Things You Didn’t Know about Being Pregnant
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | Blog Posts, Pregnancy Health Category | | Print This Article
photo credit: slightly everything
Pregnancy is an exciting time, but that’s not always a good thing. Many first-time moms think they know what to expect, only to have every expectation blown out of the water – often in the first few weeks of pregnancy! From morning sickness to swollen breasts to the need to pee, there are things you expect. There are also plenty of things you don’t expect.
Here are some of the things you probably didn’t already know about being pregnant, at least according to doctors who work frequently with first-time moms:
- You’re going to smell better during pregnancy. Now, that doesn’t mean you don’t still need deodorant. We’re talking about your sense of smell here. Many women experience an increased sense of smell and taste due to a combination of increased blood flow and pregnancy hormones.
- Eating for two doesn’t mean eating twice as much. It simply means making better food choices, with your baby’s health in mind. In fact, you only need about an additional 300 calories per day while you’re pregnant.
- Your shoes might not fit. Your body is going to retain plenty of water. You will probably go up a shoe size. Be careful with your rings, too; your wedding ring might not fit during pregnancy.
- You might need stitches. During childbirth, the perineum (the area between your anus and your vagina) may tear, or need to be widened surgically. After childbirth, your doctor may need to stitch the tear or cut.
- You will probably poop during labor. The muscles you use to push out your baby are the same ones that you use during a BM. Not only that, childbirth creates plenty of pressure on the rectum. It’s fairly common.
- Your partner might start to show symptoms. Some men have experienced morning sickness, weight gain, abdominal cramping, and more during pregnancy.
So, for you women out there who aren’t on your first pregnancy, what were some of your first-time pregnancy surprises? What sorts of things didn’t someone warn you about, and what wasn’t covered in the pregnancy books?
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