PARENTHOOD.IE

There are a few secret symptoms of pregnancy that nobody tells you about. Some we just forget, but others are so embarrassing we are just happy to forget. Parenthood.ie has put togeter a list of the pregnancy symptoms that we never talk about. Don’t despair, you are not going mad!

Unfortunately there is little you can do to avoid many of the most embarrassing pregnancy symptoms. Most are generally due to changing hormone levels, in most cases you will just have to bear it. In most cases it is the social embarrassment that is the difficult part, but remember that you are pregnant and most things will be forgiven.

Drool and metal taste

It may not be unusual to wake up in the morning with a pool of drool on your pillow. The excessive saliva you produce during pregnancy is caused by increased hormone levels. For some women it can get so bad it can affects their speech. Swallowing the excessive saliva can sometimes make you sick, as it often is bitter and you can have a metal taste in your mouth. Make sure you drink enough water and during the day you can try sucking hard sweets.

Wind

During pregnancy your metabolism slows down and the body seems to want to use up every little nutritional morsel from anything you eat. This results in food moving slowly through your digestive system, which in turns has two embarrassing side effects, burping and farting. You have little control over them and will just have to blame it on your bump.

Snoring and stuffy nose

Weight gain, hormones and the increased amount of blood in your body, can restrict and cause swelling in your nasal passages and membranes. This will make your breathing a bit harder, which can make you to snore and give you a stuffy nose. Sleep on your side, elevate your head with an extra pillow, try a nasal strip and eat healthy to stay on a normal weight gain for pregnancy.

Crazy dreams

As with most things in pregnancy the intense dreams you have are related to the increasing hormonal levels. According to research, you will often have dreams about water and fertility in your first trimester. You will often dream of your baby in your third trimester, and the dreams are not always pleasant.

Leg cramps

You could be resting or sleeping soundly, to suddenly be woken by an excruciating pain in your leg when your calf muscle cramps up. Breathe and try not to panic when it happens. Flex and rotate your foot, stretching your muscle before going to bed or when the cramping wakes you. You could also get up and walk a bit. Try relaxing your muscles before bed and some women swear by magnesium supplement.

Leaking and discharges

Your growing baby can really push at your bladder in the last months, causing you to either visit the toilet continuously or leak with something as simple as a giggle or sneeze. Increased vaginal discharge, due to hormones, is also normal. In both cases you will have to use pads, which you probably never expected to have to buy during your pregnancy.

Hard and itchy nipples

You may expect that your breasts will get a bit larger, but you will not be prepared for the sudden and painful contraction your nipples can do in the cold or when brushing against something. Your bra can feel like it is made of sandpaper and as tender as the nipples are they can also be very itchy. You will want to walk around with your hands cupped around your breasts. Try keeping your breasts warm, use a fatty skin lotion (shea or coco butter), wear a seamless bra and stuff something soft between your nipples and the bra.

Chronic heartburn

Some women will suffer from heartburn throughout their pregnancy, while other will only get it once the baby starts getting bigger. Your growing baby shifts your internal organs, causing the valve of your stomach to be open and leak stomach acid, thereby the heart burn. You will very likely be eating heartburn remedies like sweets.

All-day morning sickness

It may be called morning sickness, but the truth is that it can happen at any time and also last all day. While it often will stop by three months it is not always the case. Try eating small portions, avoid spices and try seasickness cures, such as chewing ginger or seasickness patches.

Haemorrhoids (piles)

No matter your age, pregnancy can give you piles. Piles is a form of varicose veins caused by hormones, constipation or your baby’s weight, the pushing during labour, and probably a combination of all. Get over the counter haemorrhoid creams or ask your GP to prescribe one.