Some tips to help with symptoms and side effects of late pregnancy you may have noticed.

Pelvic girdle pain

Some women experience pelvic joint pain in pregnancy. This is called Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) or Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD). You may have pain and difficulty walking, climbing stairs or even just turning over in bed.

What to do: Talk to your midwife or GP for referral to a specialist physiotherapist who can treat the condition effectively and safely using gentle manual therapy techniques. Seek advice early, as this can speed up your recovery after the baby is born.

Heavy breasts

Your breasts are getting ready to produce milk for your baby. A sign of this could be that your breasts leak small amounts of the first milk, which is called colostrum. This is a creamy yellow colour and although there is not much of it, it’s full of antibodies, which are good for your baby.

What to do: If you find you do leak a little, use a breast pad inside your bra. It’s worth buying a good support bra as your breasts get heavier, too. Many stores now offer bra-fitting services, so you can make sure it’s comfortable before you buy it. Look for wide straps that can be adjusted and a high percentage of cotton for comfort. You may also find you need to wear a bra at night now to stay comfortable.

Watch your back!

The hormone relaxin has softened your ligaments and this, combined with your growing bump, can put strain on your back as you move into the last few weeks which could mean you experience slight pain during this stage of the pregnancy.

What to do: Some ways to help prevent straining your back include stretching your back gently if you’re sitting or standing a lot by rounding your spine gently then straightening it; avoiding heavy lifting; rolling yourself out of bed rather than hoisting yourself up. Pregnancy yoga or pilates classes are good for your back too.

Skin changes

While some women are enjoying the famous pregnancy ‘bloom’ around now, others draw the short straw and get the infamous pregnancy rashes, spots and skin dryness. Darker skin patches, caused by pregnancy hormones, are also fairly common. Darker skin on the forehead, nose, and cheeks is called ‘chloasma’, or ‘the butterfly mask of pregnancy'. The darkness will gradually fade after your baby is born.

What to do: Check with your doctor if you notice any changes in the colour or size of a mole on your skin, to make sure it is just a side effect of pregnancy.

Clumsiness

Do you find that you drop things all the time? Trip over your own feet? Clumsiness is caused by the changes in your body – you’re carrying more weight, and your fingers, toes, and other joints are all loosening due to pregnancy hormones. When you are pregnant, the centre of gravity in your body changes, this also causes you to become clumsier. So remember to take extra care when climbing stairs, or when walking on wet, icy, or uneven surfaces.

What to do: If you do have a fall, remember that your baby is well protected by the bones of your pelvis and the waters he’s floating around in. However, you should contact your midwife or GP just to make sure everything is all right.

Forgetfulness

Absent-mindedness is a classic side effect of pregnancy. But forgetting where you left your car keys, missing birthdays, or constantly losing your glasses can be very irritating. Try some tricks to help remember what’s important:

• carry a notebook to jot down reminders
• keep a daily calendar
• put down items you use often, such as keys, in the same place

Tips to combat tiredness

As your pregnancy progresses it’s normal to feel more tired. Try these ways to pace yourself:

• Work for a bit, rest for a bit.
• Listen to what your body is telling you – if you get breathless, it means it’s time to stop.
• Eating little and often is good for you – stop for an apple, a handful of raisins, a drink of milk...
• Have a look at the tasks you need to do – is there someone else who could help?
• If something doesn’t get done, tell yourself it’s good practice for the early days with a new baby.