Pregnancy – a time of joy, of blooming. A time to be waited on hand and foot. To become serene and at one with nature. To positively glow from the inside out in a way to show the rest of the world, without words, that yes you are expecting. The Joys of being pregnant! But what about the things they don’t tell you about pregnancy?
Because all that was a bit untrue really in my case.
6 Things Unexpected Pregnancy Symptoms
I was looking forward so much to being pregnant. To developing a nice neat bump, a rosy pink flush and always getting the last seat anywhere.
There are some things I didn’t quite bargain for though. You know, the weird stuff NO ONE told me about.
Did they forget about these the moment the baby arrived? Were they trying their best to not put me off getting pregnant? Or worse still, am I the only one to have experienced these things?
Dr. Google tells me that I’m not alone. I thought I’d share some of the odd beginning pregnancy symptoms they don’t tell you about. If at the very least to make you thankful that you didn’t get them.
Some things to know about pregnancy (perhaps):
1. Peach Fuzz
That’s what they call it. It’s a reaction of the pregnancy hormones and I was warned I might get a few light hairs on my baby bump. A few hairs? Fine. Fur? NO.
A light brown furry hairy pregnant tummy. Peach Fuzz? More like Bear Hair. My (kind, but lying) husband told me it was in my imagination and he couldn’t see it which made me feel a bit better until after the baby when it thankfully disappeared.
But if you’re looking for what to buy when pregnant, add heavy-duty tweezers to your list. How can you tell you’re pregnant? For me, it was when I transformed into an actual bear. Good times!
2. Thick, glossy hair
Again, the pregnancy hormones. It seems their main mission is to turn you into a furry beast and this did not stop at my head hair, which was lovely during pregnancy by the way. In fact one of the most enjoyable things to do when pregnant might be to do your hair too! Oh I miss it.
Another hairy growth area was my eyebrows. My already naturally bushy eyebrows. Thanks pregnancy hormones, because I want to spend time Every Single Day plucking half my face off. It was low on the list of fun things to do during pregnancy for me.
3. The Mask of Pregnancy
“What is this?” you ask? Is it The Pregnancy Glow? The blooming? The rosy flush? It is not.
It is one or more patches of darkening skin on your face. For no reason. Because every paranoid preggo is desperate for another reason to feel under-confident and ugly. And why not add hormonal acne into the mix too? Because despite having spent 30-odd years trying to minimise it, apparently I wanted a bit more.
4. Swelling
Particularly swelling of the feet.
I expected some water retention, I was warned by my doctor. I was not expecting to grow a half foot size and for that to not reduce again after the birth.
If I wasn’t already paranoid about my huge feet, Mother Nature thought it would be hilarious to add another half size to it. I point blank refuse to buy bigger shoes even though that would have been one of the more positive pregnancy things to do!
I wondered when I was pregnant if I was destined for a lifetime of wearing stretchy slippers. Perhaps I wouldn’t mind that actually.
Related: Getting used to Body Changes After Pregnancy
5. Big Boobs
Yes yes, this might suit a lot of ladies. But when your own ‘ladies’ are already big and bothersome and the pregnancy lower back pain is killing you, it’s the last thing you want. Bigger boobs are a common sign of pregnancy – for me they certainly were.
They did not go down after giving birth or after breastfeeding either argh.
6. Bump Touchers
Now I was somewhat warned about this but I still wasn’t quite prepared.
It was one of the pregnancy things that annoyed me a lot. I don’t mind my female friends and family touching my bump at all – it’s affectionate and lovely. However, I do not want males who I barely know to reach over and not only touch my bump, but to give it a shake. WTF?!
This happened only once and trust me, the second grabber would have ended up with two broken arms.
WHY did he feel the need to not only invade my personal space but to then shake it about as well? Men, be warned:
- Ask before you reach.
- Limit touching to a gentle pat followed by at least two compliments.
- Just don’t risk it and keep your mitts off any pregnant bump that isn’t half yours.
Now, putting the annoyances of above to one side, I had a quite enjoyable pregnancy over all.
The list of pregnancy symptoms can be so weird and wonderful though. I didn’t get some of the symptoms during pregnancy that my friends did. Horrendous morning sickness, a weak bladder/snissing, lightning crotch in early pregnancy, pooping during childbirth – the list is endless! Does every woman’s belly button pop out during pregnancy? Mine didn’t! What happens to one mum-to-be can be entirely different to another.
Despite some of these side effects of early pregnancy and beyond, it’s worth it.
This isn’t an account of everything to know about pregnancy by any means. The bigger my (fairly neat) bump got, the more my confidence grew. This was possibly down to the lovely compliments I got from friends, family and strangers.
The acne went away to reveal lovely clean and glowing, albeit hairier, skin.
I enjoyed always getting a seat on the bus, having thick and glossy hair, strong nails and within reason, to eating a (little) lot more than I normally would have done.
Every day and certainly after my first baby made her appearance, all these things faded into the background and upon becoming a new mother, I realised that I’d happily grow a 10 inch beard if it meant I could keep her forever.
So whilst these weird and wonderful things are not forgotten, they are all well worth it and did not put me off having another.
Read next:
- How Motherhood Changes Your Brain!
- 10 Hospital Bag Essentials for Mum and Baby + FREE Packing List
- What happens during childbirth? Find out here!
- What to expect as a new mother
- What to expect when breastfeeding a newborn baby
- How to be an organised mum
This post was originally published on November 6th 2014.
PIN THIS POST:
What do you think they don’t tell you about pregnancy needs or symptoms? What things to know about pregnancy for first time mums can you share?
I can see why they don’t tell us about some of these but it definitely is worth it; thanks for the artcile!
OMG this has reminded me of my absolutely MASSIVE pregnancy feet, they were shocking and none of my shoes would fit! Thanks for linking up to #TheList xx
Ha ha mine too – so annoying as they mine never went back down! x
Such a great post, I can relate to a lot of this! Strangers touching my bump really annoyed me, people need to stop doing that! #TheList
I know, right! It’s like there’s a magnet on your bump attracting their hands! x
Oh gosh Mim this made me giggle! I am very fair haired and skinned so avoided the hairy tummy or at least it wasn’t noticeable. My flairs in the first trimester so I’ve been suffering with it lately but didn’t massively care when I had my head down the loo haha Ah the joys!xx #TheList
Oh it’s never ending! Ahh all worth it of course :) x
He,he!!!
Great post and so true! x
Thanks lady! :)
This just cracked me up so much and while it’s funny it also has to do with the last post I just read I was commenting saying I miss being pregnant and it was making me so broody and then I read this and it was so funny and made me think nope I remember all that I am good now. lol Lovely post. Thank you ever so much for linking up to Share With Me. #sharewithme
Ha ha I’m glad to have put the urge at rest again! I LOVE babies, just not a huge fan of pregnancy :)
I giggled through this post’s entirety because they were my thought during my first pregnancy as well. I loved the thick gorgeous mane I got, but was not too keen on my peach fuzz belly (which my husband claimed he couldn’t see either) my enormous feet (I couldn’t wear my lovely shoes for almost the entire length of my pregnancy!) and the increase in my “ladies'” size. You’re right however: much of this is worth the sacrifice (and a bit of suffering) for our little one, and like you, I’d gladly go through it again for my little girl. Thank you for sharing :) #sharewithme
Oh I’m so glad I’m not alone! It is worth it isn’t it :)
Some of those things I TOTALLY expected (like bigger boobs). I didn’t expect bigger feet and hands though! Or the rage. I did not expect the rage! Great post, via #thelist
Ha ha I haven’t experienced the rage yet but there is definitely time tee hee!! :)
Oh the swelling! I spent most of my pregnancy in flip flops until October came and it got too cold..had to squish my feet into some really unattractive (but very comfy!) flat boots!
And the darkening of the skin on your face – wtf is that all about!! I felt like Homer Simpson at one point!!
Ha ha! NO-ONE warns you about all of this – I make it my mission to tell everyone, they don’t thank me funnily enough :)
I hear you sister! Especially about the hair issues. This is my second pregnancy. The first time around one beautician waxed my entire face and just left my eyebrows on.
Argh yes, it’s so unfair! Oh that’s just so funny, you poor thing!!! :)
Ha ha love it! The reality so isn’t what the books lead you to believe!
That’s so true – it’s a conspiracy!! :)
Ah yes the swollen feet. Mine were so bad, I had to buy bigger shoes, they didn’t even look like feet anymore! Thanks for linking up to #TheList x
Ha ha I’m glad I’m not alone – thanks lady! :)
Great list! OMG the darkening of skin was so weird. I had a ring around my neck. And armpits. Gross lol.
Thanks Julie! Ha I’m glad it isnt just me! :)
Oh thank you! Ah the things we go through :)
This made me giggle. All so true! Great post x
Oh yes, and you think you remember it all and then off you go and get pregnant again and it all smacks you in the face.
Its true you only remember the good things!!!
And there is so much that no-one tells you – it’s a conspiracy ha ha! :)
OMG Peach Fuzz made me laugh! But it’s got to be better than growing some extra boobs – this actually happens and they can lactate!! A mate of mine got 4 extras, although thankfully they didn’t grow and looked more like moles!! Weird.
Thanks for linking up xx #TheList
No way – 4 lactating boobs??? Oh my word, I should stop complaining ha ha!! :)
the bump touchers LOL! love it x
Oh they need to be issued fines ha ha! :)
I loved the bigger boobs (but I have very little to begin with) but agree that the constant opinion on the bump got a bit much
I am happy to share mine with you ha! It would be good if we could pick and choose our symptoms from a list actually! :)
Ha, I’d forgotten about the random dark patch that I had on my forehead the entire pregnancy!! Also hated the big boobs & bump touchers too! x
You do forget don’t you! Until the next time lol :) I’ve tried to balance it out by writing about the things I actually DID enjoy too – https://lovefrommim.com/2015/01/8-things-i-love-about-being-pregnant.html
There are so many things you don’t bargain for aren’t there! Bump touches are not good, nor is the extra hair! And the heartburn, and the heaviness, I don’t miss those things, I just miss the wriggling baby! Thanks for linking up with Sunday stars
Honestly I think it’s a conspiracy that people don’t tell us about lol! :)
Love this!! Our third (and final!) baby is now 5 weeks old and I remember these so well – the thing no one told me about was the fact you cannot cough or sneeze without fear! #sundaystars
Thanks Rachel!! Oh I brace for sneezing still from Miss M lol :) :)
Fab post that’s an informative as its funny! Those bump touchers are a nightmare. I actually blogged about them here: http://honestmum.com/bump-feelers-and-baby-holders/. Thanks for linking up xx
Ah I am going to check out your post now – thanks for sharing it :) :) Bump touchers should be arrested :)
Love this post- thanks so much for your honesty! I haven’t yet had children but think it’s so important for us all to share the good, bad and ugly so we don’t feel so alone- during pregnancy, birth, parenting and everything else. Women must speak up and empower one another more. Thanks again! xx
My pleasure – and I hope you experience none of the above lol :)
Love this – I have written something similar. I have had 4 pregnancies and each one added a new thing or three to the list lol
Ha ha you must have a long list by now!! :)
this made me giggle ts so true pregnancy is not how you imagine it to be! #brilliantblogposts
It really isn’t, is it?! We’re all under the false impression that we’ll just blossom and glow :) :)
Fab post and so true – there’s so much they don’t tell you. One of my greatest annoyances was people constantly commenting on the size of my bump. My bump was small as I had a small baby but people constantly and repeatedly felt the need to keep saying how small it was – and it wasn’t just friends but strangers too! #brilliantblogposts
Thanks Nomita! Ah I’m more prepared second time round…well I think I am :) I’m 22 weeks now and am told constantly I look full term – um, thanks?!
Ah you’ll get to experience all of this – well hopefully not all of the above, just the good bits :)
I was always a fan of bigger boobs as my small fried eggs were normal size during pregnancy! Ihad massive swelling with my first I looked like someone ate me! Funny the things you do not realise or forget about pregnancy great post. Thanks for linking up with The Sunday Round up x
Ha ha you should get the choice to get bigger OR smaller boobs when pregnant! :)
Fab post, I am so with you and wrote a similar post a while back, http://becomingastayathomemum.com/12-things-pregnant-women-know/ and it is great to hear someone else who is not a fan of ever expanding boobs, mine drive me crazy! Great post #sundayroundup
I’ve just checked out your post and I LOVE it! Ha ha I particularly love the increasing sized bras!! Oh the things they DON’T tell you :)
Ah, the bump touchers – I don’t think anything else has to be said on the matter, unless you want a full scale rant. Haha!
Feel free to rant – I love to hear other people’s funny stories! Bump touchers – argh!! :)