Embarrassing pregnancy questions: part 4

I've never had such terrible wind. Is this just because I'm pregnant?
We seem to blame our pregnancy hormones for everything, but they are responsible for most of the various symptoms. The hormone, progesterone, relaxes the bowel, slowing it down and causing constipation and wind. To relieve this, try exercise, particularly yoga, the gentle stretches encourage the bowel to become less sluggish.

When you eat, chew the food slowly, and give it time to digest, drinking peppermint tea is also supposed to help relieve trapped wind. If constipation continues to be a problem, ask your midwife if she can recommend a mild laxative.

I'm worried my waters are going to break in public. Does anyone else feel like this?
This is a common worry. Most mums-to-be find that their waters break when they're in labour at the height of a contraction. But if they do go beforehand, it often starts as a trickle rather than a gush. Many women aren't even sure if their waters have broken, as it can easily be confused with 'leaking' some urine towards the end of the pregnancy. If you're unsure, contact your midwife, who might advise you to wear a pad and see if it continues to trickle.

Anne Richley, midwife.

More help and advice

- Insider's guide to labour and birth
- Inducing labour
- Caesarean births explained
- Pain relief options during labour