Six Things No One Told You About Pregnancy, But Probably Should

This post is sponsored by Bayer. To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label.

Pregnancy is an exciting and life changing event in a woman’s life. With all those changes, there are bound to be a few things that your mother, sister, best-friend or co-worker never thought to mention to you (or didn’t want to.) Read on for six things about pregnancy that just might surprise you.

1) Things can get emotional.

There is so much focus on the physical changes in pregnancy that the emotional ones are sometimes overlooked. Hormone shifts during pregnancy are common and can leave you with unexpected bursts of anger, sadness or anxiety. Rest assured, it’s (unfortunately) 100 per cent normal.

Mood swings may be normal, but that doesn’t mean you have to deal with it alone. Your doctor is a great resource for mental health and wellness advice as well as the physical stuff. And don’t forget to share with your partner. Just because they are not carrying the child does not mean they can’t provide the emotional support you need.

2) Pregnancy mask is a real thing!

The first time I heard about pregnancy mask was when my sister had her first child. She was well into her third trimester and had darker, more tanned skin than she normally did. Since it was the middle of the winter when this happened we knew it was not from being outside, so off to the doctor for an explanation she went. The doctor told her that the pigment in her skin was changing due to the hormones of being pregnant, causing her to have this sort of shading on her face. It was called a pregnancy mask! Even after my niece was born this shading never quite left my sister and to this day you can see the faint outline of it. And my niece is now 26. 🙂

3) Weird smells “down there”? Don’t ignore it!

Bacterial Vaginosis is a common vaginal infection that comes with some unpleasant side effects, including a fishy or unpleasant smell. BV can cause complications for pregnancy and childbirth, so make an appointment with your doctor if you think you might have it.

If you do have it – don’t panic! If you are pregnant, you can ask your doctor about treating BV symptoms with OTC products like CanesBalance which work to regulate your pH. Treatment is no sweat – CanesBalance is easy to use and can relieve symptoms in one week. The website has more information on symptoms and prevention.

4) Maternity pants rock!

Stay with me on this one. Your pregnancy is the only time you will be able to unapologetically wear stretch pants to work with pride. Embrace the guilt-free comfort!

Pro Tip: don’t throw out those stretchy pants after your pregnancy is over. They come in real handy during those huge holiday meals! 😉

5) Hemorrhoids – it’s a thing.

Hemorrhoids may not be a polite topic of discussion with your friends and loved ones, but they are a very real part of pregnancy. Hemorrhoids are actually varicose veins in the rectal area. They are usually not dangerous, but can be annoying. Try applying cotton pads soaked in witch hazel or soaking in a warm tub to soothe your symptoms. [i]

While it can be an embarrassing subject to bring up, don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor about it. If you ignore them, hemorrhoids can become painful or even worse after your child is delivered.  Speaking from first hand experience, I can tell you the irritation and itch can drive you crazy, so taking action early will help avoid that.

6) Food aversions can last longer then nine months, sadly.

This one surprised me. Before becoming pregnant with my first child I used to love to eat cucumbers.  I would have them everyday, cut up and enjoyed on their own or in salads. I never put anything on them. After the first few weeks of being pregnant they made me horribly sick and to this day even the smell (yes, they have a smell) of a cucumber can have me running for the washroom. It kind of makes me sad to have lost out on this particular food item because let’s face it, the more veggies you can eat raw the better off you will be.

Ok, so pregnancy isn’t all magic and rainbows. But the end result is a beautiful, incredible, amazing baby. Your baby! So rock those maternity pants Mamas and get ready for a wild ride! It’s totally worth it.

If you’re trying to get pregnant – what are you most looking forward to? If you’re an experienced Mama, what surprised you the most about your pregnancy?

FT&PD

Suz

This post is sponsored by Bayer. To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label.

[i] https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2016/06/7-best-worst-home-remedies-hemorrhoids/