Congratulations on your pregnancy! There are many books out there that you can read about what you can expect when you’re expecting and most of these cover all of the wonderful things about pregnancy and also talk about the first scan that you have where you see your baby on a screen, they will even talk about what it means to be a parent for the first second or even third time. 

However, there are some common side effects of pregnancy that you may not have considered. From around six weeks of pregnancy, the hormones will be high enough for you to start feeling those real symptoms, and while that may be a huge relief at this stage, it can also be reassuring that there is something really miraculous happening inside right now. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most common symptoms and side effects that you should be aware of those – they are not always so pleasant and happy

Your back is going to hurt.

You can expect back aches when you are pregnant due to the weight of the baby, the percenter and all of the stretching your body has done. That growth is what you encounter when you’re having a baby and it can pull on your spine and adjust your posture to make you forward heavy rather than being able to stand up straight. If you are concerned about back pain you should speak to your midwife or your doctor, but honestly, it’s something that should rectify itself when your baby is born. The problem is that mild backache can develop into something more severe when you are rolling over in bed because your pelvis and the lower half of your spine softens to be able to make room for the baby. The ligaments on the spine also relaxed to put extra strain on the back and the hips.

You might experience constipation.

Not every pregnant woman will experience constipation or that feeling of closeness that comes with being backed up, but if you are one of them you should know that you are not alone. Constipation is common after you’ve had the baby, as your body will use much more water for breastfeeding. While progesterone is going to help to support your body when you give birth, the side effect can make your digestion quite sluggish. When your intestines are no longer working the same way, it means that your body is no longer contracting to push that food along. This makes the feces hard, and dry and therefore you are constipated.

Those Charley horses become more common.

A Charley horse, also known as a leg cramp, can be a painful and irritating pain that comes as a side effect of pregnancy. The cramps in the thighs, calves or feet are usually achy and sharp, and they can keep you up at night. Cramps are known to be due to a lower level of magnesium in the body, and your baby needs a high level of these nutrients. Consulting your midwife or doctor if you are concerned about any type of pain or cramps is smart, and they may prescribe Activation Products, a balanced calcium and magnesium supplement to strengthen your bones and help those Charley horses to relax.

You might feel faint.

Dizziness and the feeling of being faint are common when you’re pregnant. Your body is pumping out more pints of blood than usual, and this can lead to a strain on your heart. When this happens, standing up too quickly, your blood pressure drops down and you feel faint and dizzy quite quickly. The best way to avoid this is to learn to stand up slowly, and not allow the bull blood that’s pooling in the legs and feet to rush too fast.

Your feet are swollen.

Everybody talks about how swollen your feet get and your ankles get when you have a problem, but they don’t often talk about why. Some degree of swelling in your feet and ankles is quite normal in pregnancy especially if you are pregnant through the summer. Fluid retention can lead to swelling, but if you are noticing puffy ankles along with other symptoms such as severe headaches, you need to speak to your doctor because this can indicate eclampsia. You don’t have to suffer from this, and it can cause detriment to you and the baby if you leave it.

You are experiencing hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids can also be a feature because of pregnancy. The weight of the baby on your colon on the inside and the Constipation we mentioned earlier can mean the hemorrhoids are your newest accessory. Not the best accessory though we will give you that. The duration of your hemorrhoids depends on whether you manage to find a stool softener for the Constipation and whether your doctor can prescribe you anything for them. If you can avoid feeling uncomfortable when you are sitting down, then that’s exactly what you should do. Hemorrhoids can also occur as a result of straining when you’re on the toilet, so make sure that you are using softeners with more fluid and fiber in your diet.

Your blood pressure is higher than usual.

Another side effect that people don’t often talk about is high blood pressure. Every antenatal check-up you have, your nurse or midwife should check your blood pressure to see how your body’s coping with the strain of a pregnancy. Make no mistake, pregnancy is a miracle, but it is definitely a strain on the body. For pregnant women, blood pressure can rise way above normal levels, and this can lead to preeclampsia. High blood pressure can also be accompanied by water retention and edema in the hands, feet and ankles. It’s most likely going to happen in later pregnancy if it’s going to occur because the baby is putting more of a strain on your body at that time. Keeping an eye out for things like this will make a big difference to your overall health.