Chelsea, our pregnancy fitness expert, is a certified personal trainer at Crunch gym in San Francisco, California. She gave birth to her daughter, Madeira Re, in July 2006. Read more
Mouthwash, breath fresheners or flavored dental floss
Motion sickness wrist bands (also known as "sea bands")
Cool, unscented wet wipes for freshening up
For Sensitive, Swollen Breasts:
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Cool gel compresses (NOT frozen, as this might add to the pain and sensitivity)
Heating pads on a warm (not hot) setting
Non-restricting sports bras or shelf-bra lined undershirts, OR
Bras without underwire (sewn-in seaming under busts)
For Upper and Lower Back Pain:
Long body pillow to fold/bunch along back where needed
Abdominal support bands (also called "Belly Bras") to reduce stress on the lower back
Contoured chair pad for home and/or office
Deep heating rub (have your spouse/partner use liberally on affected areas)
For Swollen Legs and Feet:
Padded footrest to prop feet up with
Support socks or hosiery (look for in department stores or medical supply catalogs)
Gel inserts for shoes (added comfort and support for lower back as well)
Epsom salt for nightly foot soaks (have spouse/partner use leftover deep heating rub on legs
as well)
For Nasal Stuffiness:
Saline nasal spray (use under doctor's direction)
Vaporizer at night/humidifier at day
Mentholated cough drops
Herbal nasal inhalants (sold at health and natural foods stores)
For Mental Fuzziness (also known as "Pregnancy Brain")
A nap, if possible
A To-Do list (have only 3 to 4 main things per day that MUST be done by you only; get your
spouse/partner, friends or family to do the rest)
Special places for your most needed items (keys, shoes, purse, remote)
Lots of grace and humor, especially when you lock your keys in the car for the fifth time in
one week
For Blue Moods and Fat Feelings:
Pictures of adorable, drooling babies to admire
The entire collection of The Three Stooges on video
Weekly manicures and pedicures; regularly scheduled facials and hair appointments
Mental reminders that in a number of weeks, you will have a beautiful baby to hold and
love for years to come, and that any discomforts you feel now are definitely worth it!
Comment on this page...
maxine on 11/2/2009 10:43:40 AM
pain under the right breast: i do stretches to help me. lock your fingers and reach your palms to the sky. this helps open the rib cage. also, roll your shoulder up and back.
Julie on 10/1/2009 1:31:15 AM
You should speak to your doctor about the pain below your right breast because it could be something called epigastric pain which needs to be assessed by an md. It could just be indigestion but that pain can also be related to pregnancy induced hypertention and needs to ruled out as a symptom of such. They can check for protein in your urine, increased blood pressure, any frontal headache, spotted vision and other signs that can accompany the epigastric pain. I would call your doctor for advise and not wait until your next appointment. Take care.
Keneilwe Mabena on 10/1/2009 1:11:01 AM
I have a constant pain below my right breast. I initially thought is after eating but recently it happens often.
Pl advice
baljeet on 9/15/2009 11:51:09 PM
walk in fresh air...helps a lot to loosen up cramps/stiff in muscles
ms on 8/31/2009 12:23:16 AM
massage it or have your partner do it,and try to stretch your toes forward it hurts a little then it lets go. drink some warm milk as well. Hope it works for u too.
Victoria Harvey on 8/23/2009 2:20:10 AM
What the heck do I do for a leg cramp that is up by my hip that wakes me up in the middle of the night and won't go away until I get up and stay up for at least an hour?
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