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:

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

Flu Or Viral Syndrome

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

Call the office if:

- Your fever is over 102 F.
- You have a productive cough or chest pain
- 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
Massage
Stretching exercises or pelvic rock

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.