Pregnancy questions: waters breaking, heartburn and sex

Common pregnancy worries: waters breaking, heartburn and sex | Questions during pregnancy | Third trimester

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Here, Dr Graham Archard, a GP and spokesperson for the Royal College of General Practitioners, answers some of your most common questions towards the end of your pregnancy. Click on the links below to find the answer to each question.

30. Will I get any warning before my waters break? I'm worried it'll just happen when I'm out and about!

Your waters could break when you're out and about without any warning, but it's very unusual. Even then, it's a trickle rather than a gush.

Normally, you'll already be in labour when they break.

If they do break when you're out, before labour, you should stay where you are and call an ambulance.

31. I'm suffering from heartburn - what can I do to reduce it?

Heartburn is very common in later pregnancy, it's caused by the baby pushing up on the stomach.

You can talk to your GP or midwife if you're suffering from it, they'll prescribe you something like Gaviscon which will help and won't harm the baby.

Eating little and often can also help, as well as drinking plenty of water.

32. Will sex ever be the same again after having a baby?

Yes, absolutely. The vast majority of women don't have a problem with sex after having a baby.

If you have tearing or a painful scar from an episiotomy this could make sex uncomfortable - but that's the exception, not the rule. If this is the case your gynaecologist can help you.

You should expect to take about 6 weeks to recover after giving birth and after that sex will be back to normal.