We asked our community what was something that surprised them about pregnancy. We received answers from dish plate sized nipples to skin tags. Continue scrolling to read all 110 experiences that are rarely discussed when it comes to pregnancy.
- Discharge and smell
- Super dark nipples and line on my belly
- The after birth cramping when your uterus shrinks back
- The part where I loved it
- Postpartum sleep deprivation
- Miscarriage
- How bad the heartburn was
- Sick for 9 months
- How much easier it was than postpartum
- How much more I loved my body
- Feeling mom guilt for second pregnancy
- Sciatica
- Skin tags
- The swelling
15. Lightning crotch
16. Labor was not nearly as scary as I imagined. Postpartum was nothing I imagined, it was HARD
17. How hard it was to adjust when I slept in the third trimester
18. The constant hungover feeling without the joy of the alcohol the night before
19. Good lustrous hair
20. Pelvic pain
21. Teeth weakening
22. Severe acne
23. Varicose veins down there
24. Random nose bleeds every single day
25. How hard the 4th trimester was. Thought I was prepared, but there’s nothing like it
26. How much I loved it after the first trimester was over
27. “Morning sickness” all day
28. The tiredness
29. Going from A cups to DD
30. Skin tags
31. Sleepless nights
32. First trimester extreme exhaustion
33. That it was so easy compared to what I had heard!
34. How non-hormonal I was- way calmer than I expected
35. None of the baby kicks hurt
36. Moles changing
37. Never getting a “bump” could always tie my shoes
38. Constipation
39. How it impacts all ligaments
40. Being so sweaty .. everywhere!
41. The terrible rib pain from baby kicks
42. Strangers comment on your pregnancy everywhere you go
43. Stretch marks after baby
44. The mood swings
45. My leg hair totally stopped growing
46. Carpal tunnel syndrome
47. Conceiving triplets
48. Growing hair in my butt crack!
49. Dark and enlarged areolas
50. That you are uncomfortable from the start. Not just when you’re big!
51. How you feel like you don’t know your own body anymore
52. BO change is terrible
53. The debilitating anxiety I had
54. Hyperemesis gravidarum
55. New freckles and moles
56. The discharge! So many underwear changes daily
57. How painful your boobs get the first week!
58. Bleeding gums
59. Hemorrhoids
60. The insomnia
61. The amount of hair loss during postpartum
62. My HUGE nose and congestion
63. The gas and how it would sneak out
64. Going up a shoe size
65. Your dental insurance might get you an extra cleaning. Just have to ask
66. Dinner plate sized nipples
67. Back pain post delivery
68. You’ll start producing milk before baby gets here
69. Squishy labia
70. The moodiness
71. How dark my stomach got
72. Not being able to breathe normal
73. How exciting it is to see your belly grow
74. Acid reflux
75. Didn’t realize how paralyzing early child loss could be until I experienced it
76. Early braxton hicks
77. Diarrhea
78. Sore legs and Charlie horses!
79. Butt acne
80. The smell down there
81. Weird dreams at night
82. Restless leg syndrome
83. Varicose veins on vulva
84. How much I would miss being pregnant
85. Sweaty crotch
86. How lonely it can be mentally when enduring so many body changes
87. The baby blues
88. The judgement
89. Not being able to sleep on your side
90. Gas pains
91. Swollen feet
92. Extremely dark armpits
93. Shoe size grows and doesn’t go back
94. How much I loved my body and how I looked pregnant
95. Preeclampsia
96. How much/often you will cry over the silliest things
97. Prenatal depression
98. Enlarged vagina
99. Vivid dreams
100. Mastitis
101. The high intensity of smells
102. The food aversions
103. How beautiful I felt!
104. Gagging! I would literally gag while brushing my teeth
105. Belly button changing
106. Symphysis pubis dysfunction and how painful it is!
107. How annoying nice people can be
108. Itchy belly
109. Finger numbness
110. No symptoms
For more read what women wish they knew before going into labor >> What I Wish I Knew About Giving Birth
Illustrations by: @Kosogkaos
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