Pregnancy questions: water retention and leaking boobs

Common pregnancy worries: water retention and leaking boobs | Questions during pregnancy | Second trimester

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Here, Angela Horler, an antenatal teacher for the National Childbirth Trust and an independent midwife answers some of the most common questions throughout your second trimester.

22. I seem to have bad water retention and swelling, can I do anything to reduce this?

Swelling and pregnancy go hand-in-hand - particularly later on in pregnancy!

You can help to reduce swelling by avoiding being on your feet all day and raising your feet at the end of the day.

Diet also plays a part in water retention - by reducing refined carbohydrates in your diet (i.e. bread products, biscuits, pastries etc) and increasing protein (such as lean meats, hard pasteurised cheese and well cooked-eggs) your body will find it easier to lose the excess fluid.

23. My boobs seem to be leaking, what's going on?

One of the first changes you may have noticed in your pregnancy were your boobs!

As soon as you become pregnant huge changes take place in the breasts as they prepare to become an amazing food source for your growing baby. Lots of women experience leaking during pregnancy and lots of women do not leak: both are normal.

You may find it helpful to wear breast-pads to prevent leakage onto your clothes.