The Unexpected (and Sometimes Annoying) Pregnancy Symptoms No One Warns You About

Pregnancy is a wild ride—exciting, exhausting, and full of surprises. One of the biggest surprises? The weird and unexpected symptoms that come along with growing a tiny human. They vary so much from person to person and can create a lot of unnecessary worry. So, I thought I’d share my own experience—both to reassure you that you’re not alone and to laugh a little at the bizarre things our bodies do during this time.

1. The Allergy Overdrive

I’ve always had mild hay fever, but during pregnancy? It went into overdrive. Every sneeze felt like an earthquake, and my nose was constantly itchy and irritated. In Brazil, they strongly discourage taking any medication during pregnancy, which made things even worse. But in Sweden (thank God!), they allow allergy medicine, which has been an absolute lifesaver.

2. Nosebleeds – Not Cute, Not Fun

I had occasional nosebleeds before pregnancy, usually from dry air. But during my last pregnancy, they became much more frequent and persistent. Nothing dangerous, just inconvenient—and definitely not glamorous. Apparently, increased blood volume and hormonal changes can make the blood vessels in your nose more fragile. Who knew?

3. Heartburn – My Body’s Way of Portion Control

Heartburn is one of those pregnancy symptoms that comes and goes, but when it hits, it hits. I had it a few times in early pregnancy and still get it occasionally—usually when I eat too much. Honestly, it’s become an unintentional diet control method because the discomfort is just not worth the extra bite. If you’re experiencing it too, try eating smaller meals and avoiding acidic or spicy foods (easier said than done when you're craving something specific!).

4. Weight Gain – The Shocking Reality

I always tell people to try not to gain too much weight during pregnancy. Well, easier said than done. I’m 30 weeks pregnant now and have already put on 20 kg. (Yes, I can hear the collective gasp—trust me, I’m shocked too.) Sure, I indulged a bit over the holidays, but I’ve been eating relatively well since… and yet, here we are.

The extra weight makes everything harder—walking, moving, even sleeping. It also puts more strain on your joints and back, which isn’t fun when you’re already dealing with pregnancy aches. So, take it from me: keeping weight gain at a reasonable level is worth it, both during pregnancy and postpartum. (Easier said than done, I know.)

5. Food Cravings – The Great Duck Confit Obsession

This time around, I haven’t really had strong cravings. But during my first viable pregnancy? I was obsessed with a pan-fried duck confit my mom had on a salad at a small restaurant in New York when I was 10 weeks pregnant. I spent the rest of that pregnancy searching for it in Stockholm—with no luck. Eventually, I learned to make it myself, but I still dream about going back to that little restaurant one day!

6. Bonus: The Other Fun Symptoms

Of course, these aren’t the only surprises pregnancy has to offer. Here are a few other common (and unexpected) symptoms you might experience:

• Insomnia – Even though you’re exhausted, sleep can become elusive.

• Weird dreams – Pregnancy dreams are next-level bizarre.

• Restless legs – That must-move-my-legs feeling at night is the worst.

• Forgetfulness ("Pregnancy Brain") – I’ve walked into rooms and forgotten why more times than I can count.

• Increased saliva production – Sounds strange, but it happens!

• Skin changes – Some people get the famous "pregnancy glow," while others (like me) battle breakouts.

So, those are my pregnancy quirks—what about you? Did you have any unusual symptoms that no one warned you about? Let’s hear them in the comments!