Alongside this beautiful journey, it is quite common to experience some symptoms of discomfort due to pregnancy. Symptoms could vary from woman to woman. We have listed down some of the common discomforts. However, each mother-to-be may experience symptoms differently or no symptoms at all.

Morning Sickness

Nausea, commonly known as morning sickness, usually begins 4-8 weeks into the pregnancy and might strike at any time during the day (or evening, for that matter). Morning sickness is caused by a number of factors such as stress, fatigue, and elevated levels of particular hormones that irritate the digestive system.

Remedy:

Limit yourself to smaller, more frequent meals, making sure that you keep your stomach neither empty nor too full as both extremes tend to exacerbate queasiness. Keep yourself well hydrated, avoid fatty, spicy or fried foods, try to reduce your stress levels, and rest more frequently. A high protein diet rich in complex carbohydrates can also help reduce morning sickness.

Fatigue

Sluggishness and lethargy are an expected part of the pregnancy package and directly result from the stress and changes that your body is experiencing. How quickly an expectant mother recovers her vitality is different for everyone, however most women will begin to feel better by their second trimester. If you continue to feel fatigued after your second trimester and are worried, consult your doctor to rule out any possibility of underlying causes such as anemia or depression.

Remedy:

Going to bed earlier, taking short afternoon naps, simplifying your schedule, following a healthier diet, and adopting a moderate daily exercise routine are all things that you can do to boost your energy levels. Your surroundings might also be contributing to your tiredness; make sure your home is well-lighted, well-ventilated and quiet enough to be conducive to relaxation and comfort.

Constipation

Constipation during the early stages of pregnancy is often the result of high levels of progesterone hormones which slow the movement of food through the digestive track. Severe constipation can lead to hemorrhoids, but this rarely results in any serious problems and usually the hemorrhoids go away soon after the baby is born. However, if you experience rectal bleeding or are in severe pain you should visit your doctor.

Remedy:

You can prevent and alleviate constipation by increasing your daily intake of high-fiber foods, drinking 6-8 glasses of water each day, exercising regularly, and taking over-the-counter fiber supplements recommended to you by your doctor. Drinking natural laxatives like prune juice can also help in this situation. You should also never delay going to the toilet when you feel the urge to do so.

Dizziness

Lightheadedness and even fainting are not unusual and can occur during any pregnancy stage, since more blood is being pumped to your uterus and legs, which when coupled with the pressure of an expanding uterus on your blood vessels can lead to faintness. Other causes of dizziness may be low blood sugar levels, dehydration, or lack of proper air circulation within the room you're sitting in.

Remedy:

Avoid getting up abruptly from bed or a seated position, add some protein to your daily diet, eat frequent and smaller meals, drink at least eight cups of fluids a day, and make sure your home is well-aired. Try sleeping on your left side at night for some relief, and avoid sitting in one position for too long. You should keep your doctor informed of your condition to ensure that it is not the result of some other underlying problem such as anemia.

Heartburn and Indigestion

Heartburn partly occurs when the ring that separates the esophagus from the stomach is relaxed, which in pregnant women usually results from the high levels of progesterone hormones. The relaxation of this ring allows stomach acid to rise up and irritate the sensitive esophageal lining, causing bloating and a burning sensation.

Remedy:

To alleviate heartburn you will need to keep your weight down within reason, eat smaller and more frequent meals, and avoid eating directly before going to bed, smoking, caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, processed meats, spicy food and fatty foods. You can also ask your doctor to prescribe an antacid; never take any type of medication or supplement without consulting your doctor first.

Pregnant women have different nutritional needs, which is why things like which foods to start eating and avoiding will come to the forefront of the list of things you need to pay attention to. But following a healthy diet doesn't necessarily have to involve the adoption of a strict regimen, it simply means that you should pay more attention to your food choices. The following six guidelines adapted from The Whole Pregnancy Handbook by Joel M. Evans and Robin Aronson (Gotham Books, 2005), will help you detoxify your diet and develop healthy eating habits.

1. Replace white rice with brown rice, whole-grain pastas and breads

Not only is processed whole grain stripped of fiber and precious immunity-boosting phytochemicals, it also contains "bad" carbohydrates that don’t offer any nutritional value. Whole grains on the other hand contain both good carbs and the fiber that your body needs to sustain its energy and help prevent constipation, which is a common pregnancy problem.

2. Go for a variety of organic fruits and vegetables

Even though it tends to be a bit more expensive than regular produce, organic fruits and vegetables help lower pesticide levels in your blood. Fetal exposure to harmful chemicals such as those present in pesticides can stint fetal development and threaten its wellbeing. You should also try to add fruits and vegetables of every color to your diet, as different colors contain valuable nutrients that have protective properties important for fetal development.

3. Limit your salt intake

Consuming too much salt leads to water retention in pregnant women in particular, and high sodium levels can lead to pregnancy complications. High-salt foods are usually processed foods that include canned soups and frozen dinners.

4. Avoid foods containing chemical additives

Most artificial colors and flavors are generally considered as safe for consumption, but foods made with chemicals usually have negative side effects and are not nutritionally wholesome. Such additives can also cause stomach problems, insomnia and migraines in regular adults, which is all the more reason to avoid them.

5. Get enough protein

Protein is an important key ingredient in any diet and can be gained from several sources such as meat, poultry, beans, grains, nuts, soy products and legumes. If you don't eat red meat then try to add iron-rich foods such as dried apricots and figs to your diet to make up for it.

6. Choose the right type of fish

Omega-3 fatty acids are important for the development and maintenance of a healthy heart and immune system, and can be gained from fish. But while most fish is good for you, those that contain mercury should be avoided as much as possible. You should also watch out for fish that has been contaminated with toxic industrial compounds and pesticides, which cause a range of problems such as brain damage and cancer. Opt for farmed fish instead if possible, or get your omega-3 from alternative sources such as walnuts and ground flaxseed.

Everyone talks about "eating healthy" now that you're pregnant, but eating healthy is as much about which foods to add to your daily diet as it is about which foods to avoid for the sake of both you and your baby's health. The reason behind this is that during pregnancy, your body's metabolism and circulation undergo some basic changes that leave you more susceptible than usual to food poisoning and food-borne illness, which in extreme cases can be life-threatening to your fetus. Below is a basic outline of some of the common foods that you should avoid, however it would be a good idea to consult with your doctor on which foods and ingredients might be best avoided based on your own medical history and profile.

Raw and Undercooked Foods

This includes raw and undercooked seafood, meat and poultry, which put you at risk of contracting coliform bacteria, toxoplasmosis, and salmonella.

Hot Dogs and Cold Cuts

Cook or reheat hot dogs and cold cuts like bologna until they are steaming hot, as they can be sources of rare but dangerous bacteria such as listeriosis, which can cause miscarriage.

Raw Eggs

Salmonella is often found in raw eggs and uncooked foods containing raw eggs, such as mayonnaise and Caesar dressings. Try to look for products that use pasteurized eggs instead, which reduce the risk of salmonella.

Unpasteurized Foods

Try to avoid unpasteurized milk and foods that contain it, as it is another potential source of the bacteria called listeria. These include soft cheeses like feta, brie, camembert, blue cheese, and Mexican-style cheeses like Panela. Products using pasteurized milk however should be safe for you to consume.

Unwashed Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are both good for you and highly recommended, but make sure you wash them properly before eating them if you're going to have them raw or in a salad, as unwashed fruits and veggies can carry toxoplasmosis. You should also avoid raw sprouts such as alfalfa, green bean, clover, and radish, which tend to contain disease-causing bacteria.

Large Portions of Liver

While liver is generally a safe food to eat, having too much of it could potentially lead to birth defects as it contains high levels of vitamin A.

Fish with High Levels of Mercury

Seafood and fish are generally recommended diet ingredients, but fish with high levels of mercury, like swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tile fish are to be avoided. Consuming mercury while pregnant has been linked to fetal brain damage and developmental delays.

Caffeine

Most specialists recommend avoiding or limiting caffeine while pregnant, as studies have shown that drinking too much caffeine can affect the fetus's heart rate, and may be associated with decreased birth weight, increased risk of miscarriage and stillbirth, stinted fetal development and withdrawal symptoms in infants.

Herbal Tea

Always consult your doctor about which types of herbal tea are safe for you to drink, as some types – particularly when ingested in large amounts – may cause contractions.

Alcohol

Alcohol is to be avoided at all costs, as no amount is safe during pregnancy. Not only can alcohol interfere with healthy fetal development, it may also lead to developmental disorders.