You may experience some early indicators of pregnancy, including increased discharge and changes in taste. You can also develop certain uncomfortable symptoms.
Everyone knows the classic signs of pregnancy. You’ve missed your period. Your breasts are tender. You have morning sickness. And you’re tired all the time.
But pregnant people also experience many symptoms beyond these first signs, from mucus discharge to tasting metal to headaches.
Here’s a list of 10 weird early pregnancy symptoms no one tells you about.
While many people experience vaginal discharge, it’s not often associated with pregnancy. But most pregnant people will have increased discharge in the first trimester and throughout the pregnancy. It is typically sticky, white, or pale-yellow mucus.
Increased hormones and vaginal blood flow cause discharge to increase during pregnancy. It may help prevent infections as your cervix and vaginal walls soften. You may need to talk with a doctor if the discharge starts to:
- smell
- burn
- itch
- turn greenish-yellow
- becomes very thick or watery
These may be signs of an infection. If you let infections go untreated, they may affect the uterus and cause early labor.
The chance of some infections, such as bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections, may increase during pregnancy due to hormone changes.
When you first wake up in the morning after ovulation, your body temperature is slightly elevated. It stays that way until you get your next period.
But if this temperature, known as basal body temperature, stays elevated for
Hormonal and blood volume changes during pregnancy can lead to headaches.
Some pregnant people also experience period-like cramps on either side of the lower abdomen. And many pregnant people have to make extra trips to the restroom. That’s because your growing uterus puts pressure on your bladder. Learn more about pregnancy incontinence.
It’s not uncommon for pregnant people to feel lightheaded or dizzy in the first trimester. Pregnancy causes blood pressure to drop and blood vessels to dilate. Blood vessel dilation can cause you to feel faint when you change position quickly, such as standing up after lying down.
But pay close attention to your symptoms. Severe dizziness coupled with vaginal bleeding and severe abdominal pain could indicate an ectopic pregnancy. In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus and won’t be able to develop to term.
Ectopic pregnancy can become life threatening for the pregnant person and requires prompt treatment.
You may feel bloated, like you want to pass gas or poop without being able to. That’s because pregnancy’s hormonal changes can lead to constipation. In addition, as your uterus grows during pregnancy, your intestines typically shift, which can also affect your regularity.
Prenatal vitamins typically contain iron, which may cause constipation.
Your digestive system slows during pregnancy. This gives nutrients enough extra time to absorb into your bloodstream and reach your little one.
Some steps may help you go more regularly. These can include:
- eating more fiber
- drinking more fluids
- getting regular exercise
If needed, you can also check with a doctor about using a pregnancy-safe stool softener.
Spotting, or light bleeding, occurs early on in about
Bleeding can also be caused by other issues, including:
- cervical irritation
- an ectopic pregnancy
- a threatened miscarriage
Make sure to get medical help right away if your light bleeding gets heavier or is accompanied by severe cramps, back pain, or stabbing pains.
Pregnancy lowers your immunity, making you more prone to infection. It’s not uncommon to experience cold- or flu-like symptoms early in pregnancy.
A doctor can recommend pregnancy-safe treatment options. Pregnant people are more vulnerable to severe illnesses and complications from the flu. This can lead to serious health problems for your baby.
During pregnancy, hormones can affect the valve between your stomach and esophagus. This area becomes relaxed during pregnancy, which can cause stomach acid to leak into your esophagus, causing heartburn.
Eating smaller, more frequent meals and avoiding certain foods may help. These can include:
- fried foods
- spicy foods
- carbonated drinks
- citrus fruits and juices
Your changing hormones can affect your emotions. You may feel unusually weepy and emotional. You might also experience mood swings. These changes are
Your libido may also go from hot to cold and back to hot again.
Increases in estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy can lead to changes in taste for many pregnant people.
Some pregnant people may develop dysgeusia, which causes altered taste sensations. This may make food taste:
- metallic
- bitter
- less sweet
While there isn’t a cure for dysgeusia, you may be able to reduce the taste. Suggestions include:
- chewing sugarless gum
- adding seasonings and spices to dishes
- neutralizing the metallic taste by adding sweetness or sourness to dishes
Some of the symptoms listed above may make you think you’re stressed and run down. But experienced together, they can point to pregnancy.
If you think you may be pregnant, you can take a home pregnancy test and make an appointment with a doctor to confirm the results.