Surprising pregnancy symptoms

We prepare you for some of the stranger things that could happen to your body over the next nine months… You may not experience any, but it pays to be prepared!

Morning sickness and a craving for ice cream you were expecting – but leaky breasts and dribbling? Here are some of pregnancy’s more surprising symptoms, what they mean – and what you can do about them.

1. You’ve got a weird taste in your mouth

Does your mouth taste like you’ve been sucking on pennies? Then you’re experiencing what’s known as dysgeusia. It’s sometimes one of the first signs of being pregnant and is due to hormonal changes and can also be linked to a change in your sense of smell (which can become heightened). Luckily, it usually improves or disappears in the second trimester.

Try eating or drinking sour things like citrus juices or pickled foods to break through the metallic taste.

2. You have a brown line running down your middle

From the second trimester onwards (week 13), you may discover that a thin dark line known as the linea negra has appeared down your bump.

It’s caused by higher levels of the hormone melatonin, which is in turn due to higher levels of the female hormone estrogen.

According to midwife and P&b expert Denise Tiran, ‘This line follows the seam that developed down your body when you were in the womb yourself.’

You’ll probably find the line fades or disappears soon after birth, but if it remains, think of it as a mark of motherhood.


3. Your feet have grown

Sometimes, it’s not just your waistline that gets bigger, your feet can grow too – thanks to fluid retention in your ankles and feet.

‘This is usually nothing to worry about, so long as the swelling is not accompanied by high blood pressure – in which case it needs checking by your midwife, in case you have developed pre-eclampsia’, says Denise.

* Avoid standing for long periods, make sure you put your feet up at the end of the day and stick to wearing comfortable flats.


4. Your breasts leak

Finding a wet patch on your bra might be expected if you’re breastfeeding, but if you’re still only seven months pregnant, it can be a bit of a shock to discover that your boobs are leaking. Rest assured though, it’s more common that you might think and is due to your breast preparing for birth.

‘They are making colostrum (the yellowish, antibody-rich pre-milk you produce until a few days after birth), to clear all the milk ducts ready for breastfeeding,' explains Denise.

* Buy a box of breastpads and keep some handy in your bag for any awkward moments.


5. You’re having strange dreams

Just dreamt you gave birth to a fish or were being chased down the street by a giant baby? Weird dreams are more common in pregnancy, thanks to pregnancy hormones – plus, even if you don’t realise it, you are more anxious than usual and there are a lot of things for your brain to process.

'Your sleep is also interrupted and you wake up more during the night so you remember your dreams more,' adds Denise.


6. Your mouth is full of saliva

Don’t be too freaked out if you wake up and find a pool of dribble on your pillow. One unusual symptom of pregnancy is excess saliva production – known as pytalism.

It’s more common in the early months of pregnancy, especially if you’re experiencing nausea and vomiting, and you may find you produce so much you need to keep spitting it out (lovely!).

But don’t worry – it’s temporary and usually settles down as your pregnancy progresses to the second trimester.

* Try drinking water with lemon in it and sucking on sweets to help you swallow.

7. You can’t remember anything

Keep losing your car keys and can’t recall your best friend’s name? You may be experiencing gestational memory impairment – memory problems specific to pregnancy. Some experts say it doesn’t exist, but others disagree and believe up to 80 per cent of pregnant women are affected.
The biological cause isn’t proven, but one theory is that pregnancy hormones affect the area of the brain that governs memory, spatial learning and awareness and navigation – thus prompting your forgetfulness. The effects disappear after birth when hormone levels revert to normal.

* Make lists, write down appointments down in your diary and put things you need on an everyday basis in one easy-to-remember place, so you’re not constantly hunting some lost object

8. Your eyesight changes

If experience fluid retention in pregnancy, the shape of your eyeball might alter with the result that – if you wear contacts – your lenses might feel painful or even stop fitting properly.

‘This is usually temporary,’ says Denise. ‘You may need to limit the time you wear lenses or go back to wearing glasses for a while.’

* See your optician for advice – he or she may suggest switching to disposable lenses so you can change the prescription throughout your pregnancy without breaking the bank.

9. You have more discharge than usual

One bonus of pregnancy is not having periods for nine months, but you may notice more vaginal discharge than usual, particularly in the second trimester. One theory is that it’s your body’s way of protecting your vagina from infection – the discharge is acidic and acts as a barrier to infection.

Don’t worry unless it’s itchy, painful or has a slightly fishy smell – in which case, check with your midwife or GP as it’s possible you have an infection such as thrush (a yeast infection) or bacterial vaginosis (an overgrowth of naturally occurring bacteria).
* Wear a pantyliner, but make sure you also stick to cotton underwear and avoid scented bath products and tight trousers to minimise your risk of developing thrush.


10. You’re a bit partial to charcoal

OK, so we joke. But while in very rare instances pregnant women have been known to have bizarre cravings, called pica, for non-food substances like coal, charcoal or the smell of petrol or rubber (which should not be indulged!), you may find you lust after certain foods.

Often this your body craving the things it’s lacking - so if you’re craving oranges you could have a vitamin C deficiency or if only red meat will do, you may be short of iron.

Unfortunately, cravings are no excuse for pigging out. ‘Some food cravings are genuine, but you shouldn’t give in to constant cravings for ice cream, cakes or chocolate as they have little nutritional benefit to you or your baby,’ says Denise.
* Go with cravings for healthy foods but don’t give in to high-fat and sugary food cravings – they’re empty calories with minimal vitamins and minerals.