Common physical problems in the second trimester

Subjects you'll find on this page include  
Backache
Swelling (oedema)
Leaking bladder
Constipation
Leaking breasts
Heartburn
Feeling hot
Haemorrhoids (piles)
Bleeding gums
Food cravings
Thrush
Varicose veins
Stress
Leg cramps

Problem

Reasons

Top tips

Seek medical help

Backache

Your bump is growing and your muscles are relaxing – not a great combination for your back.

Try to de-stress, even if it’s just taking a few minutes to breathe slowly and deeply. If you feel all tense, your body will tense and then it’s more likely you’ll feel uncomfortable or seize up.

Avoid lifting heavy objects.

When lifting things, make sure you bend your knees. Make your thighs do the work, and squat down before you lift.

Stand tall – check your posture.

Sit tall – make sure your chair is comfortable, especially if you work sitting down.

Do some gentle exercise, such as swimming or walking.

Avoid lifting from a height as it’s easy to lose your balance.

Avoid high heels!

Carry weights evenly (so carry a shopping bag in each hand, rather than one very heavy bag in just one hand).

Speak to your midwife or GP if the backache is severe, effects your mobility, or comes with other infection symptoms.

Contractions can be felt in your back so if you have pains that come and go similar to contractions ring the labour ward for advice.

Swelling (oedema)

If your rings feel a bit tight or your shoes a bit uncomfortable, this is probably due to the increased amount of fluids in your body. Swelling or puffiness is most noticeable in hands and feet.

Avoid tight shoes or clothes.

Drink plenty of water (it will help flush out the excess fluid).

Avoid standing for long periods.

Sit with your legs slightly raised.

Mention it to your doctor or midwife at your next visit.

If the swelling is extreme and you also have headaches or blurred vision, contact your doctor or midwife as soon as possible. This could be a sign of a potentially dangerous condition called pre-eclampsia.

If you have a sore or red swelling of one leg, contact your doctor or midwife as soon as possible as this could be a sign of a blood clot, which needs to be treated immediately.
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Leaking bladder

Your growing uterus is pushing down on your bladder so you may find that when you laugh or cough, you leak a bit of wee.

Remember your pelvic floor exercises. Don’t cut back on fluid intake – this is not healthy for you or the baby.

Try to eat plenty of fibre so that you don’t become constipated.

Wear a light pad, avoid lifting heavy objects and go for a wee when you need to.

If the leaking is prolonged, wear a clean sanitary pad and check it 20 minutes later.*

Mention it to your doctor or midwife at your next visit so they can check there is no infection.

*If the pad is still damp, contact your midwife as she will probably want to check that your waters haven’t broken.

If the pad is a pinkish brown or green colour, take it in with you. Meanwhile, write down the time and put on another pad.
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Constipation

Pregnancy hormones cause your bowels to slow down.

Eat plenty of fibre-rich foods, especially fruits and vegetables.

Drink plenty of water – aim for eight glasses a day.

Take some gentle exercise – such as walking or swimming.

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Leaking breasts

Don’t worry – your milk is not about to suddenly gush through while you’re at the shops.

This is a form of milk called colostrum, and your body is busy in preparation to feed your baby.

If you need to, wear breast pads.

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Heartburn

Stomach acid leaks out of the top of the valve into your stomach. This feels like a burning in the chest.

Eat little and often, and avoid fatty and spicy foods

A milky drink can help too.

If this doesn’t work, speak to your midwife or doctor who will be able to prescribe you something.
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Feeling hot

Your body is working much harder to move around and nourish your baby.

Keep cool.

Drink plenty of water.

Stay out of the sun.

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Haemorrhoids

(piles)

These are swollen veins around your anus. They feel like lumps, may be itchy or sore and are often worse if you are constipated.

Apply a haemorrhoid cream, which you can get from your chemist.

See your doctor if piles are too uncomfortable or if there’s any bleeding.
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Bleeding gums

Hormonal changes make your gums more inflamed.

Try to avoid sugary foods.

See your dentist if you haven’t already.

Brush your teeth gently.

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Food cravings

Hungry for particular foods, or strange combinations? It’s quite natural.

Don’t use this as an excuse to eat unhealthy food, but feel free to treat yourself to a little of what you crave every now and then.

If you crave non-food items, such as coal (some women do!) talk to your midwife.
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Thrush

This is a fungal infection of the vagina and can be more frequent in pregnancy.

You may have a thick white vaginal discharge (it looks a bit like cottage cheese) and maddening itching around your vagina.

Wear loose cotton underwear.

Mention it to your midwife or doctor at your next visit – they may prescribe a pessary or cream, which is free of charge.

See your doctor if you have a vaginal discharge that is brown, red or green, and/or smells bad. Back to top

Varicose veins

These are swollen blue veins in your legs caused by the increased blood supply and hormonal changes making veins more stretchy.

Avoid standing for long periods.

Wear support tights.

Lie with your feet slightly raised.

Circle your ankles one way and then the other to keep your circulation going.

Don’t cross your legs.

If you have a sore or red swelling on your leg, contact your doctor or midwife as soon as possible as this could be a sign of a blood clot, which needs to be treated immediately.
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Stress

Maybe you have worries about your pregnancy, your relationship or money.

Take some time out from your anxieties to close your eyes and relax. Even ten minutes a day can make a difference. Talk to someone close to you. Sometimes just talking about it can help.

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Leg cramps

You might feel a sharp knot of pain in your leg or foot.

You can reduce cramps by drinking plenty of water and doing some gentle exercises to help stetch the calf muscles.

If the cramps are very frequent or if there is a sore swelling on your leg that feels hot to the touch, seek medical help immediately – this could be a sign of a deep vein thrombosis – a blood clot that blocks a vein, usually in the leg.
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