Are You Pregnant? Signs & Symptoms Top 5 Weird Pregnancy Symptoms Way Beyond Morning Sickness By Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH LinkedIn Twitter Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH is a professor, author, childbirth and postpartum educator, certified doula, and lactation counselor. Learn about our editorial process Updated on December 02, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Family articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and family healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Rachel Gurevich, RN Medically reviewed by Rachel Gurevich, RN Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Rachel Gurevich is a fertility advocate, author, and recipient of The Hope Award for Achievement, from Resolve: The National Infertility Association. She is a professional member of the Association of Health Care Journalists and has been writing about women’s health since 2001. Rachel uses her own experiences with infertility to write compassionate, practical, and supportive articles. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Verywell / Nusha Ashjaee Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Nose Bleeds & Nasal Stuffiness Vaginal Discharge Insomnia Gastrointestinal Distress Constipation Pregnancy is a unique experience to live through, and most people expect certain symptoms to come with the territory. Nausea, vomiting, and even backaches are anticipated by many soon-to-be parents. However, pregnancy can bring with it some strange symptoms that you may not be aware of—physical effects that new parents may encounter but don't often discuss. Here is a list of five pregnancy symptoms you may never have considered. Stay Calm Mom: Episode 1 Watch all episodes of our Stay Calm Mom video series and follow along as our host Tiffany Small talks to a diverse group of women and top doctors to get real answers to the biggest pregnancy questions. 6:08 Am I Pregnant? Real Women Share Their Early Signs Nose Bleeds and Nasal Stuffiness Your nose is so far away from your uterus; how could it be involved? But nose bleeds and stuffiness are very common due to an increase in the blood flow through your nose during pregnancy. In fact, the prevalence of nosebleeds is 20.3% in pregnancy compared with 6.2% in non-pregnant people. You can treat the symptoms with natural remedies like using a humidifier or using a Neti pot to rinse your nasal passage with salt water. If that doesn't help, talk to a doctor or midwife for other options. Rest assured that aside from being inconvenient, nosebleeds and stuffiness during pregnancy are rarely severe. Why Do I Get Nosebleeds During Pregnancy? Vaginal Discharge When you're pregnant, you expect your periods to stop because you're no longer ovulating. However, you may not expect an increase in vaginal discharge (also known as leukorrhea). This discharge is typically colorless or white, non-irritating, and odorless. It is very similar to what you experience when you ovulate. If it bothers you, simply wear a panty liner. Vaginal discharge will probably increase in amount until the birth of your baby. If there is ever a change in color or an odor, be sure to report it to a doctor or midwife. How Vaginal Discharge Changes During Pregnancy Insomnia You are probably familiar with the fact that pregnancy zaps your energy, at least during the first and third trimesters. With or without fatigue, though, some people also experience pregnancy insomnia. Insomnia is common and can even be a sign that you're pregnant. It can manifest in the form of difficulty falling asleep or the inability to fall back to sleep after being awakened (such as by all those nighttime trips to the bathroom). Exercise, decreasing caffeine, and relaxation are the mainstays of non-medicinal relief for insomnia. Keep in mind that insomnia is usually something that comes and goes. You might experience it more in the first and third trimesters, or you may not see it at all. Both extremes are normal. Gastrointestinal Distress (Burping & Gas) Is burping a sign of pregnancy? The hormones of pregnancy can definitely send your gastrointestinal tract into a spin, making symptoms like belching, burping, and gas fairly common. Try to avoid offending food and drink, which include the following: Carbonated drinksCruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and cabbageDairySpicy foodsWhole grains Holding it in can cause a lot of pain. That said, you may feel embarrassed if you have to deal with burping or gas often. It's a good idea to have a plan. Some people go to the bathroom for a while, and others learn what foods make it worse and try to avoid them. How to Deal With Painful Gas During Pregnancy Pregnancy Constipation Constipation is yet another effect that pregnancy can have on your body. In fact, between 11% and 38% of pregnant people experience constipation. When you're pregnant, a rise in progesterone causes your intestines to slow down and become sluggish. This creates a backup of sorts, meaning you can have trouble passing bowel movements. Exercise, drinking plenty of water, and eating high-fiber foods can be helpful. If none of those provide relief, talk to a midwife or doctor for additional measures such as medication. Simple Fixes to Help Avoid Constipation During Pregnancy A Word From Verywell It can throw you for a loop when you experience a pregnancy symptom you weren't anticipating. Know that you're not alone; many people have these symptoms in pregnancy, even if they don't talk about them. The silence can cause worry for some parents-to-be, and being worried and pregnant is not a great combination. Try talking to others who have dealt with these issues for advice on how to combat them. And of course, talk to a doctor or midwife if any type of stress is affecting your daily life while you're pregnant. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 5 Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Piccioni MG, Derme M, Salerno L, et al. Management of severe epistaxis during pregnancy: A case report and review of the literature. Case Rep Obstet Gynecol. 2019. doi:10.1155/2019/5825309 Prasad D, Parween S, Kumari K, Singh N. Prevalence, etiology, and associated symptoms of vaginal discharge during pregnancy in women seen in a tertiary care hospital in Bihar. Cureus. 2021;13(1):e12700. doi:10.7759/cureus.12700 Reichner CA. Insomnia and sleep deficiency in pregnancy. Obstet Med. 2015;8(4):168-171. doi:10.1177/1753495X15600572 Sleep Foundation. What to do when you can't sleep. Trottier M, Erebara A, Bozzo P. Treating constipation during pregnancy. Can Fam Physician. 2012;58(8):836-838. PMID:22893333