7 Embarrassing Pregnancy Symptoms
How to handle excess gas, hemorrhoids, acne, and more.
You may have heard stories about pregnant women sneezing and accidentally emptying their bladders while standing among friends or co-workers. Most pregnant women who experience stress incontinence -- involuntarily leaking urine because of a jarring cough, sneeze, or laugh -- only lose a few drops. But it can still feel embarrassing.
Many doctors recommend that women wear panty liners to catch leaks during the last few months of pregnancy when stress incontinence is more likely. Regular trips to the bathroom can also help.
"As the baby grows and the uterus enlarges, the baby ends up sitting right on top of the bladder," Hakakha says. "Making a conscious effort to empty your bladder every two hours, even if you feel like you don't have to go, will make it less likely to leak."
During pregnancy, hormones are responsible for hair growing in unwanted places.
"Most pregnant women are ecstatic to learn that they'll soon be sporting a beautiful mane of hair," Hakakha says. "But when we start talking about the breasts, abdomen, and face, the excitement soon turns to horror."
Waxing or tweezing is the safest methods for hair removal during pregnancy.
"Any time it's a cosmetic outpatient procedure not medically indicated, most dermatologists and plastic surgeons will push it off until after pregnancy," University of Alabama at Birmingham obstetrics and gynecology associate professor Kim Hoover, MD, says. "During pregnancy, laser treatments on the face can affect skin pigment, and it may cause scarring."
Some women develop a stronger sense of smell during pregnancy. Many develop an aversion to strong food odors, such as poultry or seafood. A smaller percentage of women begin picking up on their own scent, which can be embarrassing.
"Sometimes you can smell yourself vaginally, especially toward the end of pregnancy," Hoover says. "It could be because you have more mucus then. Some people get worried about the odor and bring wet wipes wherever they go. But no one else can tell. Your scent hasn't gotten stronger; your sense of smell has improved."
Tell your doctor about any new noticeable vaginal odors to rule out a yeast infection, which can be safely treated with anti-fungals during pregnancy.
7 Most Embarrassing Pregnancy Symptoms
How to handle excess gas, hemorrhoids, acne, and more.
2. Incontinence
You may have heard stories about pregnant women sneezing and accidentally emptying their bladders while standing among friends or co-workers. Most pregnant women who experience stress incontinence -- involuntarily leaking urine because of a jarring cough, sneeze, or laugh -- only lose a few drops. But it can still feel embarrassing.
Many doctors recommend that women wear panty liners to catch leaks during the last few months of pregnancy when stress incontinence is more likely. Regular trips to the bathroom can also help.
"As the baby grows and the uterus enlarges, the baby ends up sitting right on top of the bladder," Hakakha says. "Making a conscious effort to empty your bladder every two hours, even if you feel like you don't have to go, will make it less likely to leak."
3. Facial Hair
During pregnancy, hormones are responsible for hair growing in unwanted places.
"Most pregnant women are ecstatic to learn that they'll soon be sporting a beautiful mane of hair," Hakakha says. "But when we start talking about the breasts, abdomen, and face, the excitement soon turns to horror."
Waxing or tweezing is the safest methods for hair removal during pregnancy.
"Any time it's a cosmetic outpatient procedure not medically indicated, most dermatologists and plastic surgeons will push it off until after pregnancy," University of Alabama at Birmingham obstetrics and gynecology associate professor Kim Hoover, MD, says. "During pregnancy, laser treatments on the face can affect skin pigment, and it may cause scarring."
4. Odors
Some women develop a stronger sense of smell during pregnancy. Many develop an aversion to strong food odors, such as poultry or seafood. A smaller percentage of women begin picking up on their own scent, which can be embarrassing.
"Sometimes you can smell yourself vaginally, especially toward the end of pregnancy," Hoover says. "It could be because you have more mucus then. Some people get worried about the odor and bring wet wipes wherever they go. But no one else can tell. Your scent hasn't gotten stronger; your sense of smell has improved."
Tell your doctor about any new noticeable vaginal odors to rule out a yeast infection, which can be safely treated with anti-fungals during pregnancy.
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