Obstetric Care in Richmond VA
Approved Treatments For Minor Discomforts In Pregnancy
The following treatments are approved for minor discomforts during pregnancy:
| Allergies or sinusitis |
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| Back pain | For lower back pain and pelvic floor pressure, try using a maternity belt. |
| Cold | Rest and stay hydrated. Avoid pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine. You can use cold medicines containing phenylephrine if not in your first trimester and no blood pressure issues.
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| Constipation | Get plenty of exercise and drink sufficient quantities of liquids. Eat plenty of bran foods, fruits, and veggies. Prunes are also a natural laxative and may be eaten raw, stewed, or as a juice.
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| Cough |
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| Cramping | Occasional menstrual-like cramping is common in early pregnancy. If cramping persists, becomes severe, or becomes associated with bleeding, contact our office.
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| Dental work | Inform the dentist of your pregnancy, especially if there is a need to prescribe medicine.
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| Diarrhea |
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| Exercise | Pregnant women are encouraged to exercise, though you should avoid contact or high-risk sports. If bleeding or cramping occurs, increase water intake and decrease activity. Do not use hot tubs or saunas. |
| Exposure to rubella, chickenpox or shingles | Contact our office at 804-897-2100 and select Option 2 to speak with a phone nurse. |
| Fever | You may use regular or extra-strength Tylenol. If your temperature reaches 100.4 degrees or higher, contact our office. For ALL respiratory infections, rest in bed as much as possible, drink plenty of fluids, and use a vaporizer if available. If no improvement is noted in a few days, contact our office. You should also see your primary care physician. |
| Headache |
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| Heartburn/indigestion |
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| Hemorrhoids |
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| Lower extremity swelling or varicose veins |
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| Morning sickness |
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| Paint and chemicals | Do NOT expose yourself unnecessarily in non-ventilated areas to paint, strong cleaning agents, or solvents. Read all directions and warnings on products carefully. |
| Poison ivy, poison oak, and skin rashes |
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| Sore throat |
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| Spotting or bleeding | Spotting after intercourse or after a pelvic exam is normal. If bleeding worsens, call our office and select Option 2 to speak to a phone nurse. |
| Travel | Please discuss travel plans with your physician. Flying is not recommended after 35 weeks for routine pregnancy, and travel in the last four weeks of pregnancy is generally not advised. Avoid heavy lifting, including anything as heavy as a suitcase. If you are traveling, plan frequent stops (at least every 2 hours), walk around for a few minutes to reduce the risk of blood clots, and make sure to drink plenty of water. Before you make travel plans, refer to the CDC.gov website for up-to-date information on areas at risk for Covid-19 and/or the Zika virus. |
| Urinary tract infection | If you experience any symptoms of a UTI, including foul odor or burning with urination, call our office at 804-897-2100 and select Option 2 to speak with a phone nurse. |
| Vaginal discharge and yeast infection | An increase in vaginal discharge is normal during pregnancy. If there is burning, itching or a foul odor, contact our office at 804-897-2100 and select Option 2 to speak with a phone nurse. If you have a yeast infection, you may use Gyne-Lotrimin or Monistat. Use the 7-day treatment. |