Pregnancy Symptoms at 27 Weeks: Morning Sickness, Cramps, and Sleep Issues

Question
HI Brenda

I am now at 27 weeks and 3 days. And upto now I am still having morning sickness, legs cramp and I always feel very tired. And I have also sleeping problem.

My baby moves very vigourously during midnight. Last midnight, I was very tired and awoken by his movement, I was so tired and did not know what exactly had happened.  But I could remember that I was lying on my back, and I used my hands and fingers to push my tummy very hard, I was not sure it was a dream or not but I thought that I had held the baby's head with my fingers, and asked him to stop moving, I remember that his head, his legs and his arms were just under the tummy, I am worry about my pressure that I put on my tummy hurt the baby because he was moving upward vigourouls and I was pushing downward hardly.

Please let me know what possible damages I might have done to him. I am not a good mother, I am very sorry for that.

Can you ease my worry.

Thanks


Answer
Dear Ellen,

Please don't worry overly much about this. Sometimes that little being squirming around in our body just doesn't compute in the deep of night as being our precious little baby but rather a foreign disturbance in our force!  :-)

Your body provides plenty of protection for the little one in the form of your thickened uterine lining and the amniotic fluid surrounding it to cushion any blows. And pushing on your belly would only probably cause him/her to frown and scoot over to find a more comfy place.

Try to relax. I'm sorry to hear that you are still experiencing some of the more unpleasant side effects of pregnancy. To help with the leg cramps you can try the following:
-Exercise regularly; include stretches that target your calves
-Rest with your legs elevated
-Wear supportive stockings/hose  
-Apply local heat

For nausea, you can:
-Eat small meals often
-Drink fluids 1/2 hour before or after a meal, but not with meals
-Drink small amounts of fluids during the day to avoid dehydration
-Eat soda crackers 15 minutes before getting up in the morning
-Avoid foods and smells that increase nausea
-Ask someone else to cook for you and open the windows or turn on fans if the odor bothers you
-Get plenty of rest and nap during the day
-Avoid warm places (feeling hot adds to nausea)
-Sniff lemons or ginger, drink lemonade, or eat watermelon to relieve nausea
-Eat salty potato chips (they have been found to settle stomachs enough to eat a meal)
-Exercise
-Do not lie down after eating
-Do not skip meals
-Avoid cooking or eating spicy food

You also might try taking a warm bath or drinking warm milk right before bedtime to attempt to decrease the baby's activity. The milk contains tryptophan, which is an amino acid that is thought to be converted to a sleep-enhancing compound in the brain. You can also try playing soothing music or nature sounds lightly at night. Sometimes that will lull the babe to sleep as well.

I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.

Brenda