When you fell pregnant your mind quickly became overwhelmed with both happy and overwhelmed thoughts. At least mine did and I assume most people have a flood of emotions regardless of if the pregnancy is a surprise or not. It is a life changing experience that will change you as a person for the better, but it’s turned out to be quite different than what you had envisaged. When you plan to have a baby, people don’t always tell you about the hardest aspects of being pregnant. They tell you about the wonderful moments and first milestones, but they don’t tell you about the un-glamorous side of pregnant life. You knew that it wouldn’t be a walk in the park when you got pregnant, but some symptoms can hit you hard and take you by surprise! If you are lucky enough to have avoided these bodily changes so far, it might come in useful to familiarize yourself with the ideas mentioned below.
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1.Braxton Hicks Contractions
Most women go through that crazed panicked moment of thinking they are going into early labour when they experience Braxton Hicks contractions. You can determine whether you’re experiencing braxton hicks contractions with Bloomlife. Similarly, you can check up on your symptoms with your doctor. Braxton Hicks contractions can occur from around 28 to 37 weeks, which is quite a wide span of time. You will be able to recognise these so-called “practice” contractions as they are much milder than the real thing. The key thing to remember is that Braxton Hicks contractions go away after a short amount of time, so monitor them carefully and call your doctor if you have any concerns.
2. Extreme Fatigue
People told you that pregnancy was tiring, but they didn’t tell you exactly how exhausting it was! Generally, in your second trimester you should start getting some of your energy back. The first trimester is particularly draining as your baby is doing all the major development from organs to hair! Imagine how tiring it must be to grow a tiny pair of lungs, develop a brain and ten little toes! You are not alone in feeling absolutely drained during your pregnancy; your body is certainly going through a lot. In your final trimester you will start to notice the strain on your body. Getting out of bed is a chore and even walking around for lengthy periods of time. Take as much time to rest as possible and listen to your body at all times.
3. Is It Hot in Here?
Pregnancy sweats are definitely a real thing; even if you’re pregnant in the peak time of winter, you might still go through a rise in your overall body temperature. As your body is doing so much hard work, it’s no wonder that you are feeling warmer than usual. Try to stick to loose cotton clothing and buy a lighter sheet for your bed at night. Underwear can really start to be a pain in the butt (literally!), so swap your sexy thongs for full cotton briefs. You will find them much comfier and it will help your body to breathe rather than overheat.
4. Heightened Sense of Smell
One of the first things you might notice during the earlier stages of pregnancy, is that your sense of smell becomes heightened to another level. Perhaps you got on the train to work and became overwhelmed by the smell of somebody’s aftershave or perfume. Strong scents can be very off putting for pregnant ladies, but the symptoms will soon wear away. Your pregnancy hormones are to blame for your heightened sense of smell right now; the oestrogen in your body can enhance every little smell that wafts past you. If you need to change your perfume or deodorant for a while, this is completely normal.
5. Everything Gets Bigger
As soon as you got pregnant you expected to see your belly grow and grow as your little one developed. People didn’t really warn you that every single part of your body would get bigger. From your hands to your boobs, there isn’t actually a part of your body that you recognise right now. First of all, try not to get too caught up in your changing body. It can be a huge rollercoaster of emotions that you’re not quite ready for, but there are a couple of things you can do. Go to your local department store and get measured for new bras as soon as you start feeling uncomfortable. It’s likely that you will go up a couple of sizes so don’t be too alarmed by the results. Opt for a cool, cotton bra with no underwire; this will be much more comfortable for you. Don’t be afraid to splash out on some lovely maternity clothes too. There are so many amazing places to shop nowadays, so use this as a chance to treat yourself!
6. Where’s The Nearest Bathroom?
You can’t remember the last time you slept through the night without having to wake up and use the bathroom. Your bladder seems to be much weaker now and that is completely normal. Try to do most of you’re rehydration during the daytime so that you can consume less water at night. If you need to use the bathroom, don’t hold it in! You will be much more comfortable once you have relieved yourself.
7. Aches and Pains Almost Everywhere
Every single day you are going to experience a brand new ache or pain that you have never felt before. From your hips to your back, small aches here and there are completely normal. If you are concerned about any of your pain, make sure you call your doctor as soon as possible.
Your body is doing a miraculous thing right now. Carrying a baby is one of the most magical and life changing experiences you will ever experience, so make sure you treasure every moment. You are bound to feel discomfort, pain and fatigue, but it will all be worth it in the end. Just remember that every little symptom you feel now will be overtaken by the happy memories you create in the future. You and your little family won’t remember the negative side effects of your pregnancy; they will see the beautiful bundle you managed to create.
Pregnancy is an amazing experience, but it’s not always ice cream and sprinkles. It can be hard, and some days are really the worst. But in the end, it’s definitely worth every minute. What was the one pregnancy symptom you had that you never expected? Let me know in the comments below and thanks for reading!
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