How to cope with pregnancy pains and discomfort
As your body changes, pregnancy pains and discomfort can occur, especially in your back, legs and feet. The good news is, there are ways to ease your pregnancy aches and pains. We’ve put together a handy list of coping strategies for you.
Checklist
- Avoid lifting heavy objects — someone else can take care of this task.
- If you have to pick something up, bend your knees and keep your back straight.
- Try a maternity support pillow for your desk chair or sofa.
- Wear flat, supportive shoes to evenly distribute your weight.
- Consider an antenatal yoga class — you’ll be shown safe, gentle back stretches.
- Get a low-impact exercise, such as a 30-minute walk each day.
- Get lots of rest too, especially as your due date draws nearer.
- Run a warm bath to soothe aches and help your muscles relax.
- Gently bend, stretch, and rotate your feet to help prevent leg cramps.
- Swollen ankles? Keep hydrated and rest with your feet up.
- If you need pain relief, it’s usually OK to take paracetamol in pregnancy, unless your healthcare provider (HCP) or midwife say not to.
- For pelvic pain, get help from your HCP or midwife — they can refer you to a physiotherapist.
- If you think you could be having contractions, read our Signs of labor checklist.
Related articles
3 Tips to Reduce Stress for Mothers
The journey of motherhood is a joyful adventure with ups and downs. Though it is rewarding, there are times when you will feel stressed.
3 mins to read
19-Week pregnant: Development and Diet
Your little lodger weighs between 300 and 400 grams – weigh a grapefruit in your hand and that’s about how heavy your child is. Read more about this week.
3 mins to read
35-Week pregnant: Development and diet
In about a month, you’ll be holding that little bundle of joy in your arms. Until then, there’s still lots of polishing and refinement going on inside you. Read more about this week.
3 mins to read
5 ways to reduce your child’s chances of having allergies
Find out how breastfeeding from birth and beyond and taking certain probiotics may also help reduce your child’s allergy risks
5 mins to read
Pregnancy Exercises to Help You Keep Fit
Pregnancy doesn’t mean you have to be stuck to the bed or the couch.
3 mins to read
14-Week pregnant: Development and diet
Your little angel is about the size of a grapefruit! Have you felt her move or kick yet? If not, you should be able to in the next weeks! Read more about this exciting time.
3 mins to read
30-Week pregnant: Development and diet
Every day, your little one develops more, getting ready to make an entrance into the world in just under 10 weeks. Has it gone fast or is the time creeping by for you?
2 mins to read
Good Nutrition for a Healthy Pregnancy
Discover pregnancy tips and advice on proper nutrition throughout the trimesters.
1 min to read
9-Week pregnant: Development and diet
Two hearts beat as one, as the song says. In actual fact, your child’s heart is beating just fine on its own. Read more about this week.
3 mins to read
25-Week pregnant: Development and diet
Two more weeks left of the second trimester. You are gearing up for the home stretch. Read more about how to help feed it.
2 mins to read
How to deal with morning sickness at the start of pregnancy
Morning sickness can strike at any time of day or night. Especially at the start of pregnancy. Here’s a few things that could help make the first, delicate trimester a little easier to stomach.
1 min to read
4 Couple Exercises for a Happier, Healthier Pregnancy
If you’ve been active and fit before getting pregnant, chances a
2 mins to read
20-Week pregnant: Development and diet
There’s so much going on in your belly this week that you may want to take a little nap after reading about it! Read more about this week.
3 mins to read
36-Week pregnant: Development and diet
From now until she makes her grand entrance, your little one will continue to grow. She is already 45 cm long and weighs about 2.9 kg! Read more about this week.
3 mins to read
Signs of Baby blues vs postpartum depression
Wondering how to know if I have postnatal depression? You’ve just birthed a human, your whole has been turned upside down, and you haven’t slept for what feels like an age.
5 mins to read
Pregnancy Symptoms Week By Week: Week 26 - 40
You’re almost there! This is the part where you’re really getting in the mood for motherhood.
5 mins to read
15-Week pregnant: Development and diet
Though your little darling is planted deep inside you, this is the week where everything gets set up for his sense of smell. Read more about this week.
2 mins to read
31-Week pregnant: Development and diet
As D-Day fast approaches, your little one will soon be moving into position for birth. How clever! But you already knew that. Read more about this week.
2 mins to read
10-Week pregnant: Development and diet
You are already at week 10 of your pregnancy. Still another 29 weeks to go before you get to meet your little love. Learn more about what’s going on this week.
3 mins to read
Related tools
Ovulation calendar
Determine when you are likely to ovulate can improve your chances of conceiving.
Pregnancy week
Find out what changes you can expect in your body, your emotions, your life and your little one.
