Your body changes in all sorts of ways when you are pregnant. Health professional Allyson Williams answers Huggies® Club mums’ concerns.
Q: I’m getting up to go to the loo four times a night, even though I’m only 10 weeks pregnant. Surely it can’t be the pressure of the baby yet.
A: Endless visits to the loo are often one of the first signs of pregnancy and, although irritating, are completely normal. Your uterus is still low down within the pelvis at this stage so will be pressing on your bladder. This should improve in a few weeks...though it tends to return in later pregnancy when your uterus pushes against your bladder once more, and you may feel the effects of your baby's kicks!
The persistent urge to wee will also be aggravated by hormones, which cause your urethra, which carries urine from the bladder, to slacken. You should see your doctor, though, if your urine starts to sting or smells unpleasant or if you become very thirsty, so they can check your urine for infection.
Q: I’m often constipated even though I’m eating lots of fruit and vegetables. I hate the idea of getting piles, so what can I do to prevent them?
A: Constipation in pregnancy is common and – once again – hormones are to blame. This time it’s the hormone relaxin which is behind the problem. As well as loosening your joints, it slows down your digestive and excretory systems. Piles – small blood-filled lumps in the anus – can develop when you strain to open your bowels. As well as eating lots of fruit and vegetables, you can ease things along by making sure your diet includes fibre-rich pulses (beans and lentils) and whole grains (like wholemeal bread and pasta). And drink lots of water – eight glasses a day if you can manage it. If the constipation has started or worsened since taking iron tablets (sometimes prescribed during pregnancy if you are anaemic), they may be the problem, so ask your GP to suggest an alternative. You could also ask your doctor or pharmacist to recommend an over-the-counter remedy to soften stools, making them easier to pass.
Q: My breasts have become large and very tender. Is there anything I can do to make them less uncomfortable?
A: Your breast size is likely to change so much during pregnancy that you’ll probably go through three bra sizes as your breasts grow and the milk glands expand in preparation for producing milk for your baby. That’s great for your cleavage – most women love the extra bust size of pregnancy. But it can leave you feeling tender. You can reduce any discomfort by wearing a good supportive bra during the day and night (buy from a store who will measure you to check your size, and always choose a non-underwired bra while you’re pregnant and breastfeeding). In the final weeks before your due date get measured for a nursing bra for after the birth.
A couple of days after the birth your breasts will become their largest – temporarily – and particularly tender as your milk comes in. However this doesn’t last for more than a few days, and you can relieve the discomfort by having warm baths, and using hot and cold compresses.
Q: Could I be having twins? And how will I know?
A: Twins tend to run in families, and if you have close relatives who are twins, or if you're a twin yourself, your chances are higher. Twins can usually be spotted on an ultrasound scan, and it is certainly one of the aspects of your pregnancy the operator will be looking for. If you don't have a scan, the midwife would hear two heartbeats. It's very rare for anyone to give birth to twins without knowing it in advance.
Q: At my 20-week scan the doctor told me my placenta was very low – what does this mean and will it harm my baby?
A: It is very unlikely to harm your baby, but if your placenta is low-lying (this is one of the checks made at 20 week scans) there’s a possibility that it could end up covering the opening of the cervix and so interfere with a normal vaginal delivery – a very rare condition known as placenta praevia. The placenta normally moves up as the baby develops and the uterus expands.
You will be offered a follow-up scan later in pregnancy and, if the placenta is still lying over the cervical opening and so blocking the baby’s exit, the doctor will have no choice but to deliver your baby by Caesarean.
Q: I had a blood test, and I was told it was for anaemia. Then I heard nothing more.
A: Sometimes, women in later pregnancy are given a blood test, which looks at their iron levels. If you are anaemic you may be short of iron, and this can make you feel tired. If you were short of iron, you'd probably have been told, but it's only right you should know the results of every test you have. Just ask next time you have an antenatal appointment.
Q: I'm so terrified of labour and birth. I want this baby, but the thought of the pain and the process of birth frightens me.
A: Please talk to someone. An understanding midwife can sit with you, and help you work out exactly what you are afraid of. If you know you won’t be able to stand any pain, you can be reassured that pain relief will be made available to you from the beginning. If you are scared of losing control, or being made to do something you don't want to do, she can help talk you through what is likely to happen. Giving birth is a big event, and no one should make you feel bad about being frightened, but you can learn to cope with the fear, and choose someone to support you and be with you all the time to help you through it. It can be very helpful to talk to other mothers - especially if they've had several children!
Q: I have put on a lot of weight during pregnancy and am worried that I’ll never lose it. How long will it take to get anywhere near my old weight after my baby is born?
A: You will get back to the size you once were, but it won’t happen overnight – more likely over weeks or months after the birth. Breastfeeding will help to shift the extra weight laid down as a calorific store for feeding, especially the fat around your tummy and tops of your legs. But unless you are one of the few fortunate women whose bodies just seem to spring back into shape within weeks, it will probably take about six months until you are back to your pre-baby weight. You shouldn’t diet during this time, but eat sensibly, and build regular exercise into your day once you have recovered from the birth. Joining a post-natal exercise group is fun and a good way to target bums and tums.
Please note that the contents of this section are for information only and are not intended as medical advice or as a substitute to your doctor's advice. For medical care and advice, you should consult your doctor on a regular basis. If you have any problem which concerns you, consult your doctor immediately.
