nausea generally occurs on an empty stomach with low blood sugar. Keep hard candies handy and suck on them to prevent nausea.
• Eat high carbohydrate foods such as rice, potatoes, and whole-grain bread.
• Avoid eating fried, spicy and rich foods.
• Avoid taking your prenatal vitamins on an empty stomach.
• Before you get out of bed in the morning, eat dry crackers or toast.
• Drink liquids between meals, not with them. Ginger ale or ginger tea may be soothing to your stomach.
• Drink as much fluid as you can so you don’t get dehydrated.
• Some doctors feel a vitamin B6 deficiency may be partly responsible for morning sickness, although this has not been proven. Some clinicians may recommend a B6 supplement.

Other changes and symptoms you may experience in the second month include:

• Skin darkening
  A darkening of the skin color on the labia (the fold of skin protecting the vaginal area) and external genitalia, as well as your nipples. Your nipples will become larger and the Montgomery tubercles, milk ducts on the nipples, appear as prominent bumpy spots. This is due to the increased blood supply to these mucous membranes. The darker red to purplish color is perfectly normal. Some women find sexual activity more intense and pleasurable during pregnancy. This may be because there is increased blood flow to the pelvic area and increased sensitivity of the breasts.
• Fatigue
  The second month is known for a feeling of tiredness. Some women find that an extra nap before dinner or an earlier bedtime is helpful in restoring their energy. Your body is doing very hard work, and adjusting to many changes. Rest when you need to – this tired spell will soon pass.
• Dry and itchy skin
  Extra fluids and moisturizers are encouraged to help keep your skin hydrated. (And remember to drink lots of water!)
• Headaches and dizziness
  The expanding uterus has increased the need for oxygen-rich blood and may result in a lower supply of oxygen-rich blood to your brain, making you feel dizzy or headachy. Usually headaches remain as much or as little a problem as they were before pregnancy. A common cause of headache in pregnancy is stress. This is a huge change in your life that causes anxiety and tension. This kind of headache is usually felt broadly across the forehead. Another cause of headache in pregnancy is sinus and nasal congestion, as discussed earlier, there is increased vascular flow to the delicate mucus membranes in the sinuses and this causes some swelling and discomfort. Headaches that become more frequent and severe or change suddenly in their symptoms - nausea/vomiting, blurred vision, dizziness, fainting or near fainting, difficulty with speech/vision or movement – should be evaluated by a physician.
• Increased saliva flow
  Some women may experience excessive mouth watering early in pregnancy, but the reason for this is not known.
• Numb or tingly limbs
  You may feel some pins and needles tingling in your arms, wrists or hands. These feelings should not last more than a few hours at a time. On occasion, some physicians prescribe water pills (diuretics) if this occurs with puffy fingers and retaining fluids. Supportive measure at home include holding your hand above your head and wiggling your fingers; a splint along your wrist; acupuncture; or sleep with your tingling arm on a pillow. Move around, swing your arms – keep the blood flowing.