9 Pregnancy Symptoms I was Utterly Unprepared For
Pre-pregnancy, I assumed being with child was this beautiful experience that women cherished. By the end of my second pregnancy, however, I realized perhaps the portrayal of pregnancy on TV wasn't quite accurate -- or, perhaps women aren't always totally honest about how hard growing a human truly is.
I am an open book, so I thought I would share some of my uncomfortable symptoms. For example, what the hell happened to my belly button? (That cute piercing I had in my twenties shall NEVER be worn again.) Or what about the constipation that had me begging the Universe (and Miralax) for reprieve? Ugh.
Please, get out of here with the “You're glowing!” talk. Let’s discuss the real sh*t our incredible bodies go through in order to create life. Women are amazing, after all. Here are 9 pregnancy symptoms I was utterly unprepared for.
Nausea
Alright, morning sickness is a well-known symptom, especially in the first trimester. However, saying it only happens in the morning is a bold-faced lie. I was wholly unprepared for the constant need to vomit (or hurtle, as my son likes to call it). While I was lucky and never actually puked, I felt unwell constantly throughout the day for about the first 14 or 15 weeks. The only relief was when I was actively putting food in my mouth, which seems counter-productive, but somehow alleviated the nausea.
By week 16, it was almost completely gone, so if you're in the throes of first trimester sickness, hold on you beautiful creator. Hold on.
2. Fatigue
During the first trimester of my first pregnancy, I vividly recall sitting at my desk at work and nodding off sitting upright. During my hour-long lunch break, I laid my nauseous ass on the floor, used my purse as a pillow, and took myself a solid 40-minute power nap. After work, I went home, crashed on the couch, woke up, ate dinner, and went back to bed.
During my second pregnancy and with a hugely energetic 5 year old to care for, it was impossible to sleep in such a way. His never-ending energy kept me awake, but I still occasionally had the overwhelming need to just close my eyes for a little while. Here’s the remote, sweet boy, take it and let mama rest.
Due to the crazy hormonal changes happening in our bodies during pregnancy, it is normal to feel exhausted, especially during the first 12 weeks. My exhaustion eased a bit in the second trimester, but in that final month, I found myself drained again… This could also be due to the fact that as the pregnancy progressed, my sleep quality wasn't great... I could literally only sleep on my sides and the extreme heartburn was nearly the death of me.
3. Heartburn
Heavens to Betsy, this one was rough, especially as I became bigger. Perhaps it was due to the fact that my serving sizes would have satiated a small giant, or perhaps it was the hormonal changes and the weight of the baby pressing on my stomach that caused the stomach acid to come back up… Perhaps it was both. I experienced two different versions of heartburn and both were equally uncomfortable. One way, it felt like if I moved too suddenly, bent over, laid down, or did pretty much anything, the food would come right up. The other way, the acid lit my esophagus on fire.
Tums helped a bit and I ate those chalky delights like candy. However, they did not work for long. My doctor suggested Pepcid and that offered tons of relief. Wedge pillows are also somewhat effective as they elevate your torso, making it harder for the acid to leave your stomach.
4. Vulvar Varicosities
One day mid-pregnancy, I was giving my girl a quick shave (this was when I was still able to see her).... Lo and behold, I felt something down there that frightened me to tears. Upon looking in the mirror, I became even more petrified. What in God’s green earth has happened to my vagina?! That’s right, VARICOSE VEINS ON MY VULVA. Do not – I repeat – do NOT Google a picture of that.
Because of an increase in blood flow to the pelvic region during pregnancy, vulvar varicosities can occur. They are typically harmless and will often go away postpartum, but boy are they unappealing, and occasionally painful. The protruding bluish-purple veins popping out of my downtown definitely did a number on my self-confidence.
5. Bleeding Gums
This isn’t as big of a deal, but I was unaware bleeding gums during pregnancy was common until it happened. Up to 75% of pregnant women will experience swollen, tender gums that bleed when flossing or brushing. It is “partly caused by hormonal changes that make your gums more sensitive to the bacteria in plaque.”1
Sometimes it was just a little, other times it was as though I popped a fake blood capsule in my mouth. Spitting out a mouth full of blood post-brush is pretty disconcerting.
6. Sciatica Pain
If you have ever experienced sciatica, you know it can vary from mild to excruciating. Sciatica occurs when the spine is compressed in some way, oftentimes due to a herniated disc or bone spurs. Strangely enough, growing a full-fledged human inside your body can also compress your spine. A growing uterus and hormonal changes can pinch the sciatic nerve and cause shooting pain down your legs.
Sciatica during pregnancy is quite common and usually happens towards the end of pregnancy. However, it can occur anytime. I didn’t experience it during my first pregnancy, but it was intense during my second, even with daily yoga practices. Massages, sleeping on your side, and gentle yoga can offer some relief.
7. Peeing ALL THE TIME
From the moment I took a pregnancy test to my last week of pregnancy, there wasn’t a single night that I slept a full 8 hours without having to pee at least once. In fact, the last couple weeks of pregnancy saw me going 3-4 times in the night. Was it the baby sitting on my bladder or the 40 oz of water I drank at dinnertime from my cute customized Stanley cup? Once again, probably both.
Frequent urination is common at every stage of pregnancy. In the beginning, it’s all the hormonal changes. As your pregnancy goes on, your uterus grows to make room for your sweet babe and it pushes against your bladder. I also believe it’s the Universe’s way of preparing you for being up at all hours of the night once baby arrives.
8. Constipation
On the opposite end of the spectrum, constipation is a common part of pregnancy. “The pregnancy hormone, progesterone, can cause your gut to work less efficiently and your food to move more slowly through your intestines, increasing your chance of constipation.”2
Fortunately, it only happened to me a handful of times with my second baby. However, when it did occur, it was a sensation I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. My body was telling me I needed to go, but the poop and my B-hole thought otherwise. After a couple doses of Miralax and remembering to eat more fiber and yogurt, it cleared right out, thank 8lb 6oz newborn infant Jesus.
9. Sleep Apnea
Another symptom that occurred towards the end of my pregnancy was the occasional sleep apnea. Several times, I woke myself up in the night with what I'm assuming was the most adorable, loudest snorting noise ever. Think pig snort at volume 10.
Sleep apnea occurs when your muscles relax and block your airway. Thus, you stop breathing in your sleep. Weight gain, hormonal changes, and anatomical factors (i.e., the baby pushing into your chest cavity) can all increase the risk of developing this condition in pregnancy. My doctor suggested I use a wedge pillow to keep my airway open while sleeping. I ended up just shoving a cushion underneath my side of the mattress, and that did the trick just fine.
Conclusion
Fortunately for my sake, almost every symptom was gone the minute I gave birth. And when my 5 year old gives me the sweetest kisses or as I rock my beautiful 7 week old girl to sleep, all the crazy side effects of pregnancy were, without a doubt, totally worth it. Now, I’m solely dealing with the postpartum symptoms. And there are a lot. That’ll be a different blog. :)
Growing a baby ain’t easy and it definitely is not for the faint of heart. Our bodies are incredible and everything has to be just right to make that beautiful life happen. But, it is definitely not always sunshine and rainbows. In conclusion, tell a pregnant woman or anybody who has given birth in your life that she is a beautiful badass!
P.S. Please consult with your provider for personalized medical advice. Every body and every pregnancy is different, and it's important that you talk openly with your doctor.
Resources
Mahtani, Nikhita. "Bleeding gums during pregnancy." babycenter. https://www.babycenter.com/pregnancy/your-body/bleeding-gums-during-pregnancy_217. Aug 20, 2021.
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