What to expect when you're expecting (81 page)

Follow the technician’s directions precisely, being especially careful not to move while he or she is taking the picture, so retakes won’t be needed.

Most important, if you had an X-ray before you found out you were pregnant, don’t worry.

“My nose has been stuffed up a lot, and sometimes it bleeds for no apparent reason. Is it pregnancy related?”

Your belly’s not the only thing that’s starting to swell these days. Thanks to the high levels of estrogen and progesterone circulating in your body, which bring with them increased blood flow, the mucous membranes of your nose start to swell, too, and soften (much as the cervix does in preparation for childbirth). Those membranes also produce more mucus than ever, with the intention of keeping infections and germs at bay. What’s not so swell is the result—which your nose undoubtedly already knows: congestion, and possibly even nosebleeds. Also not so swell: The stuffiness may only get worse as your pregnancy progresses. You may develop postnasal drip, too, which in turn can occasionally cause coughing or gagging at night (as if you didn’t have enough other things keeping you up—or enough gagging going on).

You can safely try saline sprays or nasal strips, especially if the congestion takes a turn for the truly uncomfortable. A humidifier in your room may also help overcome the dryness associated with any congestion. Medications or antihistamine nasal sprays are usually not prescribed during pregnancy, but do ask your practitioner what he or she recommends (some practitioners okay decongestants or steroid nasal sprays after the first trimester).

Taking an extra 250 mg of vitamin C (with your practitioner’s okay), plus eating plenty of vitamin C–rich foods, may help strengthen your capillaries and reduce the chance of bleeding. Sometimes a nosebleed will follow overly energetic nose blowing, so easy does it.

To stem a nosebleed, sit or stand leaning slightly forward, rather than lying down or leaning backward. Using your thumb and forefinger, pinch the area just above your nostrils and below the bridge of your nose, and hold for five minutes; repeat if the bleeding continues. If the bleeding isn’t controlled after three tries, or if the bleeding is frequent and heavy, call your practitioner.

“My husband tells me that I’ve been snoring lately. Why is this happening?”

Snoring can disrupt a good night’s sleep, for both the snorer and her bedmate, but it’s usually not something to lose sleep over when you’re expecting. Your nocturnal nasal symphony may simply be triggered by normal pregnancy stuffiness, in which case sleeping with a humidifier (or a nasal strip) on and with your head well elevated may help. Extra weight can also contribute to snoring, so make sure you aren’t gaining too much.

Rarely, snoring can signal an elevated risk for gestational diabetes, or a sign of sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing stops briefly during sleep. Since you’re breathing for two, it’s probably a good idea to mention your snoring to your practitioner at your next visit.

Snooze or Lose?

Are pregnancy hormones—or that growing belly—getting between you and a good night’s sleep? Sleep problems are common in pregnancy, and while insomnia may be good preparation for the sleepless nights that lie ahead once your baby arrives, you’re likely eager to catch some expectant z’s. Before turning to over-the-counter (or prescribed) sleep aids, however, talk to your practitioner. He or she may have other suggestions to help summon the sandman. You can also read the tips on
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to help with your insomnia.

“My allergies seem to have gotten worse since my pregnancy began. My nose is runny all the time.”

Expectant noses are stuffy noses, so it’s possible that you’re mistaking the normal (though uncomfortable) congestion of pregnancy for allergies. But it’s also possible that pregnancy has aggravated your allergies. Though some lucky expectant allergy sufferers (about a third) find a temporary respite from their symptoms during pregnancy, the less lucky (also about a third) find their symptoms get worse, and the rest (that final third) find their symptoms stay about the same. Since it sounds like you’re among the less lucky, you’re probably itching (and tearing and sneezing) for relief. But before you join the rest of the other allergy sufferers in the antihistamine aisle at the drugstore, check with your practitioner to see what you can safely pull off the shelf or have filled at the pharmacy. Some antihistamines and other medications are safe for use in pregnancy; others, which may or may not include your usual over-the-counter or prescription medication, may not be (though don’t worry about any that you took before you knew you were pregnant).

Allergy shots are considered safe for pregnant women who have been on the receiving end of them for a while before they conceived. Most allergists say it’s not a good idea to start allergy shots during pregnancy because they may cause unexpected reactions.

In general, however, the best approach to dealing with allergies in pregnancy is prevention—which can be worth a pound of tissues this season. Steering clear of what causes your allergies may also reduce the risk that your baby will develop allergies to those triggers.

No Peanuts for Your Little Peanut?

It’s as American as the sandwich bread it’s spread on—plus it makes a convenient and wholesome snack—but is peanut butter safe for the little peanut you’re feeding in utero? It’s long been known that moms (and much less so, dads) who have or have had allergies may pass allergic tendencies—though not necessarily the specific allergies—to their unborn child. Some research suggests that
allergic
mothers who eat highly allergenic foods (such as peanuts and dairy products) while they’re nursing may be more likely to pass on allergies to those foods in their offspring. The good news for expectant peanut butter lovers (and those who like to wash their PB&J down with a glass of milk) is that the research on this connection during pregnancy has been inconclusive thus far. Still, if you have ever suffered from allergies, speak to your practitioner and an allergist about whether you should think about restricting your diet while you’re pregnant and/or breastfeeding. If not, there’s no need to skip the Skippy.

To ease the sneeze, try these tips:

If pollens or other outdoor allergens trouble you, stay indoors in an air-conditioned and air-filtered environment as much as you can during your susceptible season. When you come indoors, wash your hands and face and change clothes to remove pollen. Outdoors, wear large curved sunglasses to keep pollens from floating into your eyes.

If dust is a culprit, make sure someone else does the dusting and sweeping (how’s that for a good excuse to get out of housecleaning?). A vacuum cleaner (especially one with a HEPA filter), a damp mop, or a damp cloth-covered broom kicks up less dust than an ordinary broom, and a microfiber cloth will do better than a traditional feather duster. Stay away from musty places like attics and libraries full of old books.

If you’re allergic to certain foods, stay away from them, even if they’re good foods for pregnancy. Check out the Pregnancy Diet (Chapter 5) for substitutes.

If animals bring on allergy attacks, let friends know of the problem in advance so that they can rid a room of both pets and their dander before you visit. And of course, if your own pet is suddenly triggering an allergic response, try to keep one or more areas in your home (particularly your bedroom) pet free.

Tobacco smoke allergy is easier to control these days, since there are fewer smokers around, and fewer places where they can smoke. To ease your allergy, as well as for the benefit of your baby, avoid exposure to cigarette, pipe, and cigar smoke.

“I’ve noticed a slight vaginal discharge that’s thin and whitish. Does this mean I have an infection?”

A thin, milky, mild-smelling discharge (known in the obstetrics business as leukorrhea) is normal throughout pregnancy. Its purpose is noble: to protect the birth canal from infection and maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the vagina. Unfortunately, in achieving its noble purpose, leukorrhea can make a mess of your underwear. Because it increases until term and may become quite heavy, some women are more comfortable wearing panty liners during the last months of pregnancy. Don’t use tampons, which could introduce unwanted germs into the vagina.