Pregnancy can be a beautiful time in a woman’s life, but there are some things about this life-altering time that are not so great. Achy hips, hormone-induced headaches, and back pain are just a few of things I personally suffered from while pregnant with my daughter. Obviously, they were all totally worth it and I’d do it all again, but I’d be lying if I said I missed those parts of pregnancy. The worst part? Trying to figure out how to ease those pains. It was impossible to sleep on my stomach and I could never remember if it was safe to take a baby aspirin while pregnant or if I just had to power through.
There’s quite the list of things you shouldn’t indulge in while pregnant, like alcohol and cigarettes, but there are a few things that can really throw you for a loop. Aspirin happens to be one of them. According to the Mayo Clinic, aspirin and ibuprofen aren’t advised as pain relievers while pregnant, as they can interfere with your blood’s clotting and cause maternal and fetal bleeding. The Mayo Clinic also notes that aspirin has the possibility of closing a vessel in your baby’s heart and lead to pulmonary hypertension.
But recent studies have found that a low dose of aspirin is helpful in certain medical conditions. Baby aspirin may reduce the chances of preeclampsia and might lower the risk of premature birth by 14 percent. However, this all depends on your doctor and the type of pregnancy you have, whether it’s low-risk or high-risk. Your doctor can tell you if baby aspirin is recommended for any health conditions, or if you should abstain.
When it comes to relieving your pain, aspirin is still considered off limits. Try one of these four alternate remedies for safe relief.
1.Take Some Tylenol
Again, always check with your doctor, but Fit Pregnancy recommends acetaminophen for pain relief while pregnant. You can take either extra strength or regular, just be sure to follow the dosage recommendations.
2. Indulge in Caffeine
The American Pregnancy Association says 150 to 300 milligrams of caffeine per day are fine during pregnancy, so if you’re suffering from a headache, a few sips of caffeine may help.
3. Try Prenatal Yoga
If you’re suffering from back pain, you may need to sleep with a pillow between your legs or try some prenatal yoga, according to Parents. There are a few poses modified for the pregnant body that can help alleviate any lower back problems.
4. Soak in a Warm Bath
If you’ve ever experienced sciatica, you know how much of a literal pain it is. While Tylenol may be able to ease some symptoms, you can also try heat to get some relief. Parents magazine suggests soaking in a warm bath that’s not too hot for you to try and ease the pain.
