A really good friend of mine is pregnant at the moment. I keep getting text messages like "now I know what you meant about the pelvic pain" or " You were right, it is freaky when your tummy touches your thighs when you sit!"
People don't talk about the not-so-pretty details of pregnancy...and there are a few. Obviously the good far outweighs the bad and the precious bundle that you get at the end makes it all worthwhile, but I thought I would list my top 5 side effects here:
1. Aching hips
Is hip pain keeping you up at night or preventing you from walking more than a few steps without pain? Yep, this is another common side effect of pregnancy that your girlfriends didn't warn you about. More common in the third trimester, hip pain is caused by relaxin, a hormone that prepares your body for delivery. Relaxin softens your joints and widens your hips in order to help Baby exit during delivery.
2. Bleeding and sore gums
Hormonal changes send extra blood flow to your gums, causing the, to swell and become painful. Keep brushing but brush gently and swop to a soft toothbrush.
3. A running nose
Tissue after tissue, you have a runny nose that just won't stop running! An increase in hormones can cause the inside of your nose to swell and the mucus there to thicken. The same hormone that helps relax and prepare your body for birth can also relax your sinuses, giving you a nose that constantly drips. Nose bleeds can also occur so keep those tissues handy!
4. You are glowing
Ahhh....not if your third trimester is during the hot seasons, then I'm afraid it is perspiration! And with a great big belly it means under your arms, between your legs, on your belly and your face and neck. Your metabolism is in overdrive, and the extra blood pumping through you warms the skin...your body is simply cooling off..
5. Luscious locks
This one is for post pregnancy...the gift that keeps on giving. At around three months after giving birth my hair started falling ou. Now we are not talking big bald patches but we are also not talking one or two strands. We are talking the drain is blocked and the vacuum cleaner is clogged! Not much you can do here except sweep the floor regularly!
What were your most unexpected pregnancy side-effects?
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