Moms-to-be require delicate care and unmatched attention in a number of areas: diet, activities, health and emotions. Yet, no matter how much care and attention they are lavished with, both healthy and sickly moms-to-be unfortunately still undergo and still have to deal by themselves the inevitable discomforts associated with pregnancy. In fact, pregnancy is one of the rare periods in a woman's life when getting sick is actually a norm.

Few moms-to-be are actually spared from the following common ordeals:

Constipation. This discomfort is characterized by a difficulty in eliminating hard, dry and small stools. For pregnant women, the probable causes of constipation are hormonal changes and the onset of a sedentary lifestyle. Constipation can be alleviated by increasing the intake of fiber and fluid.

Dyspepsia. More commonly known as indigestion, this discomfort is associated with a bunch of cohorts: heartburn (a burning sensation that is felt at the throat or chest after eating a meal), flatulence (a more classy term for “farting,” actually) and bloating (a feeling of “fullness” in the stomach). For pregnant women, the culprit of dyspepsia is still hormonal change which affects the “relaxation” and the slowing down of the digestive system. This condition can be alleviated by avoiding carbonated drinks, fatty foods and fart-inducing foods. Dyspepsia can likewise be avoided when moms-to-be frequently feed themselves with small, digestible meals throughout the day.

Edema. This discomfort is characterized by swollen legs and feet. For pregnant women, this condition is catalyzed by a buildup of extra fluids in the body during pregnancy, thereby effecting poor blood circulation. Moms-to-be can control edema by improving their blood circulation in a variety of ways: getting a gentle massage, elevating the legs when in a supine position, and wearing a panty hose or compressor stockings when walking about or standing for extended periods.

Leg Cramps. This discomfort is characterized by muscular pains in the legs. As a mom-to-be's pregnancy progresses, the pain brought about by leg cramps also increases in intensity. Although no exact cause can be pinpointed, some sources theorize that pregnancy-associated leg cramps may be due to the pressure that an expanding uterus exerts on blood vessels, nerves and leg muscles. Whatever the real cause is, moms-to-be cannot totally eliminate the pain but may only seek relief in several ways: getting a soft massage, stretching the calf muscles, rotating the ankles and toes when in sitting position for a considerable period, avoiding leg crossing, and taking a warm bath before going to bed.

Morning Sickness. Probably the most common of pregnancy-associated ordeals, this discomfort is characterized by nausea which may or may not lead to vomiting. The name is derived from the time of the day when nausea is usually experienced, although not all cases of morning sickness occur exclusively in the morning. For pregnant women, the causes of morning sickness are a combination of several factors: hormones, increased olfactory sensitivity and low blood sugar. Morning sickness can be reduced by avoiding an empty stomach and greasy foods, eating low-fat, high-carbohydrate foods, smelling lemons, and – still the best remedy yet – taking small and frequent meals.