This is sponsored post created in partnership with Stayfree™ and Womensforum.
I was so excited when I found out I was pregnant for the first time. I had visions of a growing belly, shopping for a baby layette, and decorating the nursery. While all of these things were exciting, there were some aspects of pregnancy I never expected. While some of the side effects of pregnancy might not be exactly comfortable, and some are even embarrassing, they are perfectly normal.
Morning sickness. This one was probably the toughest for me. Starting at about 7 week and lasting through 16 weeks, I suffered from awful morning sickness. OK, it was more like all day sickness for me. Either way it wasn’t pleasant. For most people, the morning sickness passes after the first trimester but there are some people that will have it throughout their entire pregnancy.
Stretch marks. I tried mightily to avoid stretch marks, but in the end it was inevitable. Especially since my son was a really large baby. Don’t be alarmed that as your belly grows, you might see the appearance of purplish stretch marks. After you have your little bundle of joy the stretch marks will fade and even afterwards you can just think of them as battle scars!
Tiredness. This was one of my first indicators that I was pregnant and it didn’t go away through the whole pregnancy. I felt as if I always wanted to take a nap. There is a lot going on in your body during pregnancy, so give yourself permission to rest. Plus, you are going to want that time for napping back once you have the baby!
Thicker hair. For most people, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Who wouldn’t want fuller, thicker hair? The downside is that it is the pregnancy hormones that are contributing to your thicker locks and postpartum you will end up losing that extra hair. Enjoy it while it lasts!
Bladder leakage. The first time I accidentally peed myself when I sneezed I was shocked. I had just been to the bathroom. The problem is that as the baby grows it begins squeezing the bladder and putting pressure on the pelvic floor muscles. Unfortunately, this means that if you laugh, cough, and even sneeze it can lead to light bladder leakage.
I really wish I could tell you that this goes away after pregnancy, however, for many women the strain of pregnancy and childbirth can lead to weakened pelvic floor muscles and therefore put you at higher risk of Light Bladder Leakage (LBL). In fact, 1 in 3 women suffer from this condition. For a long time I was embarrassed — until I realized that this is a common condition and nothing to be ashamed of.
Thankfully there are some amazing products out there to help such as Stayfree™ Ultra Thin pads (click for a coupon!). Whether you are pregnant or experiencing postpartum LBL, Stayfree™ Ultra Thin pads are the perfect solution. It has technology that not only locks in moisture but it also absorbs multiple fluids including period, leaks, and moisture. They are also extra thin so they’re comfortable. This means that you can exercise, play with your kids, or just feel confident to laugh without having to worry about leaks — no matter what time of the month it is.
Pregnancy is a fabulous time in your life, and even though there can be some unexpected side effects it is one of the most amazing experiences you will ever have. Find out more about how Stayfree™ has you covered both during pregnancy and after at their website.
