What is something you wish you knew about pregnancy before getting pregnant?

One thing that I didn’t know about that fully freaked me out was that it’s more common to pinch nerves. I took a nap and the way I was sleeping had pinched something and my neck half my face and tongue went numb. Almost when to the ER but found out it’s normal.

I wish someone had told me how many doctors appointments I would have to go to, especially in my third trimester. I had gestational diabetes, and the last few weeks of my pregnancy I was going to the doctor three times a week! This became a financial hardship because all the evening appointments were booked and I had to keep taking time off of work to see my doctor. The receptionist eventually told me that some women book all their appointments in their first trimester so they get the most desirable time slots. I wish I had known!

Pregnant Rhinitis - I have literally felt like I have a head cold for 7 months 🤦🏻‍♀️

Would definitely say HG! I had to go to hospital multiple time for drips to stop me being sick, lost lots of weight and literally couldn’t eat or drink anything for a week at a time! X

Not feeling like yourself, no longer in control on how your body feels or reacts. Carpal tunnel syndrome 3rd trimester.

Pregnancy rash

I had this too! Made my ear pop the whole time and it was sooooo annoying!

That you will worry about every little movement and then worry when there’s no/not a lot of movement. So basically you’ll just worry your whole pregnancy 🤣 I had an easy pregnancy albeit a premature birth but up until then everything was great, I know I’m definitely one of the lucky ones!

There’s a lot of joy and there are some properly magical bits - but also no-one prepares you for the sheer fatigue and exhaustion in the first and third trimester. I have never been so tired and also so unable to sleep 😅 I think there is definitely also a big emotional toll that comes with your body not being your own that no-one talks about.

Not so much pregnancy but postpartum for me, and the fact that no pregnant women or moms tell you about it, and how much your body has to heal and the pain/bleeding/confidence is a whole new level x

For me everything is hard… not being understood by partner, the level of anxiety, all the symptoms not knowing how my life will become in couple of months. Is pure madness. I know that it might sound selfish. To the honest, I had a low risk pregnancy and yet with lots of fears

How terrifying the first trimester is. I spent literally every week hoping I would make it past 12 weeks… also how common miscarriages are which you only find out when you’re pregnant 🙃 X

Everything gestational diabetes... and if you have it, bring books to appointments!

so agree with this, we should be more open about it, such a blindside

Everything said. No one prepared me for the “fourth” trimester and aftercare. It was by far the most difficult time of my experience and wish someone had given me some insight!!

More labour as I didn’t realise having a bath can excelerate your contractions. Trust your own body and that it is okay to ignore professional advice if they want you to wait at home when your actually in full on labour. Also afterwards I didn’t realise how much hair I would lose.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum ! Suffered bad with this until 20 weeks. Was like living In hell! I was bed/sofa bound for those weeks, some days not even having energy to shower or even change clothes. I never knew it could be so bad. Constant nausea, salivating, dehydration was debilitating, sickness and motion sickness ( like literally going up the stairs made me sick ) 😫 was in hospital twice because of it

The insomnia

oh gosh I forgot about that 😂😅

•All day Nausea
•Hating the smell of nearly everything( I thought it was just strong sense of smell)
•Giving up your favorite snacks because they are no longer pleasing
•Crying all the time
•Heavy HEAVY boobs
•The fatigue is probably the worst part
•Hating going anywhere besides your bed
•Nose bleeds? What’s up with that😒
•How much anxiety the first trimester causes, terrified of losing baby
•Complaining knowing your partner thinks you’re over exaggerating when you’re truly dying
•Uterus stretching? Whyyyyy 😩
•Thinking that the hard part is in the last
months of pregnancy.. nope. First trimester SUCKS.
•Wanting to talk about things but other people have already experienced it so it’s not so “shocking” to them.. (first time mom)
•Your friends are sometimes NOT your friends when you’re pregnant
•Hot flashes, can sleep all day but hardly at night
•Nipples are HUGE.. and what are these little bumps? 😂
•You’re probably gonna waddle like a penguin even in your first trimester as well.

I had no idea that babies moved so much in the womb, and I certainly didn’t know that you can literally see them moving once they get big enough

That I would be puking like crazy for the entire pregnancy

I had a natural birth my son was back to back and 9lbs ! They tell you to take snacks I tried a boiled sweet felt sick as a dog !

My son is 16 month old now I never did and still don’t understand the percentile thing 😂

How much you’ll realise that those in your (pre preg) life may drift apart and how others can be jealous as apposed to being happy for your pregnancy.

- The weight gain is real.
- cramps when you need a poo
- lightning crotch!?
- acid reflux
- the heaviness and aches of being on your feet for about 5 mins
- back pain in third trimester when you are walking around
- swollen feet and fingers
- itchy legs
- blind shaving is a REAL struggle
- boobs really do migrate south
- prenatal depression can happen at any point
- feeling like your partner doesn’t find you attractive anymore even if he tells you your glowing ect 😬
- amount you need to pee at night is ridiculous!
- first trimester nobody told me how much my insides would hurt after sneezing or coughing
- before pregnancy I was so broody but now full term I never want to be pregnant again 😂
- morning sickness is NOT just “morning” sickness 🥴
- cutting toenails with a huge bump is a task and a half
- nipples got huge and darker
- you STILL get stretch marks regardless of using bio oil and moisturisers so don’t waste money on the best “stretch mark creams”

the peeing, the unsolicited advice, the feeling of wantin to be perfect, i could go on😂

I wish I knew how to say no...
I wish I knew that by going out to the store people would ask me questions about my pregnancy.

I wish I knew how to lie better, for those creepy questions from strangers and people I know but don't feel comfortable talking to.

I wish I knew the mental health going into this is a bitch. A very hard roller coaster of emotions, every thing makes me cry. Making yourself feel bad for no reason. It's a strain on your mental state
...

I wish I’d known more about how much pain I would have in the first trimester.
I get that aching hip pain and I feel like I can feel everything moving.
The sickness has sucked, I wish woman talked about it more.
Whoever said above the amount of jealousy from people was a shock and I couldn’t agree more.
Not being able to do a lot of the fun things like go in a spa or a roller coaster 🙈😭

That everyone’s pregnancy,labour and baby is completely different so not to listen to people and go with the flow. Also don’t be set on a birth plan and be open minded as it never goes to plan which is fine 😊

Round ligament pain

the 4th trimester - esp breastfeeding. Nobody prepares you for how taxing it is on the body and mind. It is a very beautiful thing but its also very unnatural thing for many people. Its a rollercoaster and esp when you just gave birth, healing and getting your footing in with a newborn it becomes very challenging and the pressure is high.

Breastfeeding. I did loads of research about everything when I was pregnant. And when my baby came I had a fairly easy time getting her latched and didn't suffer too long with sore nipples. But I never imagined I would grow to hate it. I hate breastfeeding but I refuse to switch to formula. I hate being bored while she nurses I hate how frequent I have to have my tits out I hate the fact that I can't wear a normal bra or certain clothes. And I had no idea that I could be breastfeeding for up to a year. I thought it was just six months. It's been difficult to adjust to this change.

I wish somebody had told me that I would hate it and that you’re allowed to hate it and that it doesn’t mean you aren’t grateful for it at the same time.
I wish someone had told me how tired you’d be, about the nosebleeds, about the cervix shooting pains, the fact you can get rashes, PGP, carpal tunnel, anti D injection, group b strep, the fact your feet don’t fit in anything but flip flops… I was wildly unprepared.

I think one of the biggest things being that the third trimester is NOT the worst… that’s the best one! You’re nearly there! The second is the worst!

Thank you all for your posts!! I'm sorry for all the unexpected hardship. You're all awesome!