Are you pregnant or planning to be? Have you heard of all the best known symptoms and want to know what no on tells you about pregnancy?
There are a lot of things that are commonly known when you’re having a baby, but this post is all what what no one tells you about pregnancy.
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Each Pregnancy Is Unique
I’ve had three babies and so many people will tell you it’s different each time. I can confirm that is true.
It’s hard to describe because you just feel different each time. You get a sense of your baby’s personality even before they’re born.
With that, I can say regardless of children created by the same two people, they are individuals that come with unique personalities, but more on that in a future post.
Having a baby is filled with excitement and nerves. However, there were things I had no idea would happen because they are simply not talked about enough, if at all. Not all of them are bad and there are several positive things to look forward to.
Most of these things surfaced when I was having my first baby, but there were a few new things I discovered with each pregnancy.
So let’s get into what no one tells you about pregnancy that I wish someone gave me a heads up about.
This is not medical advice nor is it a guarantee that any of these things will happen to you. These are just things I am sharing from my personal experiences over the course of three pregnancies.
What No One Tells You About Pregnancy
1. Your hair may change.
Thanks again to those hormones, your hair may change its pattern, i.e. curly to straighter or vice versa. It also may appear shinier and thicker because the rise in estrogen causes the growth period of your hair’s cycle to elongate. Unfortunately, it will resume your pre-pregnancy growth pattern after baby arrives and you will experience what seems like a greater amount of hair shedding a few months postpartum. In reality, those hairs would have been shed anyway, but over a longer time period.
2. Your skin will change.
Everyone talks about the pregnancy glow, but there isn’t much shared about how it can wreak havoc on your skin. At some stages in my pregnancies, my skin was flawless and at other points I was broken out and dealing with acne.
3. Your breasts will change, a lot.
You have probably already heard, but the extent mine changed was shocking at first.
Your breasts will change in many ways. They will get bigger, and for me that meant buying larger bras multiple times. Your areolas will get bigger and darker too. This is especially apparent toward the end of pregnancy because it will make it easier for your newborn to see where they can get their food. You also may leak colostrum. Again, this is more common toward the end of pregnancy as your body prepares to breastfeed.
4. You will look like you have had lip filler.
This is not necessarily a bad thing. Because of the surge of hormones right before you give birth, your body will respond with inflammation as it prepares itself for delivery. This may give you full, pouty lips, along with swelling in other areas, such as your ankles.
Other areas impacted by inflammation:
- Legs – you may have to wear compression socks, especially if traveling and sitting for longer periods of time.
- Nose – Nasal congestion is common due to the swelling of your mucus membranes.
- Gums – Your gums may bleed more, especially when you brush your teeth or floss.
5. You may get nose bleeds.
When pregnant, your body is pumping twice the amount of blood it normally does to support your growing baby. This may cause the blood vessels in your nose to rupture, which results in a nose bleed.
6. You will sweat more than usual and your body odor will be stronger.
This is especially true if the latter part of your pregnancy is during warmer months. Your body temperature runs higher due to the increase in progesterone and your body is working harder because you’re carrying extra weight. Your body odor will become stronger too, again, due to hormones.
7. Your skin may get incredibly itchy.
Again, due to your skin stretching. You may get very itchy, especially on and around your belly, and it can be hard to get relief. Regardless, try to stay moisturized to help lessen that. This is the best organic belly butter that was a game changer during my pregnancies.
8. Stretch marks can sneak up on you at the very end.
You can go almost your entire pregnancy without stretch marks then right before you give birth, they can show up. Your body is being stretched to new levels, so right before you pop, your skin may beat you to it.
9. Charley Horses
You may get extremely painful cramps in your calves, commonly known as Charley Horses. There were several times I woke up from sleep with a Charley Horse. The best thing you can do is try and breathe through it while massaging your calf. They are temporary. It’s a sign you may not be hydrated enough and may be low in magnesium, so it’s best to consult you doctor if they continue to be an issue.
10. You may have to wear compression socks.
Because of this, your doctor may recommend you wear compression socks, at any point during pregnancy. This is especially encouraged if you will be traveling or sitting for a long period of time. Whenever possible, I would try and get up, move around, and stretch to keep my circulation flowing to avoid a blood clot.
11. Your feet may grow.
Your feet may get bigger due to fluid retention. Shoes that I would normally wear did not fit. Luckily they went back down after birth. For some, your shoe size change may be permanent. Likewisse, you won’t see your feet after a certain point and will need help putting shoes or socks on
12. Do not worry about weight gain unless your doctor is worried.
When searching for how much you can expect to gain over pregnancy, the numbers vary. Do not freak out if you have gained more or less than what you read unless your doctor is concerned. You are growing a baby, it’s hard work, and everyone’s body responds differently. With that, this is the best time to let it all hang out because your body is incredible! Having a pregnant body is something to be celebrated and hopefully leaves you with that same energy postpartum when it’s easy to be hard on yourself.
13. You may NOT have nausea.
Not everyone does, though it is of course one of the most well known pregnancy symptoms. There is nothing wrong if you are one of the lucky ones who does not experience nausea.
14. Mucus Plug
When you’re pregnant, a thick mucus forms to seal the opening of your cervix. This protects your baby from bacteria and infections. When your body is entering labor, the mucus plug falls out and you may see it after going to the bathroom. So, if you look in the toilet and see what appears to be a massive, jelly-like mass, it may mean you are nearing labor.
15. Your sex drive may be stronger.
While pregnant, you may be more easily aroused and have stronger, more intense orgasms. The opposite could also be true in pregnancy. This is all dependent on your hormones and where you are in your pregnancy.
16. Your organs are being squished to new levels.
Your organs need to go somewhere within your body as your uterus grows. The reality is they get smushed together as your uterus grows and takes more space in your body since they have nowhere else to go. This may seem like an obvious one, but it was not as clear to me until I saw an image demonstrating just how much of a difference this makes. This also helps add context as to why it’s more difficult to breathe, why heartburn is worse (more on that next), and why you have to pee so frequently.
17. Heartburn will control what you can eat.
What may feel like chest pain is oftentimes gas in the form of heartburn. Many foods can trigger heartburn and sometimes it’s inevitable no matter what you eat. I kept tums at my bedside (it was worse at night), took omeprazole daily, stopped eating at least an hour before bedtime, and removed known heartburn-inducing foods. It would still strike, but the good news is it immediately stops after birth!
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18. Sleeping will become a challenge.
Whether it’s due to the inability to fall asleep, despite being tired, or the inability to get comfortable, your sleep will likely look different when pregnant. Rolling from one side to the other will become a workout in itself. Though I will say, have a great pregnancy pillow was a huge help in getting comfortable, staying comfortable to help me sleep longer, and keeping me in the same position!
Did you know it’s recommended that you sleep on your left side after the 5-month mark in pregnancy?
19. Vivid Dreams and Intrusive Thoughts
Your dreams will become a lot more intense and detailed. They may feel very real and can sometimes feature unpleasant scenarios.
Likewise, you may find your intrusive thoughts increasing. You are in a vulnerable state as a pregnant person, so scary thoughts may enter your mind. All of this is normal. It does not mean you want those things to happen, but the wonder of what could happen is a natural thing. If you do find that they are inhibiting you from daily tasks or don’t go away, talk to your doctor about what they can do to help.
20. You may lose friends.
Not everyone will be happy for you and you may lose friends. People may be dealing with their own challenges like infertility and distance themselves from you. Do not let that stop you from embracing this beautiful time in your life either. If they are someone close to you, give them that space and know that you are not doing anything wrong.
21. You will get asked the same questions over and over again.
People generally have the best intentions and want to show care by asking about you. The questions I heard often from people around me and strangers were: How are you feeling? When are you due? Is it a boy or girl? Were you hoping for a boy/girl?
It does get tiring and you may not want to answer those questions, but I would remember most people asked because they genuinely cared.
22. People will be more talkative with you.
For whatever reason, being pregnant sends the message to people that they should talk to you. They’re usually just being kind and want to congratulate you.
23. People will give you their unwarranted opinions on everything, especially names.
I would usually just listen since some advice was actually helpful. If it wasn’t or didn’t align with what my husband and I planned to do, I would hear them out and leave it at that.
Pro tip: if you don’t want to share names or don’t care to hear anyone’s opinion on them, tell them you are undecided or waiting until baby arrives to see if the name fits them before deciding.
24. Most people will be extra nice to you.
This one wasn’t always true, but I found that if someone noticed I was pregnant and saw an opportunity to do something kind, they would.
For example: people will let you go ahead of them in line at the store, offer to carry things or reach for things if you’re struggling, put you shopping cart away for you, and generally just smile more at you.
25. There is parking for pregnant people at the front for some stores and businesses.
There is usually a designated spot or two with a sign in front of it that may feature a stork or other notice that it’s reserved for pregnant people if a business has it.
26. Physically, you may not be able to do things.
I was not prepared for the reality that I would be incapable of doing certain things. I was not able to reach the kitchen sink faucet once my belly got bigger. This was a great reason why I could not do the dishes, so it had its perks. Bending over with a great, big belly is not easy or comfortable and you will get tired pretty quickly. This made putting on and tying shoes a challenge as well.
27. Driving may be hard with your belly in the way.
This may be grouped with the previous point, but it never got to the point where I was unable to drive. Though, I could see how it could for some. They make seatbelts for pregnant people, but they are advised against since there are no government standards for them. Always wear your seat belt and once your bump makes its debut, the safest thing to do is place your lap belt below it.
28. Nesting is real!
You will inadvertently start to organize the house and prepare the nursery. It’s not necessarily a bad idea though. It felt productive to wash baby’s clothes and organize the changing station prior to their arrival so we were ready once they were home.
29. You will start waking up during the night before baby is born.
The main reason is to go to the bathroom since your bladder is being squeezed and unable to hold as much as it used to. This may be a natural way your body is preparing for those nighttime wakings.
30. Those exciting first baby kicks are called “quickening”.
Those little belly flutters are the beginning of your baby’s noticeable movement! A fellow mom friend told me during my first pregnancy that if it feels like you’re gassy but don’t fart, it’s a baby kick. As baby grows, you may even see parts of your belly moving around as your little one grows and explores their temporary home.
31. You won’t need everything on your baby registry.
As much information as there is out there on what you need or don’t need for your baby, the basics are called basics for a reason. They are the most key items – things for you baby to wear, sleep in, eat/eat with, and diapering items.
Everyone can decide for themselves what that means, but I can guarantee you probably won’t use something on there. Because of that, I highly recommend you leave tags on everything until you need them so you can exchange them for more needed items in the future, like diapers.
32. Before baby arrives, go on a hospital tour so you know where to park, how to get there, and how to direct family and friends.
There is so much chaos around going into labor, so do yourself a favor and familiarize yourself with where you need to go and how to get there.
This post was all about what no one tells you about pregnancy.
Pregnancy is such an incredible experience full of surprises. Whether you’re a first time mom or not, each pregnancy comes with its own unique quirks.
These were a handful of things I have experienced in pregnancy that I wish someone had given me a clue about.
I pretty much experienced all of these! With the fun addition of carpal tunnel! Thankfully that went away!