Top 10 pregnancy-related aches and pains

6. Backache
Wondering why your back is feeling so sore? The overstretching of your abdominal muscles, changes to your posture and the curvature of your spine, and the hormonal changes that cause the ligaments in your back to relax are all to blame. Your best bets for minimizing your discomfort are to avoid activities like running that may be jarring to your spine; exercise caution when you're bending, lifting, or otherwise changing position; avoid sitting or standing in one position for long periods of time; pay attention to your posture; and tuck a pillow between your knees when you're sleeping on your side (to help take some of the pressure off your lower back).

7. Heartburn
The hormonal changes of pregnancy are responsible for yet another common complaint: heartburn. Your best bets for battling heartburn are to eat smaller, more frequent meals; avoid spicy or fried foods; coat your stomach with a glass of milk before eating; and skip your bedtime snack. If all else fails, you might want to ask your doctor or midwife to recommend an antacid or medication that's safe for use during pregnancy.

8. Breathlessness
It's hardly surprising that you find yourself feeling out of breath each time you climb a flight of stairs: you're subletting your lungs to your uterus! This is why that bothersome feeling of breathlessness tends to get worse as your pregnancy progresses. By the time you go into labour, you may find yourself imitating Jerry Lee Lewis and singing,"Oh baby, you leave me breathless!" There's not much you can do about this particular complaint but count down the days until you deliver -- something that will have you breathing easier for more than one reason.

9. Insomnia
Whether it's caused by anxiety about the coming birth or the physical discomforts of pregnancy, insomnia is a common complaint during pregnancy. Try exercising regularly; winding down with a mug of warm milk; skipping your late-evening snack; and sleeping with as many pillows as it takes to make yourself comfortable.

10. Braxton Hicks contractions
Braxton Hicks contractions are the irregular contractions that occur during the last half of pregnancy as your body starts to do some heavy-duty training for the main event (labour!). While they can be very uncomfortable and sometimes even painful, there's not much you can do about them except practice your labour breathing and remind yourself that pregnancy is a limited-time offer: you won't be pregnant forever, even though it may sometimes feel that way.