Last Updated on September 28, 2023 by melissanreynolds
Pregnancy is an exciting time but it can also be tricky dealing with the early symptoms. Adding the fibromyalgia complexity makes it just a bit more difficult.
I have experienced four pregnancies now and have compiled a few tips and tricks that I can share with you for managing early pregnancy symptoms.
Here’s my tips for managing pregnancy symptoms with Fibromyalgia/chronic pain/chronic fatigue:
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Manage your “normal” human stuff first
- Sleep as best as you can
- Rest (I use meditation because I can’t nap)
- Eat as healthily as possible
- Pregnancy multi vitamin
- Drink lots of water
(Don’t forget I literally wrote the book on Pregnancy and Fibromyalgia)
Specific for morning sickness
- Ginger tea
- Peppermint tea
- Peppermints
- Ginger lozenges (these are so much cheaper on Amazon than my local pharmacy and they really helped me during my second pregnancy!)
- Vitamin b6
- Acupressure wrist bands
- Lemon juice (smell or put a little in water)
If it’s bad, as in you’re not keeping water or food down, seek medical attention. Hydration is crucial, as is nutrients for your developing baby.
There are a couple more options that I used that you need to do your own research on – essential oils.
Here’s two starter articles for you:
Using Essential Oils Safetly for Pregnancy and Nursing Mamas
I used lavender for pain and peppermint for nausea and headaches. See here for my post about my journey into using Essential Oils.
Managing fatigue
For me, fatigue is the big issue to manage. My fatigue levels can cause nausea and orthostatic intolerance even without morning sickness.
Really prioritise sleep and rest! After the children are in bed I found lying down to read (with my knees up to rest my low back) really helpful. Even if insomnia is plaguing you, resting helps. Try a meditation.
Yoga Nidra is my secret sauce, the only way I can get profound rest. Especially when you only have a set amount of time (like a lunch break or a toddler napping).
If increased pain hits you in pregnancy you might like to try these
- Stretching – cat and cow pose, child’s pose, forward bend, hip flexor stretches, low back stretches etc.
- Keep exercising gently
- Warm baths and showers
- Arnica pain cream
- Physiotherapy/massage/osteopathy etc.
Check out my Favourite Five Pain Management Mechanisms Pregnant or Not post here
You might also like my Pregnancy and Fibromyalgia Resources page.
If you’re trying to head off pelvis issues like me, here’s what I’m doing (my physiotherapist taught me how to do these appropriately)
- Knee presses
- Mini squats
- Calf lifts
- Pelvic floor, stomach engaged pelvic tilts
- Superman pose
Please remember that this is a finite time and you’ll soon be thinking on other things, namely your fast growing passenger.
So what to do?
Pick one or two of the things I have suggested here and consider enacting them today. Tell us, what helps you?
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