Pregnancy concerns

You know you're pregnant, and you're reading up on all the basics. But strange things are happening to your body. It may seem unusual, but pregnancy is full of surprises. Here are just a few common pregnancy concerns

Once you find you’re pregnant, you’ll probably read everything you can get your hands on to find out what to expect. And it’s great to know that things like going off coffee or that weird metallic taste in your mouth are normal. But then you get some weird symptom that none of the books had led you to expect – and you start to worry.

The fact is, your pregnancy is as individual as you are, and even the best books can’t cover everything. So here are nine oddball things that are more common than you might think. You’ll be pleased to know that they’re nothing to worry about - whether they happen to you or not.

1 The textbooks say ‘Early signs of pregnancy include a need to urinate frequently.’
That’s because Your growing uterus is pressing on your bladder.
But I’m different! ‘I was prepared for constant trips to the loo,’ says Bryony, 13 weeks. ‘But what surprised me was that my wee smells really strong.’
What you can do? This could be because your body is producing more waste products – and your sense of smell is heightened. Drink more water, and cut down on tea, coffee, alcohol, and salty foods, which are dehydrating. See your GP, too, to rule out a bladder infection.

2 The textbooks say: ‘The skin may become dry and scaly during pregnancy.’
That’s because Changes in your body’s hormone balance affect your skin. This usually settles down in mid-pregnancy.
But I’m different! ‘My skin is oilier than it’s ever been!’ says Safiya, 20 weeks pregnant. ‘Instead of blooming I look spotty and horrible.’
What you can do? Hormones going into overdrive don’t affect everyone the same way - in some cases, they make your sebaceous glands produce lots of oily sebum (yum!). Drink plenty of water, eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, and try a good pore-cleansing mask.

3 The textbooks say ‘At 16–22 weeks you will feel your baby’s first movements.’
That’s because Your baby now responds to touch and sound – he may jump at loud noises, or get the hiccups.
But I’m different! ‘I’ve haven’t felt a thing yet,’ says Janine, 22 weeks. ‘Maybe it’s just a very laid-back baby, but I do worry about it.’
What you can do? It’s easy to miss your baby’s faint first movements or mistake them for indigestion. Choose a quiet time for a bit of bump-watching – a long soak in the bath is perfect. If you’re worried, talk to your midwife.

4 The textbooks say ‘Nausea is common in the early weeks of pregnancy, but by 16-20 weeks you’ll feel a surge of energy.’
That’s because At the beginning of your pregnancy your baby is producing a hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin (Hcg). The more he produces, the sicker you’ll feel. But by the second trimester nausea and fatigue usually improve, and your hair and skin may be in brilliant condition thanks to increased blood flow.
But I’m different! ‘I had nausea in weeks seven and eight – and then nothing,’ says Ciara, mum to Aoife, two months. ‘I started to doubt that I was really pregnant! Then I went straight into third-trimester exhaustion at 22 weeks - I felt I’d been cheated of my bloom.’
What you can do? Morning sickness affects 80 per cent of pregnant women. If you’re one of the nausea-free 20 per cent, enjoy it – you don’t actually want to wake up retching, do you? Later on, listen to your body and rest if you need to, but have your blood tested to make sure the tiredness isn’t caused by anaemia (which is treated with iron supplements).

5 The textbooks say ‘You may become constipated because of hormonal changes or if you are taking iron.’
That’s because Of those hormones again! This time they’re causing your bowels to relax, which makes them less efficient at, um… moving things along.
But I’m different! ‘Not only am I constipated,’ says Sheryl, 28 weeks, ‘but I just can’t stop farting! It’s so embarrassing!’
What you can do? Avoid windy foods like lentils, kidney and baked beans, cabbage, Brussels, curries and Chinese food. Aim for a high-fibre, low-fat diet (five slices of wholemeal bread and five portions of fruit and veg a day) and drink – you guessed it! – plenty of water. Meanwhile, just concentrate on shifting the blame.

6 The textbooks say ‘A brown line may form from the navel to the pubic hair.’
That’s because Your skin is producing more melanin than usual – this is the brown pigment that causes tanning.
But I’m different! ‘I’m black, and not only do I have a linea nigra,’ says Jayne, 30 weeks. ‘I’ve got dark patches all over my stomach too!’
What you can do? The excess melanin in your body can cause dark patches or make existing freckles or moles darker. Keep yourself covered up, as sunlight will increase the pigmentation, making the line and patches more noticeable. Both will fade after your baby is born.

7 The textbooks say ‘By 28 weeks you will be obviously pregnant, with a very rounded abdomen.’
That’s because A no-brainer, this one – your baby’s getting bigger, and you’ve probably put on a few kilos yourself.But I’m different! ‘At six months most people still hadn’t noticed that I was pregnant,’ says Angela, 35 weeks, ‘and even now my bump is tiny.’
What you can do? if you’re worried, tell your midwife – she can reassure you that your baby is growing well. Bump size depends partly on your shape and build, so a small bump doesn’t mean a small baby.

8 The textbooks say ‘At 34–36 weeks many babies “engage”, that is, the baby’s head descends into the mother’s pelvis.’
That’s because Your baby is getting into position for birth. 
But I’m different! ‘Two days after my due date Dex still hadn’t engaged,’ says Michelle, mum to Anna, two and a half, and Dexter, three months. ‘I thought he was never going to come out!’
What you can do? Some babies just don’t engage until labour starts, but if your baby is in the posterior position (his back to your back), he can’t. Spend time on all fours (scrub the kitchen floor), sit with your knees below your hips (no slouching!) and do plenty of walking to encourage him to swing round into a front-to-back position.

9 The textbooks say ‘As the cervix starts to soften, the plug of mucus which has sealed it during pregnancy comes away, and with it a little blood.’
That’s because You’ve had a show – your body is preparing for labour, but don’t chill the champagne just yet it may be days rather than hours away.
But I’m different! ‘I had several bloodstained shows over a week,’ says Caroline, mum to Angus, eight months. ‘Then one morning I found quite a lot of blood, so I phoned my midwife. Luckily everything was all right, and Angus was born just a few hours later.’
What you can do? If you’ve had a show, get your checklists out, make sure everything’s ready for labour day, then try to go on as if nothing has happened (yeah, right). If there’s more than a little blood, don’t panic, but phone your midwife and have it checked out straight away.

What our expert says:

‘Just as women differ in terms of their build, skin type and digestive habits, so their pregnancies will differ as well. The important thing is, if you are worried, don’t suffer in silence. Talk to your midwife, GP and other women who have had babies – they will all be able to help put things in perspective and set your mind at rest. Always contact your midwife if you are frightened by anything, particularly if you experience bleeding from your vagina, have severe itching all over your body in the last four months of pregnancy, or if a baby that has been moving regularly stops completely.’

Toni Barber, midwife and P&b expert