It is rare for a woman to pass through her complete pregnancy without having a single complaint. Most complaints are only minor, but sometimes that can be just enough to tip you over the edge if youre having a bad day.

So what are they and what causes them?

• Morning sickness: Well for some people its not just morning sickness at all, it would be better named 'all day sickness' Morning sickness is a combination of nausea and/or vomiting, and these symptoms are usually brought on by a sudden surge of the pregnancy hormone  hCG. This usually comes on at around the 6 week mark or thereabouts. To help ease morning sickness, eat frequent small meals, and have something to eat before you get out of bed in the morning. I kept an airtight container of milk arrowroot biscuits or ginger bikkies next to my bed and would eat about 3 or 4 before I got up in the morning, followed by a few sips of water or ginger ale. Ginger has GREAT therapeutic properties for nausea.
• Heartburn: Heartburn is a build up of acid in the upper stomach and oesophagus, and also is caused by your baby pressing on your stomach and relaxing the sphincter, which is what controls your stomach regurgitating. A good idea is to cut back, if not cut out completely, spicy and fatty foods. Avoid wearing tight clothes and sleeping on a very thick pillow or a couple of pillows so that you are more upright, helps stop the acid escaping. Mylanta and Quick-eze are completely safe to use occasionally during pregnancy, however alot of people dont like the chalky taste of them, so see your pharmasist for more options.
• Headaches: Are experienced more during pregnancy as well, especially during the first two trimesters. If the headaches occur behind your eyes and you see spots frequently, it could be related to having bad blood pressure, in which case you need to see your doctor ASAP. Paracetamol is ok for use during pregnancy, so long as you dont take it on a regular basis or for long periods. I found using a Migrastick (see your chemist) worked wonders for me and really helped me to relax. It smells great too.
• Leg cramps: These are so annoying and I usually got them when I was asleep, especially with my first pregnancy. These cramps in your leg or foot are usually caused by a sudden increase in temperature. Firm massage or flexing your leg or foot can help to ease these symptoms.
• Mood swings: These can happen at any time of the pregnancy (just ask my fiance, he will tell you that they lasted the whole 9 months with me lol) and are usually caused by a general feeling of uncomfortableness. I found that I had a lesser tolerance of everything and everyone around me and was just sick to death of being a fat whale and couldnt wait to be able to hold my baby OUTSIDE OF MY BODY! This will pass and a supportive partner can help to make this very emotional time a more pleasent experience for all.
• Back Ache: As you move further and further towards the end of your pregnancy, you will find as your belly pokes out more, your spine will in turn curve more as well, putting your back under more strain than normal. Growing breasts can put strain on your upper back, and a slow relaxing massage is great for this. Ive found the most comfortable position was to sit at a table and cross your arms and rest your head on your arms as if you had fallen asleep during detention at school. (tell me i wasnt the only one to do that lol) lean forward and stretch your back out, putting a pillow on your lap to support your belly if you want. While in this position, get someone to give you a nice relaxing, gentle massage, using lavendar massage oil. ONLY USE essential oils, not 'lavendar fragranced' as sometimes artificially fragranced things can cause you to have a skin reaction.
• Fainting/Dizzy spells: I got these almost every time without fail, that I would step into the shower. In the end I would have to almost have a cold shower as I was making myself overheat with all the extra blood running around my body along with the heat from the water as well. Mix this with the fact that your blood vessels relax during pregnancy, causing blood to return to your brain slower, and you have a nasty combination. To prevent this, have lukewarm showers/baths, and stand up or get out of bed/chair slowly. Fainting can also be a symptom of Anaemia, so see your doctor if it happens regularly. (More on Anaemia later.)
• Breathlessness: As baby gets bigger, you slowly run out of room for all your bits and peices and everything gets all squished up. Your ribcage gets squished, and as a result, your lungs cant expand as much as they used to. Rest often and dont exert yourself. If you experience any chest pain, see your doctor.
• Constipation: This is an extremely common problem, particularly if you are taking iron tablets. Increase your fibre intake by eating more fruit or drinking more fruit juice, weetbix for breakfast is another great way to increase your fibre, and if all else fails there is always Metamucil or Bena-Fibe which are both safe to use during pregnancy.
• Haemorrhoids: One word- UGH!!!! Also caused from constipation, these can become so uncomfortable, you think youre going to pass out from pain each time you do a poo! Simply explained, Haemorrhoids are similar to varicose veins, but in your bottom. The growing baby puts additional pressure on your pelvis, slowing blood flow to where its really needed. Avoid standing for long periods, and avoid crossing your legs when sitting down, as this can interfere with healthy blood flow. And most importantly of all, when you are having a bowel movement, for the love of god, DONT PUSH!!!!! Never ever EVER strain when youre constipated, as you can cause a haemorrhoid to burst and thats where things get real nasty. Treatment of mild haemorrhoids vary from soaking a pad in water and freezing it, then placing it up against your bottom for the cooling effect, having salt water baths (really helped for me) and drinking lots of water. If things get real bad you can get a cream from your doctor, but they try to talk you out of that as its only for extreme cases.
• Lack of sex drive: Some of us get lucky and if anything their libido has a dramatic rise. For the unlucky ones, (me) sex becomes a thing of a past. I mean, it becomes repulsive. If your partner even so much as shoots you a look with those bedroom eyes, youre likely to turn those bedroom eyes into a black eye! (just ask my fiance he came close many a time lol) this is all caused from a change of hormones, and usually returns to normal soon after birth. (phew!)

The list could go on all day with uncomfortable complications, but these are some of the most common.

I have to go now, as I am getting writers cramp from writing such a long article lol

Parts of this information were taken from the Bounty Pregnancy book, but most were changed into my own words, and only used for references to particular hormones etc.