To think this could all be down to pregnancy?

[Dillo10]

I am posting here shamelessly for traffic / the wisdom of mumsnetters who are not currently interested in the pregnancy boards.

Currently 20 weeks pg - had sickness from 6-12 weeks but that's long gone.

Since being pregnant I've had a urine infection, an ear infection (on-going), a pretty much constant sore throat/dry mouth at night, sensitive teeth/bleeding gums and now mouth ulcers. I feel so generally run-down, as if I am coming down with a cold or flu.

My diet is not perfect, I'm craving lots of carbs, but certainly not unhealthy plus I'm taking good quality pregnancy vitamins.

In terms of exercise I'm walking and doing some yoga but really not feeling up to much else, plus I wasn't doing much else beforehand so I've heard it's best not to start anything new.

Is this really all down to pregnancy? What can I do differently? I feel like I'm falling apart and haven't even mentioned the emotional side of things!

Ugh god I hear you OP. I'm only 8+4 and have been in and out of hospital with hyperemesis gravidarum, but now that seems to have died down (on steroids), I feel just like you, like I've got bad flu.
Carb craving here too.
Infections are common I hear because your body basically prioritises the baby and leaves your immune system open.

Dental issues are common in pregnancy because of increased blood flow to gums etc apparently.
All sounds quite normal and you have my sympathies! Tbh I'm already pretty fed up and want to get full term already.
What vitamins are you taking?

I'm taking pregnacare (although I've been adviced to stop by a friend who says it can cause tongue-tie?)

Luckily my sickness wasn't too bad at all, but as I said, I just feel so run down I can't believe it!

Interesting about the blood flow to gums etc.

Hope you feel better soon!

Not much help I'm afraid as my youngest is 10 but I remember when I was pregnant with my now 15yr old, I bit into a piece of cucumber and my mouth just suddenly exploded with blood, it was from my gums, pp was right, you have more blood in your system so they do tend to bleed an awful lot.

Hi OP, yes bleeding/sensitive gums are a ‘side effect’ of pregnancy. Are you in the UK? I understand you get free dental care whilst pregnant plus for the 1st year (I’m not UK but I’ve read that in a pregnancy book by a UK author so double check).

Urine infections are more common during pregnancy. I didn’t have a dry mouth per se but I snored loads so my mouth got dry because of that.

Ignore your friend about Pregnacare- that is a ridiculous thing to say! It’s a blinking multivitamin, it will in no way cause any issues with your developing baby. Good grief!

Unfortunately the reality is that pregnancy is not a pleasant, comfortable time for most mothers and all you can do is ride it out, but it sounds like you’re doing what you can to help yourself, so keep going and good luck!

It’s just pregnancy in general, your immune system takes a hit and lots of changes happen in your body that make you more like to get things such as urine infections etc! It’s just so rough on your body, but you are growing a whole new person! Your bloody volume massively increases in pregnancy, making you much more vascular, which is why some people having bleeding gums or a bleeding from their cervix after sex etc.

Your friend is referring to a really small amount of research that found some correlation between continued folic acid and tongue tie but I think it’s very very vague. The pregnancy vitamins contain folic acid but you don’t actually need to take folic acid past 12 weeks so you can stop and just take vitamin D if you wish😊

I had HG when pregnant and pregnancy vitamins made me more ill especially pregnacare so I stopped taking them so I could eat instead

Christ! Tongue tie from pregnacare! Is anything sacred??

I think there is a lot of misinformation and pressure around pregnancy. It's always been touted as a beautiful and serene experience but I'm certainly finding the reality very different.

I often completely forget I'm pregnant and just feel like I have awful flu.

If I were you I would put everything down to preganncy unless you're told otherwise, because it probably is!

PP is right about free dental care, you should have your MatB1 form if you are in UK. Not sure what they can do about bleeding gums but I'm sure there must be something.

All sounds pregnancy related. Infections probably due to reduced immune system.

Dont stop taking supplements on your friends ridiculous advice, especially if your diet isn't good. Try drinking those innocent fruit drinks or smoothies, full of vitamins and stuff to help your body look after itself.

Yep, sounds pretty normal for pregnancy I’m afraid.

Don’t believe the hype OP- for many of us pregnancy is a bit shit and not the glorious hair swishing miracle of life we’re told it is!

It really doesn't look like this in the movies guys!!