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Tell INNOVO™ what no one warned you about pregnancy & childbirth. Win £300 Voucher. NOW CLOSED

347 replies

RebeccaEMumsnet · 07/06/2016 13:55

In order to celebrate the launch of their alternative solution to pelvic floor strengthening – Innovotherapy – INNOVO™ want to hear the effects of pregnancy on your body that took you by surprise as nobody warned you about them.

Here’s what INNOVO™ have to say: '"Motherhood can be such a blessing and change your life in ways you never imagined, however it is filled with many shocks and surprises. Some good and some not so welcome, such as a those ‘little accidents’ that we all try and hide.
Unfortunately a weak pelvic floor and the resulting incontinence is often part and parcel of pregnancy however it doesn’t have to stay that way.
Innovotherapy is a non-invasive way to restore your pelvic floor, treating the primary cause of urinary leaks rather than just masking the symptoms. Using a hand held controller that is attached to a two part garment, Innovotherapy sends targeted impulses via conductive pads (attached to your upper thigh and buttocks) to safely and effectively activate the muscles of the pelvic floor. It is a proven technology which has been designed to optimally strengthen your pelvic floor allowing you to return to return the more important things in life, such as your little ones.”

You can read more about the product and advice on pelvic floor strengthening here.

So, what unexpected effects did pregnancy and giving birth have on your body? Did anyone tell you to expect urinary leaks after having a baby? Did you consider the importance of toning your pelvic floor? Were you surprised by any other physical effects that nobody warned you about?

INNOVO™ would also love to know about any unexpected positive effects of pregnancy and giving birth. Does parenthood make you feel like you can take on the world? Do you now feel like you are more focused on what matters most?

Whatever the unexpected effects of pregnancy and childbirth were for you, post your story below. Everyone who adds a comment will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 Love2Shop voucher.

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

Tell INNOVO™ what no one warned you about pregnancy & childbirth. Win £300 Voucher. NOW CLOSED
OP posts:
Theimpossiblegirl · 07/06/2016 19:39

I knew about the possible effects on my pelvic floor but I wish I'd known about varicose veins! I had no idea I would get them during pregnancy and that they wouldn't pop back afterwards. Thank goodness for my company healthcare covering the cost of their removal during my second maternity leave.

CopperPan · 07/06/2016 20:12

I read up on most of the effects so nothing was really a surprise, but although I'd read about piles it wasn't something that people ever talked about, so it was still unexpected (and very much unwelcome!) Thankfully they disappeared after pregnancy and never came back!

Sammyislost · 07/06/2016 20:20

The weirdest thing that changed when I was pregnant (and still hasn't changed!) is my sneezing.... Seriously. I used do one big proper sneeze, a HUGE sneeze infact, but since being preggers, I do at least 8-10 tiny little ones and then a moderately large sneeze to finish off the sneezing fit?! So weird, and never knew it was a pregnancy related thing!! Grin

GooodMythicalMorning · 07/06/2016 20:21

The back fat you aquire after...

ButterflyOfFreedom · 07/06/2016 20:30

Some unwanted side effects of pregnancy / birth:

  • greasy hair
  • stretch marks
  • sensitive teeth
  • saggy boobs


and yes, a weak pelvic floor!

Still, it was worth it by a million miles!! Smile
Jenijena · 07/06/2016 20:31

I didn't even know what prolapse was until about three weeks after DS2 arrived....

CheeseEMouse · 07/06/2016 21:14

The insomnia whilst pregnant. Horrible. At least when the baby is here there's a reason to be randomly awake at night

Lariflete · 07/06/2016 21:43

That your bump would get really itchy! I suppose, it's the stretch marks tearing the skin but I only had the stretch marks with DC2 and it came as a very unwelcome surprise!
Everybody tells you that your hair gets full and beautiful during pregnancy. But noone tells you that post-pregnancy it all (and more!) falls out. I actually thought that I was going to go bald so much hair came out. I had two patches on the side of my head that have only just grown back almost three years later.

imposteracademic · 07/06/2016 23:13

Chances of becoming hypothyroid after pregnancy. I had no idea despite a strong family history.

kateandme · 08/06/2016 00:35

how when you know your carrying a child the mother instinct completely took over and I would die right then to protect them and would fight forever to give them a good life. and how much I loved this tiny thing and wanted the best for them,

how confused id be and uncertain of everything and questioning my every move.how overwhelmed id be because everyone give different info.

MakeTeaNotWar · 08/06/2016 00:44

Insomnia & restless legs during pregnancy

Desmondo2016 · 08/06/2016 05:14

That being pregnant at 38 is SOLO much tougher than my previous efforts at 18,20 and 27!

Hair will sprout out wherever on your body it wishes to

You have no option but to scratch your nipples in public.

Boobs may start leaking long before baby is born.

Keeping up running in pregnancy is depressing. I've gone from a confident half marathon runner to a crying wreck at 2 miles, in the space of 7 weeks.

Oh I could go on!

AlfieandAnnieRose · 08/06/2016 06:01

That you maybe slightly loose in the bottom area and quite windy! After giving birth I couldn't hold my farts in Blush which was very embarrassing when in company as you can imagine! I remember trying desperately to clench my bum to no avail before letting one off.
Thankfully weeks later it sorted itself out (phew).

BikeRunSki · 08/06/2016 06:20

I had heard of morning sickness, but did not realise how bad it could be! I had hyperemisis in both pregnancies, and oh good grief, is it grim. I should have been excited and happy and I was just utterly miserable. I had no idea that pregnancy could make you feel so bad.

Also, teeth. I had pretty problem free teeth before I had children, with just 2 fillings. The effect of pregnancy hormones and constant vomitting took their toll, and I was in and out of the dentist for the first 4 years of my daughter's life. Both teeth have now been pulled out. I had no idea that pregnancy could affect teeth. Dentist says it's not unusual - hence free entail treatment until child is 1 - and that that rest of my teeth are really healthy.

confusedandemployed · 08/06/2016 06:26

Pre-pregnancy I could go weeks, even months without chocolate or cake. During pregnancy I developed a raging sweet tooth and, 4 years later, it's still raging. Another interesting way in which pregnancy ruins your body.

On a positive note, I haven't had to wax my upper lip since 2012. One welcome side-effect to counter the piles, varicose veins, weak pelvic floor, droopy boobs....etc etc

Believeitornot · 08/06/2016 06:29

After childbirth I was so bruised and physically broken after two hours of pushing. I could barely stand up straight and felt so so very tender!

I remember my midwife telling me to do pelvic floors as soon as possible. When I did try I couldn't feel a thing Shock my muscles were completely shot!

And yes to the varicose veins which have ruined my legs after two DCs. I'll be saving up to get them removed - not yet a priority though.

PaulineFowlersGrowler · 08/06/2016 09:32

That I would end up with an umbilical hernia, now once innie belly button looks like a Googly eye, and pops out when I cough Blush

DoItTooJulia · 08/06/2016 09:33

I think we need a product test!

Things they don't tell you? That you'll never be the same again. Emotionally. Not necessarily in a bad way, but the change is permanent!

CatThiefkeith · 08/06/2016 10:57

Things nobody told me:

That my stomach muscles would separate and it would never be the right shape again

That my hair would fall it in spectacular clumps after the birth. I was leaving trails of it behind me, and the bathroom plughole was continually blocked for weeks

That your bump doesn't disappear when the baby is born, it just becomes less solid and more jelly like. I was taken totally by surprise! Shock

Dani240 · 08/06/2016 12:10

Stretch marks
Permanently bigger feet
Painful hips
Constant burping
Constipation
Feeling hung over for months at a time
The ruined pelvic floor

The intrusive personal questions from medical professionals that happen so often that it becomes routine.

After the birth all of your hair falling out and the new shape of your belly.

I'd do it all again though!

voyager50 · 08/06/2016 12:45

That random women in the street would come up to you and touch you and ask you personal questions!

sharond101 · 08/06/2016 12:50

I got skin tags!! Pregnancy related hormonal changes caused them on my neck. Also darkened skin on my face and a hernia! Yuk!

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starlight36 · 08/06/2016 13:04

That your body weight becomes everyone's business. I actually weigh less now than I did pre-children but I keep getting told how well
I am doing at losing my 'baby weight' and to keep going.

CMOTDibbler · 08/06/2016 13:09

The sheer amount and length of time you might bleed for.

MerlinsBeard87 · 08/06/2016 16:23

How morning sickness doesn't just happen in the mornings.
Also I felt quite happy that I had avoided stretch marks until after I had an EMCS and the resultant swelling stretched my skin just about everywhere!
Pilates helped me work on my pelvic floor during and after pregnancy, and helped me avoid my stomach muscles separating too much- something I didn't know could happen!
On a positive note, I loved being pregnant and feeling so connected to the person I was growing. Watching and feeling him kick in the bathtub was especially fun

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