While you’ll be overjoyed to be pregnant, it does sometimes cause embarrassing problems. Don’t worry, it’s all just part of the pregnancy experience and there’s nothing to worry about. Here are some of the embarrassing problems you may suffer from and what you can do to prevent or relieve the symptoms.
Escaping pee
Like constipation, this problem is caused by the increase in the hormone progesterone. Progesterone relaxes some of your body’s muscles during pregnancy. Including the muscles that prevent you from peeing when you cough, laugh or sneeze. There’s an easy exercise you can do to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, which will help your bladder. All you need to do is pull in your vaginal muscles and hold them in for a few seconds. Do this three times a day about 10 times each session. Imagine you’re having a pee and you need to stop half way through – that’s the squeeze you need to do. Strong pelvic floor muscles will also stop you from having a prolapse after you have had your baby.
Constipation
Lots of pregnant women suffer from constipation and its caused by your food being processed at a slower rate through your digestive tract. Later in pregnancy, it could also be caused by the uterus pressing onto your rectum. Eat foods high in fibre, drink plenty of water and do some walking. If you feel you need a supplement use Linseeds on salads and yogurt as they are a good source of fibre.
Gas
The relaxed muscles in your body include those in your digestive system. The digestive tract is working at a slower rate which means gas has time to build up in your stomach. You won’t be able to prevent it, it’s just nature taking its course. But you can take steps to make sure it doesn’t get too bad. Don’t drink fizzy drinks or eat foods that are fatty. Drink plenty of water and have a daily walk. Make sure you don’t eat too much and that you chew your food before swallowing.
Haemorrhoids
Piles can be itchy and sore and you might get them while you’re pregnant because the muscles in the veins are relaxed and as you get heavier there is more pressure. The good news is that they should disappear once you’ve had your baby. You can lower the risk of getting piles by eating plenty of fibre. Also drinking water and getting some exercise. Exercising during pregnancy is good for you.
Leaking breast milk
What’s leaking is called colostrum and this might occur more during the final stages of pregnancy when your body is ready to give birth. The best thing to do is to wear breast pads inside your bra. It’s perfectly natural and it’s something that may happen throughout the time you are breastfeeding.
Don’t suffer in silence, if you experience a problem, talk to friends who have children and they’ll no doubt have plenty of advice and tips. If it something that is worrying you, then see your doctor or your midwife. They are used to the effects pregnancy has on the body and they will be happy to talk through any problems you are having.
