Pregnancy can be beautiful. But it can also be annoying and painful. It comes with a list of side effects that no one really talks about. The physical toll that it takes on a woman can be surprising. The hair loss, skin changes, mood swings, aversion to favourite foods, and sleep deprivation are some of the side effects that are common knowledge. But there is much more to pregnancy which needs more awareness.
Women on Reddit’s r/AskWomen subreddit who are mothers have been talking about the many side effects of pregnancy that not many people know about.
And the secrets that were shared were such an eye-opener! We tend to focus on the joy of motherhood so much that we often fail to acknowledge the painful aspects of it. Have a look:
1. Not being able to eat your favourite foods.
2. Excruciating pain in the pubic area.
3. Being out of breath during the third trimester.
4. Stretch marks after the baby is born.
5. A swollen vagina.
6. Darkened nipples!
7. Oh, the heartburn!
8. Hemorrhoids – a legit concern.
9. Your immune system goes for a complete toss and you fall sick very often and sometimes for far too long.
10. There’s just so much going on in a woman’s body, it’s crazy!
We need to address these issues and talk about them openly so we can provide the appropriate kind of support to the women who are on their motherhood journey and navigating the complexities of pregnancy and postpartum life.