Being pregnant is supposed to be one of the most joyous occasions of a woman’s life. However, there are many embarrassing moments that come with pregnancy. It’s funny to think of it this way, but these embarrassing pregnant problems or moments can also be called side effects.

Just like people have side effects to medications, there are side effects to pregnancy!

There are many things that women can prepare themselves for like contractions, labour, doctor visits, and the common occurrences of pregnancy. We cannot, on the other hand, prepare ourselves for the embarrassing pregnant problems because no one talks about them.

In this article, we are going to discuss many of the embarrassing moments of pregnancy, the moments that many women are too embarrassed to discuss, along with solutions to each.

Excessive Gas and Bloating

Normally more common in the first trimester, pregnant women experience gas and bloating like never before. The really embarrassing piece of this is the actual passing of gas, you kind-of have to let it out or it causes pain. The solution to this is to eat smaller meals more often throughout the day. Also, cut down on foods like beans, broccoli, and carbonated drinks.

Incontinence

Incontinence gets worse as you progress through pregnancy. The bigger the baby, the more pressure you will have on your bladder, causing the incontinence to become more progressive. In some cases, coughing or sneezing can make you to tinkle on yourself. Some women think that drinking more liquid at night, rather than during the day, will help to eliminate this embarrassing moment.

However, it only makes nighttime more unbearable. Kegel exercises are one of the only ways to strengthen your muscles and bladder. These exercises strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, giving you more of an ability to hold your urine. Another option is to wear sanitary pads. This does not stop the incontinence, but it does help with embarrassment.

Odor in the V-Zone

Pregnancy hormones boost the olfactory sense, meaning you will pick up smells that no one else can. Body odour, for example, may become horrifying to you, whereas no one around you can even pick up a slight whiff. Because of this ultra-sensitivity to smells, you may become embarrassed by an excessive female scent. Wear panty liners and change them often. This keeps your v-zone clean and dry, which automatically lessens odours, itching, and discomfort.

Absentmindedness

Have you ever gone to the supermarket to come out with nothing that you needed? Simple absentmindedness happens to everyone, but is increased during pregnancy. Some say the brain actually shrinks, others say it is because you are preoccupied with this life change. Regardless of the reason, it is common, and more so in the second trimester.

Beginning in the second trimester, women become obsessed with nursery colours, furniture, the baby, your future, your family, and many other worries, which causes your mind to spazz out from time to time. The only solution is to accept that this is going to happen and that there is nothing you can do about it. Have fun with it!

➡️ Related Read: Where to Get Children’s Furniture in Singapore

Overly Emotional

With pregnancy comes a big change and overload in hormones; these excess hormones cause mood swings. Hormones will increase not only your anger and aggressiveness but also melancholia. The increase in melancholia will cause an excess in weepiness or crying at the drop of a time.

There is a difference between being emotional and depressed. If you notice that negative feelings and emotions are overwhelming you for the majority of the day, you must talk to your doctor, spouse, or someone close to you. There may be other emotional issues at work here and not hormones.

Overall, being pregnant comes with advantages and disadvantages. The positives outweigh the negatives if you don’t let them get to you. All pregnant women experience different variances of embarrassing pregnant problems. Keep a camcorder around, you never know, your embarrassing moment could be a hit at your next party.

Contributed by Celeste Foo.

This article was first published in The New Age Parents Magazine

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