As your baby grows, extra pressure is placed on your bladder, making it common to leak a few drops of urine when you cough, sneeze, or laugh.

What helps:

• Make regular trips to the bathroom, even if you don’t feel the urge.
• Wear panty liners or light pads, especially in the last few months.
• Practice pelvic floor exercises (Kegels) to strengthen bladder control.
  If leakage becomes bothersome or severe, talk to your doctor or midwife.

Hormonal changes can slow digestion, leading to bloating and cramping.

What helps:

• Cut back on gas-producing foods like broccoli, cabbage, onions, and carbonated drinks, but don’t eliminate them entirely.
• Keep a food diary to identify triggers.
• Stay hydrated and eat smaller, more frequent meals.

Increased blood flow to mucous membranes can cause your nose to feel stuffy, bleed, or even make you snore.

What helps:

• Sleep on your side and use a humidifier.
• Try saline nose drops and stay hydrated.
• If symptoms are severe or persistent, contact your doctor or midwife.

Your metabolism and blood flow are in overdrive, which can make you feel hot and sweaty — even when others are cold.

What helps:

• Dress in layers and choose breathable fabrics.
• Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.

Some women experience more saliva, medically known as ptyalism (pronounced tie-al-ism), especially in early pregnancy or with nausea.

What helps:

• Snack on plain, dry crackers.
• Drink extra water, even if it seems counterintuitive.
• If it’s severe, discuss it with your doctor or midwife.

Pregnancy hormones and stretching skin can lead to stretch marks, dark spots, skin tags, and varicose veins.

What helps:

• Use sunblock to prevent dark spots.
• Moisturize to ease itching.
• Most changes fade after delivery but talk to your doctor or midwife if you’re concerned.

Swelling and fluid retention can make your feet grow up to a full shoe size — sometimes permanently.

What helps:

• Opt for comfortable, slip-on shoes.
• Elevate your feet when possible, especially in hot weather.

Hormonal shifts can cause your vocal cords to swell, making your voice sound deeper or different.

What helps:

• Voice changes usually resolve a few months after delivery.
• If changes persist or affect your daily life, consult your doctor or midwife.

Your heart works harder during pregnancy, sometimes causing a racing heartbeat or palpitations.

What helps:

• Occasional palpitations are normal, but if you experience fainting, chest pain, or shortness of breath, seek medical attention.

Many women report more intense and memorable dreams during pregnancy, often reflecting anxieties or excitement about the baby.

What helps:

• Practice good sleep hygiene and relaxation techniques.
• Remember, these dreams are normal and usually temporary.

Hormones can make your hair and nails grow faster and thicker, but you may also notice hair in new places.

What helps:

• Most changes are temporary and resolve after pregnancy or breastfeeding ends.

A strange, metallic taste is common in the first trimester. It’s referred to as Dysgeusia (pronounced ‘dis-goo-sia’). Some moms have described it as like tasting spare change or drinking from a metal cup.

What helps:

• Try acidic foods like citrus or pickles.
• Brush your tongue when you brush your teeth.
• Ask your doctor or midwife if changing your prenatal vitamin might help.

Painful cramps, especially at night, are common in the last trimester.

What helps:

• Stretch your legs before bed.
• Stay hydrated and eat a balanced diet rich in calcium and magnesium.
• If cramps are severe or persistent, consult your provider.

Increased blood volume and pressure can cause swollen veins in your legs and rectum.

What helps:

• Elevate your legs, rest on your side, and avoid crossing your legs.
• Wear a support hose and exercise gently.
• Eat a high-fiber diet and drink plenty of fluids to prevent constipation.
• Check with your provider before using any over-the-counter remedies.