How to Overcome the Struggles of Pregnancy
Itchy belly, bloody noses, belly hair… oh my!
Pregnancy struggles are an ongoing part of pregnancy. We just embrace them, laugh them off, and continue to be grateful for the growing child inside us. For some, there are things we can do to help reduce or relieve them, but others are just ones we have to deal with. Common struggles many pregnant women deal with, such as, nausea/vomiting, constipation and food aversions, are ones I too, have definitely experienced. However, this article focuses on three less common ones that include: belly hair, itchy belly and bloody noses.
Let’s start with…
Belly Hair
Yes I said… belly hair.
During pregnancy we either notice hair loss or we start growing thick beautiful healthy hair (and sometimes in unexpected places). I would fall under the latter.
My hair hasn’t been this full and healthy since I was a kid. However, I have also noticed hair growing in places I have never had hair grow before… my belly! These little baby hairs are popping up everywhere. It started around my belly button and just spread from there. I notice more and more. It’s quite funny actually. Maybe I will be able to style them soon.
For the time being, I will just embrace my hairiness.
Itchy Belly
I thought mosquito bites were itchy until I got pregnant. Pregnant belly itch is on a whole other level. At least mosquito bites will stop itching in a couple days. A belly that itches is something I have never experienced before. I am not very sure if this has anything to do with the previously discussed struggle of belly hair above or if it’s just my skin stretching.
For me, it comes at the weirdest time. It hasn’t itched all day but I get home from work, shower, prepare dinner, sit down on the couch, pull up my tray to eat my dinner and the belly starts itching. Then it spreads to my sides and lower back and then to my arms.
It spreads like wild fire!
This continues for quite awhile almost every night. I have heard it’s a common symptom because your belly is stretching to make room for the baby, so it makes your skin itch… but DANG!
My suggestion: If you are going through this same thing, be sure to lather your belly up with oils like jojoba and coconut along with lavender essential oil and hope for the best each day. If you have any other suggestions for this itchy belly let me know!
Bloody Noses
During pregnancy our blood supply increases significantly. I mean…
You’re growing a human so it makes sense, right?
I have always had a problem with bloody noses ever since I was a kid. That didn’t stop, only got worse, during my pregnancy so far.
I will just be sitting at my desk at work, minding my own business, and I feel my nose start to run. Sure enough! It’s blood and I don’t know where it came from and why it decided to come at that random time.
It has also happened many times while I am in the shower. Which is convenient, at least, because then I don’t have to worry about making a mess. I just do my little bend over and squeeze the bridge of my nose stance.
It’s a funny sight but it usually works!
Bloody noses do get messy, especially when they sneak up on you in the middle of the night. I’ll be laying there sleeping, peacefully, and I am woken up by the feeling of my nose running. My reflexes take my hand up to my nose, but since it’s dark I can’t see if it’s blood or not. I get up and SURE ENOUGH… bloody nose. The worst part is just hoping and praying my pillow doesn’t look like a crime scene now.
Not much you can do about this one, unfortunately. It’s just one of those things that come along with pregnancy, for some women.
A couple other things I have noticed lately have been foot cramps (these are no joke) and big veins running through my belly that had never been there before.
Is anyone going on a road trip? If so, I got you! I can draw you a map with all these veins.
Final Thoughts:
For the most part, there isn’t much we can do to eliminate these struggles of pregnancy. We just need to laugh at them, embrace them, and enjoy the ride to motherhood!
What are some pregnancy struggles you have faced? Are they any of the same that I have experienced?
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