After you find out that you are pregnant, every myth you’ve ever heard suddenly does not match with reality. Pain in unusual places and uncomfortable sleeping positions make you wonder about all the things that you don’t know about pregnancy. Here are a few things you can expect when you are pregnant:
Digestive Issues
With a growing child pressing against your internal organs, your bowel movements become limited or turn into constipation problems. Excessive gas is also a problem. Eat many fruits and vegetables to keep your digestive system relatively regular during pregnancy.
Sciatica
Pain from sciatica is often the least expected thing to expect from pregnancy. Sciatica during pregnancy is very common, and usually occurs on one side of the body, but you could feel pain on both sides. As the largest nerve in your lower extremities, the sciatic responds to the baby’s growing weight with sharp pains down the legs as it is pinched during fetal movement. There is no true cure for sciatica unless the baby shifts its weight away from the nerve. You can, however, ease the symptoms by moving and walking. Your instinct might be to lay down and rest, but too much rest can actually make the pain worse.
Urination Problems
Your baby presses against your bladder during pregnancy that could cause leaks or accidents periodically. You may have incontinence problems after pregnancy as well. The bladder becomes weak during pregnancy and it becomes more difficult to hold your bladder. Make sure you continue to drink lots of water during the day. Lessening your water intake before bed will allow you to sleep through the night without having to empty your bladder every hour when you are trying to sleep.
Sleep Eludes You
You may be able to sleep in the first trimester, but a growing baby forces you to sleep on your side. For some mothers, side sleeping is cause for insomnia. As the baby develops, kicking and continual activity during the night may keep you awake as well. Except to be up in the night more often than you were before.
Morning Sickness
Some mothers vomit while others remain nauseous throughout the first trimester. These symptoms are not limited to the morning, as one might expect. There are some women who do not experience any nausea at all. Nausea can haunt you all day for several weeks. Be prepared to eat small meals to keep your stomach calm. Make sure to keep yourself hydrated if you are vomiting.
Cleaning Fury
Near the end of the pregnancy, you may go through a nesting period. With the need to clean, you’ll want to get everything in order before the birth begins. This is different for every woman, but often times, many will want to keep busy and get everything in order before the baby comes.
Loose Ligaments
Your body releases the hormone relaxin during pregnancy to ready the pelvis for birth. Be careful as you walk or exercise during pregnancy. Loose ligaments make you unstable and prone to accidents. If you choose to exercise, make sure you know your limits and take it easy to avoid any injury.
Hair Growth
With all the hormones coursing through your body, growing hair in unusual areas is common. Hair developing on your back, breasts and face can happen. Do not be alarmed, hair growth should subside after birth.
Pregnancy is a stressful period for your body, but a rewarding child is the prize. Take care of your body and be accepting of the different changes as you enjoy your developing baby. Don’t be alarmed or stress over these common symptoms that happen during pregnancy.
Comments are closed.