1. Vivid Pregnancy Dreams
Many women feel they have during pregnancy women much brighter and clear dreams. Some women who never could remember a dream can suddenly ‘see’ longer more detailed dreams.
This doesn’t help when you are tired already! Sometimes dreams are so vivid you wake thinking that it really happened! there is no explanation for this symptom, except the hormones gushing and affecting even our brain activity.
What to do: Nothing. You can share with your partner your dreams, or write them down to be added later on to the baby’s album.
2. Faintness
Usually in the third trimester. This may occur if you are in a very warm, crowded area. Sudden changes in position or standing for long periods of time can cause a feeling of lightheadedness. Faintness may also be brought on by lying flat on your back and by poor nutrition.
What to do: Try to avoid crowded areas, keep your airway clear, or keep a small fan or breeze to your face in warm places.
3. Pregnancy Women’s Mood Swings
Hormones and normal anxieties can cause mood swings throughout pregnancy. Your fluctuating hormone levels make you more susceptible to moodiness also your altered body image, fatigue, and concerns about the upcoming labor can add to the moodiness.
Women feel they lose control and there is more daily stress on them. Women who were feeling attractive suddenly fear the belly will never be back as it used to be, fear of the upcoming month and newborn arrival adds to the changing moods during pregnancy.
What to do: Relax, it’s not you, it is the hormones! If you feel bad about yourself, take action to control your life and your changing body. Taking action and becoming practical helps reduce anxieties, and will make you more confident that you are in charge.
4. Quickening (Fetal Movement)
Some moms can feel their babies move as early as 13-16 weeks. Women describe them as butterflies moving inside them. Those movements are called quickening and described as flutters.
The fluttering isn’t at all regular early on in your pregnancy–so don’t be worried if you feel flutters one day, and then don’t feel anything for a few days. They might be more noticeable after meals, and at night. If it’s your first pregnancy, may not feel movement until 18-20 weeks.
What to do: Nothing, this is a good sign that the baby is moving its limbs, keep monitoring the movements. If you notice a significant deviation in the pattern, contact your healthcare provider.
5. Red and Itchy Palms and Soles
Pregnancy hormones contribute to itchiness and can make your palms and the soles of your feet red and itchy Even as early as the second month of pregnancy. This is called “palmar erythema”. If you suffer from Eczema it might worsen when pregnant.
Other women may get eczema for the first time while pregnant. If itchy, red, raised patches (sometimes with tiny fluid-filled blisters in the center) appear on your abdomen late in your third trimester you probably have a condition called PUPPP.
What to do: Use some common moisturizer cream or lotion. Try not to scratch… (Easy to say) it may cause itching to get worse in the long run. Avoid long, hot baths that tend to dry skin out. After bathing dry the skin with a mild patting.
You might want to change to color-free or fragrance-free creams. A humidifier at home might help increase the moisture in your environment. Calamine lotion or other over-the-counter anti-itch creams may also help.
6. Pregnancy Heat Rashes
Because the women’s body while pregnant is already overheated, a combination of dampness from excessive perspiration, and the friction of skin rubbing against itself or against clothing, prickly heat rash is pimply and slightly irritating. It is most common in the crease between and beneath the breasts.
What to do: Take strict hygiene care, shower often, and change underwear cloth every day. Dry out sweat and damp friction areas. Use hypoallergenic creams.
7. Change in Libido
It is all in the hormones but not only. Some women feel sexually playful since intercourse is all safe during pregnancy. pregnancy women’s hormones cause usually a dramatic increase in sex drive during pregnancy.
The changes are increased vaginal lubrication, increased sensitivity of the breasts and nipples, and increased blood flow to the pelvic area. Other women feel they simply cannot get their bodies to be touched. Sex drive tends to be lower during the first trimester.
This is because most pregnancy symptoms occur during the first trimester and you may feel too tired or physically unwell to be interested in sex. (don’t worry it’s natural) maybe because of overly sensitive or sore parts of your body.
What to do: Try new positions that allow better access or take the pressure off your abdomen and back. If you feel un-sexy, ask your partner to spend the time in sexual play rather than intercourse.
8. Frequent Headaches
Early in pregnancy, increased blood circulation caused by hormonal changes may trigger frequent, mild headaches. Many migraine sufferers find relief from headaches during pregnancy, but a small percentage of women actually experience a worsening of symptoms during pregnancy.
What to do: Try to sleep and rest as much as you can. Drink a lot of water. Exercise mildly to keep blood circulation. Applying an ice pack or cool cloth or a cold shower will serve the same purpose.
Try acupuncture and even chiropractic manipulation for relieving migraines during pregnancy. Massage therapy can reduce muscular tension, stress, or anxiety that may contribute to migraine headaches.
9. Nosebleeds
The body has a 30% increased blood flow. This increased blood flow though is also one of the main reasons for nosebleeds because it exerts pressure on the mucous lining in the nose. Sometimes these vessels can’t take this pressure and, as a result, they rupture.
What to do: Drink a lot of water, blow gently, and use a humidifier – keeping the air moist will prevent nosebleeds.
10. Pregnancy Stretch Marks
They are found on the thighs, abdomen, hips, breasts, and buttocks. This is a very common body change; 75-90 percent of all pregnant women will find stretch marks. Stretch will appear in various locations of the body. Genetics plays a big role in the formation of stretch marks.
They show raised pink, red, or dark purple streaks across the skin. They are usually a result of damaged collagen and blood vessel dilation, caused by everything from weight gain to bodybuilding and pregnancy. The natural elasticity of the skin is the overall defining factor in how many stretch marks you will have during pregnancy.
What to do: Eat foods containing vitamins E, C, and A. Or add those vitamins as supplements they promote the growth of elastin and collagen that helps skin elasticity. Drink water! Exfoliation of dead skin cells helps regenerate healthy new skin cells. Use moisturizers, lotions, and oils which help the skin remain soft and flexible during pregnancy.
11. Pregnancy Hemorrhoid
The uncomfortable (but not dangerous) little bulges that afflict 20 to 50 percent of all pregnant women are actually a form of a varicose vein. The veins in and around the rectum become swollen.
During pregnancy, your body has more blood circulating through your veins. All your veins, especially those below your uterus, become dilated. What to do: drink a lot of water, eat a high-fiber diet, exercise regularly, and keep the area clean.
What to do: Try eating a high-fiber diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains complemented by plenty of fluids (six to eight glasses of water a day); consider drinking a cup of prune juice daily to help promote regular bowel movements. Do a sitz bath. Most drugstores sell the supplies you need for a sitz bath. Place an ice pack or another cold compress on the affected area. Use hemorrhoid pads. These contain witch hazel and are generally safe to use during pregnancy.
12. Pregnancy Perspiration
Almost all women will suffer from Night sweats during early pregnancy. However, Night sweats during early pregnancy are produced because the hypothalamus (the heat regulator) starts overproducing heat.
A night sweats can become bad enough to wake you up night after night, either due to the uncontrolled heat over your body, or being wet and shivering because of damp sleepwear.
What to do: The most important thing is that you do not dehydrate. Drink plenty of fluids. To control the odor: You need to keep away from scented foods.
Splinter your armpits consistently. To eliminate the bacteria which cause the bad odor from undue sweating situate a few vinegar and juice of partly a lime featuring in your bath stream.
13. Gums bleeding
Increased blood flow through the body will often make the gums swell. This also increases your vulnerability to gum disease. Additionally, during pregnancy, most pregnant women have some bleeding of their gums, particularly while brushing or flossing.
What to do: Change your toothbrush to extra-soft bristle tips. Use gum-strengthening toothpaste. Brush more gently. Use other oral cleanings methods like mouthwash or chewing gums.
Gargle with a mixture of water and a teaspoon of acidophilus. Have your teeth professionally cleaned at least once while pregnant. Buy from Amazon
14. Pregnancy Acne
During early pregnancy, some women develop acne, especially those who were prone to breakouts during menstrual periods before pregnancy. On the other hand, some women find that acne improves during pregnancy. As always it is the hormones that take charge of the skin and the natural production of skin oils.
What to do: Try to keep your face as clean as possible using a mild cleanser. If you feel you need to wear make-up, be certain it is a water-based foundation. If you need to visit a dermatologist, make sure you inform her that you are pregnant. Some prescription medications she may prescribe are not safe during pregnancy.
15. Chadwick’s Sign (Bluish tinge to the vagina and cervix)
During pregnancy, Chadwick’s signs, the vaginal tissue, and cervix (which are generally a light pink shade) may darken and take on a bluish or purplish tinge.
This coloration is caused by the increased blood flow to the vaginal area, leading to engorgement. This visible symptom may be present as early as the 6th week of pregnancy.
16. Cervix Softening (Goodell’s Sign)
Goodell’s and Chadwick’s signs both occur in the first trimester. It is a significant softening of the vaginal portion of the cervix. This is an indication of pregnancy.
17. Hegar’s Sign
Is a non-specific indication of pregnancy in women — its absence does not exclude pregnancy. It pertains to the features of the cervix and the uterine isthmus and consists specifically of their increased softening/compressibility; bluish and swollen appearance. The sign is usually present during the second and third months of pregnancy from the fourth to sixth week.
18. Pregnancy Cramping
Cramping in early pregnancy (unless accompanied by other symptoms like heavy bleeding, fever, etc.) is completely normal. The cramps feel very much like the cramps you have when expecting your period.
Some women who have had more than one child will experience a very strong, shooting pain in their groin/hip area.
What to do: Do a lot of walking through the pregnancy. It will not only help with this cramp but will also make labor and birth easier in the end. Do a warm bath or hot shower. A hot compress or heating pad on low and placed on your lower back will help with almost all back pain.
19. Pregnancy Edema (swelling)
Retaining fluids during pregnancy is more common later in the pregnancy, but can begin in the first trimester. It is more common on the legs, feet, and ankles. The body fluids increase in order to nurture both you and your baby. As your body tissues accumulate and retain fluids. Mild edema, although it’s not comfortable or pretty but is harmless and perfectly normal.
What to do: Avoid long periods of standing or sitting. Try to keep your legs up when possible. Allow blood to circulate freely. Wear comfy shoes. Avoid tight elastic-top socks or stockings.
Try support hose — opt for full pantyhose (with extra tummy room) or knee- or thigh-highs. (Put them on in the morning before the daily swelling starts). Drink water early and often. This will help rid your system of excess sodium and other waste products, minimizing swelling.
20. Pregnancy Weight Gain
It’s true that you need more calories to help your baby grow, but you generally need to consume only 100 to 300 more calories to meet the needs of your growing baby. You should gain about 2 to 4 pounds during your first three months of pregnancy and 1 pound a week for the remainder of your pregnancy.
What to do: Do not eat for two. Are you feeding your appetite rather than your hunger? You will feel sluggish and heavy. Focus your eating efforts on high-protein foods. Eat five to six small, frequent meals every day.
Keep quick, easy snacks on hand, such as nuts, raisins, cheese and crackers, dried fruit, and ice cream/yogurt. Drink juices that are high in vitamin C or beta carotene, such as grapefruit juice, orange juice, papaya nectar, apricot nectar, and carrot juice. Avoid junk food! Do mild exercise throughout the pregnancy – walk, run, cycle.
21. Linea Nigra
Darkening of Line from Navel to Pubis. The line from your navel to your pubis can appear in your 4th or 5th month. This is also due to hormonal changes and will “crumble off” as the top layers of skin cells are shed a few weeks after delivery. Women who breastfeed may need to wait a bit longer for its disappearance.
What to do: Nothing. Some studies of vitamin supplementation during pregnancy suggest that folic acid may reduce the appearance of the linea Negra. Use concealer to hide a leftover linea Negra if it’s embarrassing you.
22. Abdomen Enlarged Discomfort
You can start “showing” from 8 weeks. If it’s not your first pregnancy, you can expect the abdominal to ‘pop’ out earlier. Abdominal discomfort may feel as though your period is about to start – but doesn’t.
This is probably around the time that the embryo is embedding itself in the soft lining of your uterus. The weight of your growing uterus may also press from time to time on a nerve, causing short-lived discomfort, pins and needles, and other odd sensations. Many times, lower abdominal pain during pregnancy is from gas, bloating or constipation.
What to do: Avoid sudden, jerking movements. If you need to reach up, do so slowly and carefully. Warm up with gentle stretches before exercising. Try resting with a hot water bottle against the sore area, or take a warm, relaxing bath. If you feel that constipation or heartburn is the problem, then find out what you can do to relieve these problems.
23. Braxton Hicks Contractions
A Braxton Hicks contraction is defined by Taber’s Medical dictionary as an intermittent, painless contraction that may occur every 10 to 20 minutes after the first trimester of pregnancy.
Each tightening usually lasts for about half a minute, and probably won’t cause you any discomfort. You may have this sensation once or twice an hour, a few times a day.
What to do: How would you tell the difference between a BraxtonHicks contraction and a true labor contraction?
Generally, true labor contractions will get longer in length, closer in frequency, and stronger in intensity. A Braxton Hicks contraction might get closer together but not consistently, or they may feel stronger but go away when you move around. Breathing and relaxing exercises can relieve the discomfort.
