10 pregnancy questions you were too afraid to ask
Is that the baby kicking?
You’d think a kick to the abdomen would be easy enough to recognise, but with all the changes your body is going through it can be hard to tell if that rumbling is your baby moving or just a touch of indigestion.
For most women it starts with a fluttering sensation at around 16 weeks, with movements getting gradually stronger until you begin to feel definite kicks, as well as a few punches. Later on it will be even more obvious - they’ll have less room to move and you may even see the outline of a hand or foot travelling across your belly.
What’s happening to my breasts?
In the early days sore boobs are a dead giveaway, but your ever-changing breasts will continue to surprise you as your pregnancy progresses. They could grow up to two cup sizes, your nipples will become larger and darker and you may notice goose bumps on the areola, known as Montgomery’s Tubercles.
Stretchmarks, itching and visible blue veins are all par for the course, and in the final weeks they could start to leak a yellowish liquid. It’s nothing to be alarmed about, just a sign that your body is producing colostrum, the rich first milk which will nourish your newborn.
Is it normal to feel so scared?
As your due date approaches a few nerves are only to be expected, especially if your best friend’s horror story is still ringing in your ears. About five per cent of women experience an extreme fear of childbirth known as tocophobia, but for the rest of us following a few simple rules can help.
Remember, your body is designed to give birth. Read as much as you can beforehand so you’ll know exactly what’s going on, learn some breathing and relaxation techniques, have someone you trust on hand, and steer clear of One Born Every Minute until after the birth.
Will I poo when I push?
Many women worry they will ‘embarrass’ themselves during labour, but the good news is you really won’t care when the time comes. You’ll push your baby out using the same muscles as for a bowel movement, so if it does happen at least you’ll know you’re doing it right.
When you hear your midwife telling you to push down into your bottom don’t hold back for modesty’s sake - they see it every day and will keep you clean without saying a word.
Have I harmed my baby?
Worrying about that wild weekend before you knew you were pregnant? Thankfully a one-off drinking session is unlikely to have caused any harm - the most important thing is to take good care of yourself from now on.
There’s some confusion around exactly what’s safe when it comes to alcohol and pregnancy. The Australian Department of Health says Consuming alcohol during pregnancy may increase the risk of harm to your baby and the safest option is not to drink while pregnant.
Either way, drinking regularly and heavily could increase your risk of miscarriage and lead to serious problems, so think carefully before you indulge.
How much will I bleed after the birth?
However your baby is delivered you’ll bleed for a while after the birth as your body expels excess blood and tissue that was needed during pregnancy. How long it lasts varies but expect it to continue for up to several weeks, starting like a heavy period and changing from red to brown or yellow as your uterus heals.
Tampons could increase the risk of infection, so stick to maternity pads and change them regularly. Call the midwife if you notice a strong smell, have a fever, or if the bleeding suddenly gets heavier.
Will I ever be the same down there again?
Ok, so your body is designed to expand during childbirth , but with all that stretching you may wonder if things will return to their normal size, or if you will ever enjoy sex as much as before.
After birth your vagina will feel bruised and swollen, and any stitches will take a while to heal. As you recover it may remain a little wider than before, but within a couple of months it will be business as usual - pelvic floor exercises will help you regain muscle tone and your partner is unlikely to notice any difference.
What can I do about piles?
You may not have reckoned on them but piles are a common side-effect of pregnancy for some women as the weight of the baby causes the veins below the uterus to swell. You may feel pain, an itchy or burning sensation, or notice that you bleed a little when you strain to go to the loo.
Constipation can make things worse, so drink plenty of water, make sure your diet is high in fibre and if you need to go, go – don’t wait.
Am I too small to breastfeed?
If you’ve always been flat-chested you may wonder if you’re up to the task of breastfeeding, but size has nothing to do with how much milk you produce. Women with small boobs still have milk ducts and glandular tissue – just less fatty tissue - and may even find positioning easier than women with very large breasts.
The action of sucking will stimulate your body to make more milk, so if you feed on demand you will produce exactly what your baby needs, whatever your size.
Am I incontinent?
If you find yourself ‘leaking’ a little when you cough or sneeze it could be pregnancy is taking its toll on your pelvic floor, the layer of muscle which supports the bladder, bowel and uterus.
Pelvic floor exercises will help you stay in control and get back in shape quicker after the birth. Tighten your muscles as if holding back urine or a bowel movement, hold for ten seconds then slowly relax. Build up to ten sets of five squeezes per day – you can practice wherever you are and no one will ever know what you’re up to.
See also:
- getty images,
