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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Pregnancy "side effects"

43 replies

MIAAN · 27/01/2021 21:39

Hi guys, I don't have any children yet but I wanted to know if any of the "side effects" of pregnancy are common. I'm online pretty often and I keep seeing videos talking about what can happen during and after pregnancy such as weakened or loss of teeth, hair loss and bone problems. Can any of these be averted? I imagine the teeth and bone issues could be avoided by taking a calcium supplement? Not sure if the hair loss can be avoided. Also, when induced, does it ALWAYS lead to a c-section or can you still have a natural birth? And does going 40 weeks or over equate to a c-section? Again, I would like to know if these are common and what can be done to minimise or mitigate them. Many thanks in advance x

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Pinkblueberry · 27/01/2021 21:43

Loss of teeth?? I don’t know anyone who suffered with that. My teeth were fine, I know some people can get sore gums. My hair was luscious and fulller than ever when I was pregnant - and then it all shedded about 3 or 4 months after birth, most of the mums I met at that time had that in common and we were comparing our reduced hairlines I don’t know about C sections etc.

Housing101 · 27/01/2021 21:48

My teeth have been terrible after pregnancy.

Nillynally · 27/01/2021 21:49

I cracked a tooth during labour, easy fix at dentist but that was due to weakened teeth, that's why you have free dentistry when you're pregnant.
No being induced doesn't necessarily lead to a csection, I don't know stats but I would say your chances of an emergency c section are the same as a naturally starting birth. I was 16 days overdue when I was induced with the gel, I had a natural birth, although assisted as she was distressed. Your hair actually gets thicker and stronger during pregnancy and then falls out afterwards but I didn't really notice if I'm honest.

Nillynally · 27/01/2021 21:51

Also, in my experience, if the baby's not ready to come out then nothing you do will be able to make them. I tried EVERYTHING.

Rainb0wDrops · 27/01/2021 21:52

If you do get pregnant I'd definitely recommend an antenatal class such as NCT so you know what to expect.

Inductions statistically lead to more chance of intervention (forceps/ventouse/csection) but certainly don't mean csection is certain. If it was they wouldn't bother inducing labour, they would just go straight to surgery
Equally going past 40 weeks doesn't automatically mean a section. If you get to 42 weeks they will suggest an induction but plenty of women go in to labour between 40-42 weeks.

TheFoz · 27/01/2021 21:57

There’s a saying that you lose a tooth for every baby. That comes from vomiting, hopefully you won’t suffer from that. And sometimes brushing your teeth causes you to gag, particularly in the first trimester so your teeth can suffer.
Hair loss is temporary.
Never heard of bone problems, but no harm to up your calcium intake.
Induction definitely doesn’t equal c-section.

plixy · 27/01/2021 21:59

My Nan lost all her teeth in pregnancy but that was many years ago now and I haven't heard of it happening to anyone else.
Generally during pregnancy you actually grow more hair. You will find it gets thicker and then after birth you will lose loads. You aren't going bald it's just all the extra you are losing, but at the time it seems so much.
Loads of people have natural births after 40'weeks. And after induction. If an induction always led to a section they wouldn't bother inducing, they would go straight to the section!

idontlikealdi · 27/01/2021 22:02

My teeth were all loose after pregnancy, my back is knackered from carrying twins and my nose grew.

I also had one spot on the end of my nose for my entire pregnancy. It was huge.

Sceptre86 · 27/01/2021 22:04

You can't mitigate any and all the negative aspects of pregnancy and it is futile to try. If you are hoping to conceive being at a healthy weight will help, eating healthily, exercising, having blood tests to make sure you are not deficient in anything would be wise. Otherwise what will be will be, trying to micromanage everything will call you endless amounts of stress and anxiety!

Sceptre86 · 27/01/2021 22:05

@idontlikealdi my nose grew too. Never met anyone else who has experienced that!

dillydallydollydaydream7 · 27/01/2021 22:17

Never had any loose teeth or lost any in either pregnancy. Hair grew lovely and thick with DD1 then months after she was born i noticed more hairs coming out when showering or brushing, until I had my pre-pregnancy hair back. DD2 my hair stayed the same throughout, never got thicker and didn't loose any afterwards.

DD1: thick hair grew all over my stomach towards the end
DD2: no thick hair except for linea negra

DD1: physio for PGP
DD2: PGP but not as bad

DD1: horrendous nausea for first 14 weeks, never sick just felt it. Couldn't stomach hardly anything, ended up on the sick for a month
DD2: no nausea or sickness

Every pregnancy is different

Planned c sections for both too so can't help with that one I'm afraid!

dillydallydollydaydream7 · 27/01/2021 22:19

Oh! Also, lots and lots of nose bleeds in first pregnancy and only one in second

Severe anaemia after first pregnancy and on iron tablets for around 9 months afterwards, whereas iron levels were fine after second pregnancy

laura2109 · 27/01/2021 22:29

@Sceptre86 @idontlikealdi the nose growth was it localised or part of wider body part swelling, feet hands etc..? Was it temporary or permanent?
Apologies for the questions, never heard of this happening before.

Original poster

MIAAN · 27/01/2021 22:35

@Pinkblueberry did your hair fall out a lot? Like so much that you couldn't hide it? I hear a lot of women lose their confidence because of it

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2021ComeAtMe · 27/01/2021 22:35

I had swollen lips! Like really, really swollen.

I'm pretty pouty anyway but THREE people asked me if I'd had lip fillers

They went back to normal but, my god.

Original poster

MIAAN · 27/01/2021 22:38

@Nillynally Thanks for sharing, I see a lot of videos about thinkgs that happen in pregnancy and I'm trying not to let it put me off having a baby

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Original poster

MIAAN · 27/01/2021 22:38

Thank you, I think what people have shared on the internet has put some fear in me

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Original poster

MIAAN · 27/01/2021 22:42

@idontlikealdi did your teeth go back to normal over time or is it something you have to live with? Sorry to hear about your back problems x

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Original poster

MIAAN · 27/01/2021 22:44

@Sceptre86 I do tend to micromanage a lot in all aspects, not pregnant yet and I am trying to lose weight before I plan on having a baby, I think what I've seen and heard on the internet has scared me

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Pinkblueberry · 27/01/2021 22:49

@MIAAN I doubt it would be that noticeable to others but a lot came away from my hairline, so it was noticeable to me - annoyingly after I’d just treated myself to a nice cut and colour as well - and then it grew back as a weird looking little fringe. But I wouldn’t say it affected my confidence - it’s just a bit disappointing after having such nice full locks for several months!

Poppins2016 · 27/01/2021 22:58

My hair was amazing when pregnant, the thickest it's ever been! I did go through what seemed quite an alarming phase of shedding hair (when washing it for example) post partum, but nothing was obvious to anyone else, although I did have some odd lengths in my hair for a little while when during re-growth. Really good article about hair growth cycles and pregnancy here: kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/hairloss/

No pregnancy related issues with teeth here. I think many of the stories you hear are very dated. It's true that you are more susceptible to issues with teeth during pregnancy, however if you start off with good health and oral hygiene you're unlikely to have long term problems.

No bone/calcium issues here. I took a maternity multivitamin but probably would have been find regardless. I did become anaemic in the third trimester (despite multivitamin!) but I'm susceptible to that anyway.

I was almost 2 weeks overdue but had a natural water birth in a midwife led unit.

Overall I found pregnancy a wonderful experience - I'm now 8 weeks pregnant with my second child - so I wasn't put off doing it again!

Pinkblueberry · 27/01/2021 23:02

I think reading about all the side effects and everyone listing various ones can be a bit daunting - but most women really don’t get all of them so there isn’t actually as much to deal with as it seems.

laura2109 · 27/01/2021 23:09

@Pinkblueberry of course, every woman and pregnancy is unique. Pregnancy isn't a walk in the park, nor does it feel like you're eaten by sharks, it's a memorable time with its ups and downs. Definitely worth it!!!

rorosemary · 27/01/2021 23:19

You sound abit worried about the possibility of a c section, can you tell us why? Because I had an emergency c section and it was fine. I mean, not being allowed to drive for a few weeks afterwards was a bit of a faff and I had to take moving around a bit slowly for two weeks after the operation (dh did the washing for example) but honestly, it really wasn't that bad. The procedure itself was painless and really quick. I think it took 45 minutes or so in total? And part of that I spent looking at my baby first through the screen and later in her dads hands next to me. It was the best day ever.

Original poster

MIAAN · 27/01/2021 23:39

@Pinkblueberry oooh I see, I also heard that your butt can literally go flat after birth, how true is that? Lol sorry for the questions x

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