Pregnancy Symptoms Nobody Warns You About

Everyone warns you about nausea, sore boobs and being tired.

What nobody really warned me about were all the other weird little things pregnancy can do to your body.

With my pregnancies, I had bloody noses, bleeding gums, restless legs, a constantly congested nose and even one swollen labia.

And I remember thinking:

“Why does nobody talk about this stuff?”

Because when you are pregnant and something strange suddenly starts happening, it is really easy to wonder:

“Is this okay or just another pregnancy symptom?”

Most likely, just another symptom but why the heck didn’t anyone warn me!! So here is the list of what I wish I was told about.

A blocked nose and nosebleeds

Pregnancy hormones and increased blood flow can make the lining inside your nose swell.

So you may feel congested even when you do not have a cold.

Nosebleeds can also happen more easily.

Very glamorous.

Bleeding gums

Your gums may become more sensitive during pregnancy.

You may notice they look swollen or bleed more easily when you brush or floss.

Keep brushing and flossing gently, and keep up your normal dental care.

A metallic taste or extra saliva

Some mothers notice a strange metallic taste in their mouth, especially early in pregnancy.

Food can suddenly taste completely different.

Others feel like they are producing far more saliva than usual.

This is called ptyalism, and it can be especially annoying if you are already dealing with nausea.

Pins and needles in your hands

Extra fluid during pregnancy can put pressure on a nerve in the wrist and cause pregnancy related carpal tunnel.

You may notice:

Tingling.

Numbness.

Pins and needles.

Hands that feel worse at night.

Or suddenly dropping things more often.

It can be surprisingly annoying.

Restless legs

You finally lie down exhausted and your legs decide they need to move.

Restless legs can become more noticeable during pregnancy, especially later on.

If it is severe or happening regularly, mention it at your appointment because low iron can sometimes play a part.

Swelling where you really did not expect it

Pregnancy can increase blood flow and pressure through the pelvis.

That can sometimes mean swelling around the vulva or labia.

It can be one of those:

“Nobody warned me this could happen.”

moments.

Mild swelling can happen, especially later in pregnancy.

But if the swelling is suddenly very painful, getting worse, or you are worried about it, get it checked.

Wild pregnancy dreams

Pregnancy dreams can be completely bizarre.

Very vivid.

Very emotional.

Sometimes hilarious.

Sometimes terrifying.

Pregnancy can also cause lighter or more broken sleep, which may make you remember your dreams more clearly.

Skin and body changes

Pregnancy hormones can change your skin in ways you may not expect.

You might notice:

Skin tags.

Darker nipples.

A darker line down your belly.

Patches of darker skin on your face.

Your feet can change too.

Swelling is common, but some women also notice their shoe size changes because the ligaments in the feet loosen and the arch can flatten slightly.

So yes, pregnancy may genuinely be a good excuse for new shoes.

What about gas, constipation and lightning crotch?

Yes.

Those can absolutely be pregnancy things too.

But they deserve more than one paragraph, so we cover them separately in:

Constipation, Haemorrhoids and Pregnancy Gas

Lightning Crotch, Pelvic Pressure and Weird Third Trimester Pains

The one thing to know

A lot of strange symptoms can be completely normal in pregnancy.

But if something is severe, sudden, getting worse or simply does not feel right, call your healthcare team.

Related articles

• Is This Normal in Pregnancy? The Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

• Lightning Crotch, Pelvic Pressure and Weird Third Trimester Pains

• Constipation, Haemorrhoids and Pregnancy Gas