Common Ailments & Treatments In Pregnancy

Morning Sickness

- Eat small, frequent, dry, bland, warm meals like toast, oatmeal, mashed potato, mashed rice, boiled vegetables etc.
- Stay hydrated with Gatorade, popsicles, ginger ale or warm jello
- Dramamine or like nonbrand
- Peppermint Lozenges
- Raspberry or Chamomile tea
- Vitamin B 6
- Motion sickness bracelet (Radiance)

Call the office if these measures do not work and you are not able to keep liquids down for greater than 24 hours.

Headaches

- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) as directed
- Lay down in dark , quiet room
- Cold, moist compress on forehead

Call the office if:

- You have been told your blood pressure is high or borderline high
- The headache is severe
- The above measures do not work
- Rapid increase in swelling of hands, feet, face etc.

Diarrhea

- Avoid diary products until resolved for 24 hours
- Keep hydrated, preferably with Gatorade
- Take Kaopectate or Imodium

Call the office if:

- The diarrhea persists for over 24 hours using the above measures.
- There is blood in your stool

Flu Or Viral Syndrome

- Take acetaminophen for fever over 101 F. or muscle aches
- Stay hydrated
- Warm baths sometimes help

Call the office if:

- You have a productive cough or chest pain
- Your fever is over 102 F.
- You have burning with urination
- Your symptoms persist over 48 hours

Common Cold

- Sudafed, Tylenol sinus (or like non brand names) as directed for nasal congestion
- Robitussin or hold cough drops as directed for non- productive cough
- Acetaminophen for temp over 101 F.
- Ocean mist nasal spray

Call the office if:

- Your nasal drainage is yellow or green
- You have a productive cough or chest pain
- Your fever is over 102 F.
- Your symptoms do not improve at all after 48 hours using the medications recommended.

Yeast Infections

- OTC Monistat (or similar non brand) 3 or 7 day
- Increase yogurt intake
- Decrease free sugar intake

Call the office if symptoms persist after treatment

Heartburn

- Maalox (choose with Simethicone if gas problem also)
- Tums
- OTC Zantac, Tagament, Pepcid or equivalent non brand

Low Back Pain (Aching)

- Heating pads
- Warm bath
- Stretching exercises or pelvic rock
- Massage

Call office if low back pain associated with increase vaginal pressure, increase in discharge or bloody discharge, or uterine cramping.

Insomnia In Pregnancy

This is not an unnatural occurrence in pregnancy for many reasons. The usual course of insomnia is waking up after a few hours sleep and being unable to fall back asleep. Do not lie awake in bed for over trying to get back to sleep. Get up, draw a warm bath and read a book for a to 1 hour, then attempt to get back to sleep. Having a cup of chamomile tea can sometimes help this process. More conservative measures are preferred but these fail, the medications listed below are acceptable except in the 1st trimester.

- Magnesium supplement OTC
- Benadryl

Constipation

- Colace or like non -brand
- Increase fiber in diet or with brands such as Metamucil, Konsyl or Fibercon
- Plenty of water

Leg Cramps (Especially At Night)

- Stay hydrated
- Take Calcium (two tablets) at bedtime
- Magnesium at night time as tablet or capsule
- Make sure Potassium intake is adequate