What to do about those embarrassing symptoms
Pregnant 'ladies' are supposed to glow, right? Well try telling your leaky boobs, windy tum and uncomfortable piles that!
At a glance
- Piles are common during pregnancy and can usually be treated with over the counter creams
- Excessive wind may be down to your hormones but adjusting your diet could help
- Leaky boobs may take you by surprise, so stock up on breast pads early
Piles
Piles can be the scourge of pregnancy – they can itch, bleed, and leave you feeling very sore when you poo. They are also very common, so do not be embarrassed to speak to your midwife if you suspect you have them – she will have seen more piles than she's had hot dinners and will not turn a hair at diagnosing yours. Basically, piles (or haemorrhoids if you want to use the grown up term) occur when the veins around your anus enlarge and swell.
Pregnant women can be prone to them because all the hormones surging around your body can make the veins more relaxed than usual. You can get over the counter creams for them, and you might find ice packs help if they are really painful. Do flag it up with your midwife though – don't suffer in silence!
Wind
Excessive wind (upper or lower) is all too often another lovely by-product of pregnancy! Basically it's down to hormones again and your digestive process slowing down. Your diet could also be to blame of course, but don't allow a fear of constantly letting rip put you off all those vitamin enriched (but wind enhancing) veggies like cabbage and broccoli!
If you are burping a lot, avoid fizzy and carbonated drinks and anything that you know tends to 'repeat' on you. Your midwife might suggest an antacid medicine if trapped wind and heartburn become really troublesome.
Leaky boobs
Leaky boobs can take many mums-to-be by surprise in pregnancy – isn't that only supposed to happen AFTER baby has arrived? Some mums will start producing colostrum from as early as 14 weeks (colostrum is the nutrient rich early milk which you make before your proper milk kicks in).
Not all women leak and it is no reflection on milk supply or a woman's ability to breastfeed. Likewise, it's nothing to worry about, and will do you no harm at all, but obviously it could be embarrassing if you are constantly sporting a wet patch on your top, so stock up on some breast pads, and line your bra with them if you are experiencing leakage.