9 Weeks Pregnant

Are you feeling the burn — heartburn, that is? For many, heartburn is among the earliest symptoms of pregnancy, beginning around the second month.

If avoiding spicy and greasy foods isn’t helping, try taking antacids. They contain extra calcium, which you need during pregnancy anyway.

If you’re 35 or older or if you have a family history of genetic conditions, now’s the time to consider talking to your doctor about common genetic screenings, including NIPT (noninvasive prenatal testing), performed after 9 weeks, and CVS (chorionic villus sampling), performed between 10 and 13 weeks.

If your favorite sleep position is tummy-down, that’s perfectly fine — at least, until your tummy is the size of a watermelon, at which point you’ll have to switch positions for obvious reasons.

During the second and and third trimesters, sleeping on your side is ideal for you and your baby-to-be.

This position allows for maximum blood flow and nutrients to the placenta, since it puts less pressure on a large vein called the vena cava, and enhances kidney function.

Fiber-rich foods — aka roughage — will help you eliminate waste. Eat whole grains, fresh or dried fruits, vegetables, beans and peas.

Going for the green can also help you go — and you don't have to rely only on vegetables: A kiwi, for example, packs a potent laxative effect. Aim for 25 to 35 grams of fiber each day, but try to ease into it if you don't eat a lot of fiber already.

On the flip side, be sure to cut back on those classic cloggers: refined grains, like white bread, white rice and refined cereals and pasta.

Sooner or later, every pregnant woman enters that period of fashion limbo. Right now, you're too big for your jeans but too small for maternity wear.

So get creative: Thread a rubber band around your jeans button, through the buttonhole and back around the button again or buy a belly band, which can hide your unbuttoned pants and smooth out your silhouette.

Or keep your skirt partially unzipped in the back and wear a blouse, sweater or jacket over it to hide the evidence. You'll get a couple more weeks of mileage out of your favorites that way.

When you're ready to venture into the world of maternity fashion, be savvy about your wardrobe. Buy as you grow, look beyond the maternity department for cute stuff that fits and don't sacrifice your personal style!

Constipation — it's one pregnancy symptom that no one wants to talk about.

Need some tips to get things moving? First, scrutinize your supplements. Ironically, many of the supplements that do a pregnant body good (prenatal vitamins, calcium and iron supplements) can also contribute to constipation.

Talk to your practitioner about possible alternatives, such as a slow-release formula, an iron-free prenatal or a vitamin that contains a stool softener. You can also get things going more smoothly by fitting in some kind of exercise (a brisk walk, yoga) daily.

And don't forget, when you gotta go — go. As soon as possible. Holding it in can weaken your bowel muscles, making it harder to push out the poop. And remember to stay away from medications, including herbal ones, until you've checked in with your practitioner.

Breast tenderness is extremely common among the pregnant set, with symptoms ranging from a dull ache to feelings of fullness and sharp, shooting pains.

There's a reason for all this activity, though: Your body is building fat and increasing blood flow to the area, which will help prime you for breastfeeding once baby is here.

Until the pain subsides — usually in the second or third trimester — apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel to your breasts. Or, if you prefer heat, take a warm (not hot) shower.