7 THINGS NO ONE TELLS YOU ABOUT PREGNANCY

Movies and TV shows have a lot to answer for, I've never been pregnant before but had my own misconceptions and things I presumed would naturally happen, some did and then some other things caught me by total surprise. I've still got three months to go and I'm pretty sure there are some surprises yet to come but in the meantime have a little giggle or perhaps a little 'I know' moment with me!Nipples,  I knew my boobs were going to change, however, I guess I expected they would just get larger and then when little bump arrives, "BOOM! Hello milk!" I am certainly loving my fuller and very perky new boobs, however, I didn't expect to experience needle-like pain when the water from the shower head hits my nipples, or for my piercing to suddenly start oozing with milk at only 22 weeks. I also fully expected to want to make the most of my new boobs (and so did my husband) I never imagined they'd be too sore to fondle, damn it!

'Your breasts may start to produce milk weeks or months before you are due to have your baby. If your nipples are leaking, the substance is most likely colostrum: the first milk your breasts make in preparation for feeding your baby.'

Lightning Vagina, otherwise known as Pelvic Girdle Pain is by far the worst thing I have experienced so far during my pregnancy. What started as a dull ache soon intensified and felt as if I had been kicked in my vagina by a horse. I'm not one to go to the doctors but when it became too uncomfortable to simply walk, I ended up calling the out of hours midwife number and was given the diagnosis of PGP. The symptoms can begin as early as the first trimester or as late as a few days before birth and can become very uncomfortable. I found a warm bath, sitting on a hot water bottle, pelvic tilts and resting as much as possible really helped. In true honesty PGP was something that reared its ugly head every-time I was doing too much.. my body was telling me to slow down. If you are concerned speak to your midwife and get referred to a physiotherapist.

'PGP can be one-sided or it may appear to jump from side to side, may be a general ache or it may shoot into your buttocks or down the back of your legs. You might also feel the painin your lower back, pubis joint, sacroiliac joints, groin, at the front and back of your thigh and lower leg, around your hips or in your pelvic floor and around the opening to your vagina and your anus. 

Morning Sickness, now I don't know about you but I presumed I would throw up every morning for the first three months, I didn't expect to feel sick but never actually be sick and that instead of vomiting meant spending most of my day sounding like an erupting, bubbling volcano or hiccuping for hours on end.

'Up to 85 percent of pregnant women experience nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, with 60 to 70 percent actually throwing up.'

Pain, one thing I had never considered was pain. The first trimester gave me what felt like period, stabbing pains most days and inevitably ended up with me turning to Dr Google for reassurance that everything was ok.

'Abdominal pains / cramps are actually common during pregnancy and can be due to constipation, trapped wind or more commonly due to your ligaments stretching to support your growing bump.'

Emotional Rollercoaster, those pesky little things called hormones have a lot to answer for during pregnancy. I expected my hormones to be similar to periods but man was I wrong. Think period personified: one minute you're laughing so hard you're crying and then the next minute you're clouded by a cloud of sadness. The extreme highs and lows have been one of the hardest things to deal with. I've never been someone that switches emotions easily so bouts of sadness have been overwhelming to deal with. When this happens, take a breath and realise why it's happening, call a friend, go for a walk and get some fresh air, it soon blows over.

Pee it all out, something I never thought about pre-pregnancy was peeing. Now that I pee every 30 minutes I've realised I never truly pee'd everything out before. I was always in a rush, on my phone or thinking about something else. Next time you need the loo sit down and actually let it all out, I'd even recommend a big sigh at the end just to really let those last drips out, you'll be surprised how much you hold onto!

Imperfections,  I've actually grown to love the things we usually describe as imperfections and I have this bump to thank for that. Tiger stripes, varicose veins, extra hairs, veins in general and cellulite these boys come out with a vengeance during pregnancy and there is nothing you can do! Genetics plays a big part of course and there are lots of lotions and potions but in true honesty, you've just got to accept that your body is doing something far more incredible right now and doesn't have time to worry about leaving a little scar or dimple on your skin. Are you pregnant or have you been pregnant? I'd love to hear the things you never expected! Let's shed a little light on how incredible our bodies truly are!