Bladder Irritability

Wanting to pee a lot is perfectly normal during pregnancy as the growing baby presses increasingly on your bladder. You shouldn’t ignore the urge to go to the loo, but you can relieve some of the discomfort by lying down with your feet raised higher than your head.

If you do get an infection – or to prevent one in the first place – the most effective natural remedy is to drink pure cranberry juice diluted half and half with water. You also need to drink at least two litres of water a day and keep off coffee – four cups a day is enough. You shouldn’t drink too much tea, either, or any cola drinks. As well as being a bladder irritant, too much caffeine increases the risk of miscarriage.

You also need to:

  • Avoid irritant soaps, bath and shower gels, and add a few drops of Tea tree oil to the bath
  • Drastically cut down on sugar and refined carbohydrates
  • Don’t drink coffee, and stick to green or weak Indian tea
  • Eat plenty of the diuretic foods – celery, parsley, dandelion leaves – and make sure you take some of your fluid as home-made lemon barley water to prevent the growth of bacteria. The commercial drinks, delicious though they are, do contain chemicals which could be irritant. It’s safer to make your own by:

  • Pouring 1 litre of boiling water over 75 g of washed barley
  • Adding the grated rind and juice of an un-waxed lemon
  • Adding half a tspn of sugar
  • Leaving it to cool and drinking a glass three times a day

    It’s also important to:

  • Wear cotton pants
  • Wherever possible, avoid tights unless they have a cotton gusset
     
     
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    The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.