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Beyond Braxton Hicks and Nausea

Solutions for the Other Pregnancy Symptoms

By Kelly Burgess

Morning sickness, Braxton Hicks, heartburn, indigestion, shortness of breath. What does that list have in common? To start with, everyone knows they're very common side effects of pregnancy. A million words have been written about them, every woman's doctor warns her about them and when you get them you know what you have and what you can, or can't, do about them.

But what about the second string of pregnancy symptoms? We're talking hip pain, skin tags, sore navels and a couple of things with fancy names that sound much more ominous than they are. Dr. Dotti James, associate professor of nursing at Saint Louis University, says because these symptoms don't always get the press that the more common symptoms do, some women worry needlessly. Here are some lesser-known pregnancy symptoms and what you can expect if you're experiencing them.

According to Dr. James, this is a very common symptom of pregnancy, particularly in women older than 35, although doctors aren't sure why. "We think that the progesterone causes it," says James. "It's the same effect that causes the pregnancy waddle. As the cartilage in your pelvic girdle stretches, you get a slightly unstable hip, and that can cause soreness, especially at night when you lie down. James suggests experimenting with sleeping with pillows between the legs or trying different mattresses.

Dr. James says she's heard women describe it as feeling like someone has poked a finger into their belly button. It has to do with the uterus growing, and as it grows it pushes everything out of the way. The discomfort usually reaches its peak at the 20th week and then subsides.

Want to see more?

• Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Surviving Extreme Morning Sickness
• Lupus and Pregnancy: Is Your Health at Risk?
• Bowels and Babies: The Effects of Chronic Bowel Disease on Pregnancy
• Talk about it!

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