Your pregnant body is one of the most miraculous creations. And while the journey to motherhood can be amazing, there are several things they don’t tell you about your pregnant body. Keep reading to find out what these things are and how you can be prepared just in case you experience any (or all) of them. And as I mentioned in my post “5 Things I Wish I knew Before Becoming a Mom“, there is an exhaustive, Tik-Tok trending list of all the things that will happen to you/your body during and after pregnancy that is a hilarious read!
Although your body will go through many changes, they don’t necessarily have to be seen as a bad thing. Contrary to popular belief, what may normally be frowned upon should actually be celebrated. Your body was designed to do amazing things and growing human being is among the top of the list. I highlight the following things as celebration of what our bodies can do.
1. You may experience soreness in your breasts and nipples.
Your belly won’t be the only thing changing throughout pregnancy. Your boobs are also going through changes of their own. Some women experience massive growth from the beginning while others may notice a huge change closer to delivery time. Either way, your breasts become a milk factory and are being primed to feed your baby (even if you choose to skip breastfeeding).
2. Your nipples may protrude and the areolas may get darker.
Since we’ve blown the lid of what can happen to your boobs, we may as well talk about the nipples. If your nipples begin to protrude, don’t be shocked. This can actually make it easier when it’s time to breastfeed. And if you notice your areolas getting darker, that’s just another indicator that your breasts are just as excited as you are about you new bundle of joy arriving.
3. You could experience extra saliva.
If there’s one thing that comes with pregnancy, it’s a lot of extra. In this case, we’re talking extra spit. Actually, all of your body’s fluids experience a boost and rightfully so. Your body has to kick into overdrive to house another growing human being which means making sure you have enough of everything left over for your own body, including saliva.
4. There’s a strong possibility that you could experience constipation.
In the beginning of pregnancy, constipation is typically linked to a change in your body’s hormones. However, as your baby gets bigger and you get closer to delivery day, constipation is primarily due to your organs being smushed together, especially down yonder.
5. You may experience hemorrhoids.
In lieu with constipation is usually its friend hemorrhoids. Not all women get these, but they are quite common due to the swelling of the veins around your rectum. Coupled with the swelling is the extra push to get bowel out and then comes hemorroids. Don’t worry if you get them, a topical cream usually helps alleviate them.
6. You could experience heartburn.
Some of those cravings may end up working against you, but that doesn’t mean you need to cut them out completely. Similar to the land down under, your esophagus also has a sphincter, which is also being crammed by your stomach as your belly grows. When the acid gets backed up, it has two ways to go and sometimes it comes back up in the form of acid reflex or acid indigestion.
7. You may have cold-like symptoms.
Part of your body changes include compensating to make sure your baby is nourished. Sometimes this can cause a dip in your immune system, which could make you more susceptible to having congestions, colds, or even the flu. While you have to be careful with what you take for this, your primary care doctor may suggest vitamins and supplements to boost your immune system.
8. Your legs may experience cramps and restlessness.
These may sound bad, but they’re not so much. They still haven’t quite figured out what causes them but it’s common and there are several natural things you can do to help alleviate them. Warm baths, stretching, massages, and creams can help keep these things at bay.
9. You may experience acne.
Just when you thought your preteen acne days were over, pregnancy has a way of bringing that back, thanks to your shifting hormones. The good part is the acne won’t last always and a simple shift in your face care products and routine will take care of it.
10. You may experience “mom brain.”
This isn’t something that’s as visible as acne, but forgetfulness is a real thing. Most moms even agree that “mom brain” starts in pregnancy and goes far into parenthood. If you find yourself forgetting things, get into the habit of writing them down, setting reminders, etc.
More Things They Don’t Tell You About Your Pregnant Body
The things mentioned above are some of the most popular things they don’t tell you about your pregnant body, but there are a few more I want to shed light on. Throughout your pregnancy journey, your body may experience:
- More sweat.
- Bigger feet.
- Stretch marks.
- Wetting your pants.
- Sore and bleeding gums.
- Itchy skin.
- Heightened sense of smell.
- An increase in and smellier flatulence.
- Change in skin pigment.
- A bigger nose.
- A change in vaginal discharge.
- Skin tags.
- Hair loss.
Final Thoughts
Always remember that pregnancy is a beautiful thing, even if you experience less than blissful things during the process. Rest assured knowing that others are experiencing these things with you. And each one is typically manageable. Always ask your doctor for suggestions if you feel something is not normal. What have you experienced during your pregnancy that changed your body? Let me know in the comments below.
This article is something I wish I had read years ago – as you are right, I never realized how many things would affect my body from pregnancy. This is a ‘must-read’ for expecting parents.
I’m so glad to see someone sharing the real deal on pregnancy. No one ever tells you about the negatives of pregnancy. While they’re not deal breakers by any means, it’s nice to know what you’re getting into.
I’m glad that more and more women are sharing the “real” sides of pregnancy. It’s crazy how little we’re educated about these things before it happens to us.
Holy crap! I had no idea that all of that came along with pregnancy. I have even more respect for moms now, and I had a lot of it before.
Very informative post for future moms. You really cover so much about what things they don’t tell you about being pregnant and what to expect. Thank you for sharing!
What a great topic for a post and so much valuable information. Many of these really weren’t told to me when I was pregnant. Love the pictures as well.
Thank you for talking honestly about pregnancy. Things like constipation and acne can really come as a surprise to first-time pregnant women.
You discover so many things when you are pregnant that you may not have been aware of. Not sure if mum brain ever goes away though lol.
My sister had a lot of these symptoms. I could see them firsthand. Otherwise, I would not have known about some of them either.
Every pregnant woman should read this. I wish I had read this, although I was calm during the pregnancy stage it was because I felt a bit uncomfortable with my body changes.
I have never been pregnant and too old now but I need to say you are an amazing maternity photographer! My niece is pregnant and I will share your site with her!
Oh wow….it’s quite astonishing what a woman’s body goes through when they’re pregnant! I didn’t know even know about mom brain!
Thank you for sharing these amazing tips! Pregnancy is a time when a lot of changes are happening to a woman’s body, so having advice and guidance from you who has already been through it can be incredibly helpful.