Most people have a sense of the common signs of pregnancy--fatigue, nausea, and perhaps backaches top the list as some of the most frequent offenders. Some women, however, experience very odd symptoms. For some individuals, these are among the first signs that they're pregnant. Other women are well into their pregnancy before experiencing one of these less common symptoms. Regardless, everything associated with pregnancy is ultimately related to changing hormones, and uncommon as these symptoms are, they're not dangerous and they don't signal trouble with the pregnancy.
Hair Growth
Many pregnant women grow lovely, luxuriant heads of hair during the nine months they're growing a baby. This is because while hair normally falls out after a certain amount of time, pregnancy hormones stall this process. As a result, new hair grows, while old hair sticks around, resulting in a much thicker mane than a woman is used to. Unfortunately, this prodigious hair isn't necessarily limited to a woman's head. Infrequently, it's possible to grow lip, belly, or even back hair during pregnancy. Thankfully, the offending hair growth is generally temporary--it won't continue to grow after she delivers her baby--and it's completely safe to shave or pluck hair during pregnancy. Authors Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel in their book "What To Expect When You're Expecting" recommend avoiding electrolysis, laser treatment, or chemical bleaches during pregnancy, however.
Cervical Mucus Change
Most women notice that cervical mucus changes regularly throughout their menstrual cycle. Other than those making a concerted effort to conceive, however, most women don't pay much attention to this discharge under ordinary circumstances. It's quite common for the quantity of cervical mucus to increase significantly later in pregnancy, but Murkoff and Mazel note that every once in a while, these changes occur even before a missed period. Mucus generally has a consistency similar to egg white during a woman's most fertile time of the month. The mucus then becomes creamier, or more lotion-like, for a few days, and finally dries up as a period approaches. Sometimes, mucus will stay lotion-like in the days following ovulation, rather than drying up, which is a sign of pregnancy.
Metallic Taste
It's fairly common to experience nausea, because women have vastly enhanced senses of smell during pregnancy, and because higher levels of hormones can induce queasiness. Strangely enough, however, some women notice a metallic taste in their mouths during pregnancy, almost as though they're holding a penny in their cheek. This taste may last only a few weeks, or may persist throughout pregnancy. Unfortunately, notes "The Mayo Clinic Guide To A Healthy Pregnancy," a metallic taste in the mouth can contribute to the queasiness and food aversions so common to early pregnancy.
References
- "What to Expect When You're Expecting"; Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel; 2008
- "The Mayo Clinic Guide To A Healthy Pregnancy"; Mayo Foundation For Medical Research; 2004
