Everything You Really Need to Know About Being Pregnant

Over 60 things I wish I knew about pregnancy before I got pregnant the first time! As someone who has been pregnant three times, this is my best advice for those newly pregnant or trying to conceive.

Pregnancy is a really beautiful time!

But let’s be honest with each other for a second…there are some things about being pregnant that just suck.

I’m pregnant with my third baby right now, and I am well into my third trimester. I’m getting uncomfortable, and I have a laundry list of complaints.

However, I also feel an overwhelming sense of joy and excitement! I feel ridiculously blessed to be growing my family again.

The movies make it look so easy! A cute little bump grows, and there’s magic as a family is created.

I wish someone had shared these honest truths about pregnancy and what I would experience before I was pregnant with my first. As an experienced mom, I now know exactly what to expect with each passing week.

These 60+ truths about pregnancy are exactly what you need to know when you find out you’re pregnant! Some of them may surprise you, while others you may have heard before.

Either way, it’s always nice to prepare yourself and learn what to expect throughout pregnancy. These pregnancy truths will definitely help with that!

things no one tells you about being pregnant

Disclaimer: please discuss any pregnancy concerns with your doctor. This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. That means if a purchase is made using links on this page, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

The honest and ugly truths about being pregnant

Your first ultrasound will likely be transvaginal. It’s awkward, but not as uncomfortable as it looks!
It can be very intimidating when them come at your lady bits with this giant probe. Don’t worry – it doesn’t go all the way in!
Your baby will look like an alien in the ultrasounds. He or she will grow into their adorable little body soon enough!
It’s hard watching your body change so quickly.
But then you’ll miss your pregnant belly afterwards!
You may feel like you have no belly, but then one day you just POP!
Early pregnancy bloat may mean you look really pregnant in the first trimester, but that will likely go away before the “real” bump appears.
Stretch marks can pop up at any point (and they don’t fade as quickly as you may want!)
Morning sickness can come out of nowhere, and leave just as fast.
And sometimes morning sickness returns in the third trimester!
Enjoy the second trimester. The first and third trimesters tend to be the hardest!
Eat small, frequent meals. This will help with morning sickness, acid reflux, and overall digestion and energy levels!
Naming your baby is hard. Even if you have been planning your baby’s names your whole life!
Everyone has a baby name opinion, you don’t have to listen. It’s your kid, name them want you want!
People will comment on your body. They’ll tell you that you look big, small, tired, or that you’re glowing all in the same day!
It’s hard to find cute maternity clothes.
And when you do find the perfect maternity outfit, you’ll want to wear it everywhere.
You may just want to live in leggings and loose shirts. Do whatever is comfortable!
Pregnancy exhaustion is real. Take naps…lots of naps.
But then, finding a good sleeping position is difficult.
And sometimes you feel so tired, and then experience pregnancy insomnia. It’s really not fair.
Don’t shy away from the pregnancy pillow. It really does help with all of the pregnancy discomforts!
Constipation during pregnancy may come and go, and it sucks.
And with the lovely constipation comes hemorrhoids! Yahoo.
One day your feet are fine, the next day they’re swollen and feel like they’re going to pop.
Your back, hips, and pelvis just ache at the end.
Birth balls are great before birth, too. It can really help with the back and hip pain!
See a pregnancy-specialized chiropractor as soon as discomfort starts (you won’t regret it!)
Treat yourself to a pregnancy massage (or two).
Make a lot of time for your partner. You won’t have alone time for a while!
Do any house projects that have been put on the back burner.
Stay active, even if it’s just walking around the block! Sometimes moving more eases the discomfort!
It’s OK to be excited, even if others aren’t!
If there’s something you want to do, do it (i.e. gender reveal, maternity photo shoot, etc.).
Your sex drive might be all over the place.
Your moods may feel uncontrollable as well!
You’ll be so excited to feel them move.
But also sometimes the movement gets annoying!
You’ll create a magical bond with the baby moving inside you. It’s hard to explain that kind of love!
Pregnancy is the only time you’ll ever have the baby all to yourself
Nesting is real. My advice: prep some meals in advance so that you don’t have to worry about cooking with a newborn!
If you’re having a baby shower, register for diapers, too! You will use a lot of them
And as tempting as it is to buy every baby product you see, there are some you simply don’t need
Your hair and nails will grow like crazy!
Your nipples might start to look weird…
And your breasts might get really huge and veiny!
Sometimes your breasts will leak colostrum before birth. If they don’t, no worries. It doesn’t mean you can’t breastfeed successfully!
And then all that lovely hair will fall out postpartum (one of the many lovely joys of postpartum life!)
You do not have to eat for two. Eat healthy foods when you can, and only until you’re full!
You can never drink enough water when you’re pregnant. Pregnant women are notoriously dehydrated
If you are ever concerned, call your doctor. It’s what they’re there for!
If your belly button pops, it can actually hurt! High waisted maternity leggings can help with that! (These are my favorite.)
You may get a dark line down your belly called the linea nigra. It goes away a few weeks after birth!
Your skin changes during pregnancy. You may notice a difference in pigmentation, more acne, dry skin, or even clearer skin!
The weeks leading up to your baby’s birth are full of so many emotions! Anxiety, excitement, nervousness, happiness, sadness…
You may only have two ultrasounds your whole pregnancy! Many women expect several scans, but many physicians only do an early scan and a 20 week scan.
Your belly may get very itchy! This is just because the skin is stretching.
Headaches are common and annoying during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester. Headaches later in the pregnancy may be attributed to the extra blood flow.
Your body grows a whole extra organ to feed the baby during pregnancy! The placenta starts growing during the first trimester, and continues growing through the beginning of the second trimester. Once the baby is born, the body expels it! It’s pretty neat!
What you eat when pregnant may influence the baby’s tastes! Eating a variety of foods during pregnancy can help your child be less of a picky eater as he or she grows
Cervical exams are not fun. They get easier when you’re in labor, but they aren’t comfortable .
Braxton hicks are really common in pregnancy, and get more uncomfortable the further along you get.
It’s normal to not know if you’re in labor the first time! But when active labor starts, you’ll know…trust me.
You may pee yourself. And you may think your water broke when actually you’ve peed yourself.