Pregnancy symptoms run the gamut from the very commonplace and anticipated---morning sickness, fatigue, and swelling are common---to the quite unexpected and patently odd. While all pregnancies share the common goal of producing a healthy infant, every woman and every baby is different, and minute chemical differences between individuals mean that each pregnancy is unique. In general, everything a woman experiences during pregnancy can be attributed to raging (and changing) hormones, though that may be little consolation when a particularly unusual symptom manifests.
Hair Growth
Many women know that the hair on their head is likely to become thicker, grow faster, and look more lustrous than ever before. Few women, however, anticipate that this can happen elsewhere as well. Hair may grow (or grow darker) in places most women would rather it didn't, including the back, upper lip and nipples. In "What to Expect When You're Expecting," Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel recommend traditional physical methods of removing unwanted fuzz, including shaving, plucking, and waxing, over chemical or high-tech methods such as electrolysis and depilatory creams. This is because no reliable studies exist on the safety of such chemicals and technologies during pregnancy.
Urinary Incontinence
The website Parenting notes that a common odd symptom of pregnancy is urinary incontinence---not so much that it's difficult to hold the urine entirely, but that sudden motions, including laughing, coughing, and sneezing, can cause a pregnant woman to spring a leak. Since pregnant women's bladders are more irritable than usual anyway, resulting in the common pregnancy symptom of frequent urination, sudden contraction of the abdominal muscles can simply overwhelm the ability of the urinary sphincter to hold everything in. Kegel exercises can help.
Pregnant Brain
Forgetfulness and clumsiness start quite early in pregnancy. This can be blamed on pregnancy hormones, which in the process of preparing the body for the rigors of supporting fetal development, seem to wreak havoc on a woman's once-functional brain. Concentrating on one task at a time, making lists, and using nightlights in hallways can reduce the impact of brain malfunctions on everyday life.
Sweating
Parenting notes that sweating prodigiously is a common symptom of pregnancy, due in large part to an overactive metabolism and slightly higher-than-normal temperature. They encourage dressing in layers to control daytime temperature, and some women find fans helpful at night. It's important, too, to drink plenty of water in order to replace all the fluid being lost as sweat.
References
- "What to Expect When You're Expecting"; Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel; 2008
- Parenting: Urinary Incontinence
- Parenting: Sweating
