Round as a ball, but fit and healthy. The anticipation is now growing with each passing day. But so does the belly! During the final spurt, some things become even more burdensome. After all, your body is accommodating a baby that, at the beginning of the seventh month of pregnancy, already weighs 1000 to 1600 grams and is around 35 centimeters tall!

Our advice for:

Bloating

The intestines work more sluggishly during pregnancy and tend to become constipated. A high-fiber diet with lots of swelling agents such as ground flaxseed and wheat bran stimulates it. Important: drink enough, for example caraway, fennel or lemon balm tea. Put a hot water bottle on your stomach to relieve flatulence.

Iron Deficiency

Iron is the oxygen carrier in the blood. A deficiency makes you tired and listless. The gynecologist can prescribe special preparations, but they often cause constipation. Pregnant women can compensate for their deficiency by eating a diet rich in iron, including vegetables such as beetroot, yellow beetroot, tomatoes and peppers, dark berries such as elderberries, raspberries and blackcurrants, or Brazil nuts. Grape or herbal blood juice also have a high iron content. Citrus fruits with vitamin C improve the absorption of iron into the blood; in contrast, coffee, black tea and sweets such as chocolate and sugar are inhibitory.

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are varicose veins in the anus that are pushed outward by the increasing weight of the child. They usually disappear after birth. Ointments with oak bark extracts reduce the pain. A diet rich in fiber prevents constipation, which usually aggravates the problem.

Varicose Veins

They often occur in mothers who are expecting their second or third child. As a preventive measure, you can get plenty of exercise and should not stand or sit for too long, certainly not with your legs crossed. Alternating showers promote blood circulation. If you have severe varicose veins, you will need special support stockings prescribed by your doctor.

Edema

More than half of all pregnant women suffer from water retention in the tissue, mainly in the hands and feet. The following helps against the swelling: Put your legs up as often as possible or wear support stockings. It is best to put them on first thing in the morning. In case of severe problems, which occur especially in hot weather, you can also wear the stockings overnight. Furthermore, a foot, hand or full bath with Dead Sea salt is beneficial. Foods such as potatoes, parsley, chives or pineapple juice are dehydrating. For the same reason, expectant mothers may – contrary to earlier opinions – season their food with salt as normal.

Back Pain

As a counterbalance to the round belly, many women move into a hollow back. In addition, the child presses on the sacrum. Counteract the pain with back-strengthening gymnastic exercises or swimming. Relieve the strain on your spine by lying on your back more often with a pillow under your knees. Massages from your partner will also do you good now!

Sleep Problems

Especially at the end of pregnancy, falling asleep is not always easy. Treat yourself to a relaxing bath in the evening with lavender, rose or Roman chamomile oil. Honey, cream or milk in the bath water ensure that the essential oils can unfold. A cup of valerian tea before going to bed also has a calming effect.

Heartburn

If the growing baby presses against the stomach, the increased stomach acid produced during pregnancy comes up through the esophagus – the expectant mother suffers from heartburn and acid regurgitation. Eat several small meals throughout the day. Chew almonds or hazelnuts with warm milk before getting up to neutralize stomach acid. Drink fennel or corn tea (health food store) or potato juice in sips. It is better to avoid coffee and black tea – they contain substances that irritate the stomach. Also acidic beverages such as orange, pineapple or tomato juice are unsuitable now. If nothing else helps: try acupuncture.

Calf Cramps

They usually occur at night, when the muscle is not sufficiently supplied with magnesium. Grab your toes and bend them towards your knee. This stretches and has an antispasmodic effect. Likewise, a vigorous massage that promotes circulation helps. A mineral-rich diet of green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli or Brussels sprouts prevents cramps. Eat a banana, dried apricots or almonds in the evening before going to bed – this replenishes your magnesium stores for the night.