Nausea is a common problem early in pregnancy and may be caused by hormone changes. It is important for you to eat several small meals five to six times per day. Avoid large meals. Drink fluids between meals. Avoid spicy or fatty foods if you do not feel well after eating them. It may be helpful to eat crackers or dry toast before getting up. You should eat slowly and avoid lying down immediately after eating. Consult your doctor is you experience severe nausea or you are unable to eat or drink anything.

Back pain is one of the most common discomforts during pregnancy. It usually is caused by strain on the back muscles or weakness of the abdominal muscles. Pregnancy hormones may also contribute to back pain. To help ease back pain, try the following: Wear shoes with good arch support. Avoid heels. Avoid lifting heavy objects. Apply heat or cold to the painful area or massage it. Sit in chairs with good back support, or use a small pillow behind the low part of your back. Try to sleep on your side with one or two pillows between your legs for support. Staying active during pregnancy can help with back pain.

You should start to feel your baby move by 20 weeks of pregnancy. Your doctor will encourage you to be aware of your baby’s fetal movements. You may be asked to do fetal movement counts when you are around 26 weeks and beyond. To do this, lie in a quiet place and count every movement the baby makes. Your baby should move at least 10 times within a 2 hour period. If your baby does not move this much, you should report immediately to Labor and Delivery.

If you are at the end of your pregnancy, you will need to be prepared for the onset of labor. When you have regular contracts every 5-7 minutes for about an hour, you should go to the hospital. If you have a gush of fluid from your vagina or a steady trickle of fluid that you cannot control, come to the hospital because your membranes may have ruptured (also referred to as your water breaking). If you note increased vaginal discharge or vaginal bleeding, this may be another sign that you are in labor. Labor does not always begin with contractions. If you are concerned that you may be in labor, call your doctor or go to Labor and Delivery. If you are concerned that you are in labor and you are not at the end of your pregnancy, go to Labor and Delivery immediately