Women’s health Pregnancy


Pregnancy conditions


Here are some of the things that you may experience during pregnancy, including what you can do about them:


Morning sickness This is very common in early pregnancy, though the symptoms often ease as a pregnancy progresses. Ask your local Careway pharmacist for advice on how to alleviate


morning sickness, such as getting plenty of rest, sipping your drinks frequently, eating small, frequent low-fat meals and avoiding foods or smells that make you feel sick.


Stretch marks Narrow pink or purplish streak-like lines that develop on the surface of the skin, stretch marks gradually fade to the point where they won’t be so noticeable. Massaging creams or oils into your stretch marks may be helpful – ask your pharmacist to recommend a suitable product.


Pre-eclampsia This can cause complications that may affect you and your unborn baby. You’ll be screened for the early signs of pre- eclampsia during your regular anti-natal appointments with your GP or midwife. Symptoms to look out for include swollen feet, ankles, face and hands, severe headaches, vision problems and pain just below the ribs. Many cases of pre-eclampsia are mild. However if you notice any of the symptoms, call your midwife, GP or NHS 111 as soon as you can.


Staying active Physical activity guidelines for pregnant women are the same as for other adults: aim to do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week. This could include:


• Walking • Swimming • Prenatal yoga • Low-impact aerobics (look for classes or DVDs for pregnant women)


Activities you should avoid while you’re pregnant include contact sports and anything that could cause you to fall (horse riding or gymnastics, for instance). And if you're going on holiday while you're pregnant you should avoid scuba diving or exercising at high altitude (more than 2,500m above sea level) until you've acclimatised. Pregnant women are also advised to limit any type of exercise that


involves lying on their back – such as leg raises or lying yoga relaxation poses – to just a few minutes after 16 weeks, as lying on your back for longer can cause low blood pressure and make you feel light-headed. If you’re already active, try to keep up with your usual exercise


routine while you’re pregnant but remember it’s important not to push yourself too hard. If you’re not particularly active, on the other hand, start by doing just 10 minutes a day and gradually build up to 150 minutes a week. Most importantly, only do what feels comfortable – listen to your body and avoid anything too strenuous.


Vitamin supplements Women are advised to take a 400 μg folic acid supplement as soon as they start trying for a baby – or as soon as they know they’re pregnant – until the end of their first trimester (12 weeks). This can prevent birth defects such as spina bifida. You may also want to consider taking a 10


microgram vitamin D supplement if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding during the winter months, as it’s difficult to get the amount of vitamin D you need from food alone (during the summer you may get enough vitamin D from sunlight). Ask your local Careway pharmacist to


recommend vitamin supplements that would be suitable for you.


Taking medicines


The NHS suggests you should ideally avoid taking medicines when you’re pregnant, especially during the first trimester. But if you do need a medicine – either a prescription or over-the-counter medicine – check with your local Careway pharmacist, midwife or GP beforehand to make sure it’s suitable. If you need to take pain relief medicines,


paracetamol is usually safe to take for mild or moderate pain or a high temperature. However, avoid tablets that combine paracetamol with caffeine. Ibuprofen should not be used when you’re 30 or more weeks pregnant, unless your doctor says you can take it.


16 All About health


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