Every pregnancy is different. Whether you experience unpleasant symptoms or not, it’s a fascinating experience that many people cherish. But if you’ve never been pregnant before, you’re probably in for a surprise — or a few.
I became pregnant for the first time in 2019, and I was so excited. I knew from my memories of my mother’s pregnancy with my youngest sister that I’d probably experience a lot of nausea. From my experience as a health teacher who developed a comprehensive sex education curriculum, I suspected that I’d probably feel tired and have some food aversions. But I was woefully unprepared for what was to come.
My pregnancy wasn’t burdensome or unpleasant, if you ask me. I fully enjoyed every kick, craving and appointment with my midwife between waddles to the bathroom (because let’s be real, being pregnant is nine long months of rushing to pee). Even so, I wish I’d known about the many changes and situations I was getting myself into.
1. Superhuman sense of smell
Many people have an increased sense of smell while pregnant. I knew it was a thing, but I had no idea how much my pregnancy would supercharge my sense of smell. I could literally smell the moment my husband turned on the stove or oven and it. was. awful.
“Heightened sense of smell is called hyperosmia,” explained Dr. Monte Swarup, a board-certified ob-gyn in Chandler, Arizona. “Unfortunately, there’s no real way to prevent this when pregnant.”
Without a treatment, I resigned myself to avoiding odors whenever I could. I stopped cooking, didn’t light candles and generally avoided anywhere that smelled, good or bad.
2. Out-of-control food aversions
Movies and other media often poke fun at pregnant women who get sick from certain foods. I didn’t know that these food aversions would mean I couldn’t stand the mere sight of certain foods. This symptom came on early in my pregnancy.
There’s a reason I felt this way. “Getting sick at the sight of certain foods and smells is the result of hormones that cause food aversion,” Swarup said. There’s no treatment for it, so you have to do your best to avoid foods that trigger this response.
Before the nausea, superhuman smell and food aversions kicked in, the last meal I made was a nice big batch of fish tacos. The next day, I couldn’t look at them without gagging — I didn’t even need smell. Four years later, I still won’t try to make them. The memories alone are keeping me off grilled fish tacos for the foreseeable future.
3. Aches and pains
Depending on your body, pregnancy can be a painful experience long before it’s time to give birth. I was lucky: The only major pains I experienced were from my round ligament, which supports the uterus, starting at 18 weeks. Before pregnancy, I didn’t even know I had a round ligament. Other people also experience sciatica and back pain during pregnancy.
“Round ligament pain, sciatica and back pain are all caused by your growing belly stretching your ligaments and putting weight on certain places,” explained Sunoz Soroosh, a midwife in New York City. “Seeing a chiropractor, acupuncturist or physical therapist can help, as well as warm baths, hot compresses and supportive belt bands or garments.”
Swarup agrees, adding that stretching and yoga might also help. Over-the-counter acetaminophen can offer some relief too. I tried all of these at-home treatments and preferred warm baths and belly bands. I only resorted to acetaminophen if the pain interfered with sleeping, which wasn’t often.
4. Nausea from my positive pregnancy test until birth
Have you ever wondered why nausea during pregnancy is called morning sickness? I sure did, once I realized my “morning sickness” was really all-day sickness. From the moment I woke up to the moment I fell asleep, I was nauseous during my first trimester and into my second.
No one knows for sure why pregnant women get nausea during pregnancy, but both Soroosh and Swarup agree that it’s related to hormones. Thankfully, there are many different ways you might help relieve some of the nausea, including:
- Sucking on ginger candies
- Eating small, bland meals
- Increasing your protein intake
- Drinking water throughout the day
- Getting fresh air
- Prioritizing sleep
- Taking prenatal vitamins and vitamin B-6
- Raising the head of the bed so you don’t lie flat while sleeping
- Seeing your ob-gyn or midwife for prescription medication
That said, there’s no guarantee these remedies will work. I tried every single one of these and still threw up every morning until my little love was born.
5. Skyrocketing libido
Sex during pregnancy is different. All the hormones coursing through your body take your libido to new heights, but it isn’t without consequence. Sexual activity in my second and third trimesters aggravated my round ligament pain. While it was great in the moment, my hips would hurt once the excitement was over.
“Sex drive can go up when you are pregnant, as your body will have increased blood flow to the genitals,” Swarup said, “but everyone may not experience this. Sexual activity often decreases in the first trimester, before increasing in the second and ultimately decreasing again in the third.”
Pregnancy symptoms are different for everyone
Even though many people go through similar challenges during pregnancy, your experience won’t mirror mine. A good friend was pregnant at the same time as I was — we actually had C-sections on back-to-back days. She had hardly any symptoms, but we both enjoyed ourselves the whole way through.
Whether you’re facing your first pregnancy or you’re preparing for a second, third or more, it’s an experience you’ll never forget. Through the unpleasant and uncomfortable symptoms, the gift of a child is more than worth it.