Is This Normal?! The 10 Most Surprising Pregnancy Symptoms

Reviewed May 2022

Pregnancy comes with a lot of physical (and emotional) side effects. After all, you're growing another human inside of you, so body changes are to be expected. We all know about morning sickness, fatigue, swelling, and lower back pain that can be part of the process, but some symptoms can take women wonder, "Is this normal?".

We asked our community, "what pregnancy symptoms surprised you the most?", in order to shed some light on these surprising side effects, so you can be more prepared for what's to come. We pulled out the top ten responses in order to share them with you.

Before we dive in, we want to remind you that if you experience any odd or concerning symptoms during pregnancy, it's best to contact your doctor, midwife, or another healthcare professional and discuss further with them. While the below symptoms are common and often harmless, it's important to know what's normal and what's abnormal, so you can get the support you need to stay happy and healthy.

The 10 Most Surprising Pregnancy Symptoms:

1. Numbness on your abdomen

"After my C-section, I lost all feeling from my belly button to my vagina. I told my doctor and she said, “this is normal”. Two years later and I'm pregnant again and starting to regain some sensation there!!"

Loss of touch sensation around a C-section scar is very common, and while it can feel bothersome, it's generally not something you have to worry about as it's an expected side effect. There are small nerve endings throughout our skin that act as touch receptors. During a C-section, those tiny nerves are severed to make the incision, disrupting their ability to send touch signals back to the brain. Some women will regain sensation as these nerves repair over time, while others won't regain sensation in certain areas around the scar.

What's interesting to note is that numbness in the upper abdomen can also happen in more advanced stages of pregnancy (i.e. late third trimester). This is due to the stretching of the abdominal wall that can also disrupt or tear these small nerves. Usually, this resolves in the weeks after birth as the abdominal wall heals.

2. Dry, itchy skin, especially on your abdomen

"Itchy tummy !! My stomach had no rash but literally was the itchiest thing I’ve ever had."

Dry and itchy skin on the abdomen is really common in pregnancy, and it's because your skin is being stretched so much it naturally dries out the moisture barrier. And dry skin means itchy skin. As much as you can do to moisturize (and not scratch) the area will be the best way to manage an itchy abdomen.

If your itchy abdomen is accompanied by a rash, this could be PUPPP (pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy), which your doctor would be able to diagnose. PUPPP is not harmful to you or your baby, but it can be annoying. It will resolve after birth, but in the meantime, moisturizing lotions are usually the best form of treatment. Your doctor may also look to prescribe topical steroids or antihistamines, depending on what's best and safest for your situation.

If you do have significant itching without a rash on other parts of your body (especially the palms of your hands and feet) it's really important that you bring this up with your doctor right away, as this could be a sign of obstetric cholestasis. While this is very treatable if caught early, it is a serious condition and does require medical attention.

3. Insatiable hunger

"I don’t think I had prepared myself for some days feeling hungry no matter what."

Pregnancy hunger is real. It's one of those things you can't understand if you've never experienced it. Sometimes it's an all-consuming sensation where your stomach feels like a bottomless pit, and the cravings just won't quit. The thing is, pregnancy isn't about eating for two, as your caloric needs increase only slightly as you progress through pregnancy. With that in mind, you do have to be mindful of overeating in pregnancy as it can lead to poorer health outcomes for you and baby.

Generally, insatiable hunger is more common in the second trimester (as it's after first-trimester nausea subsides and before third-trimester heartburn kicks in). Your increase in blood volume and baby's growth requirements do cause you to burn more calories throughout the day, which can leave you feeling more hungry. And of course, hormones play a role in this. Your changing levels of estrogen and progesterone in pregnancy are thought to increase appetite overall. One way you can manage those hunger pangs is by having smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day and opting for nutrient-dense foods over calorie-dense ones to give you the vitamins, minerals, and energy that you and your baby need most.

4. Early pregnancy spotting

Any form of unexpected vaginal bleeding in pregnancy can (and should be) a cause of concern and something to discuss with your doctor. However, spotting (a very light vaginal bleed) is common in the first trimester and is not necessarily a sign of anything wrong. Around 1 in 5 women report spotting in their first trimester, and the vast majority go on to have healthy, happy babies.

Spotting should not require a tampon or pad to manage and is usually only a few small drops of blood that you may notice when going to the bathroom. This often occurs at implantation, or it can result from sexual intercourse or a gynecological exam. Additionally, some women have cervical polyps (a generally harmless growth) and higher levels of estrogen can cause these to bleed slightly. If you do have spotting early in pregnancy, keep an eye on it and discuss it with your doctor, but in most cases this is normal.

5. Restless legs

"Restless legs....it’s real."

It is real, and incredibly annoying when you're trying to get some restful sleep! We feel your pain, mama. Restless Leg Syndrom (RLS) impacts up to 30% of pregnant women, and frustratingly, scientists don't know exactly what causes it. Research has pointed to a few different things, including an imbalance of dopamine (which could be linked to an increase in prolactin in later pregnancy), low iron levels (which is common in pregnancy), and some genetic predispositions. If RLS is significantly disrupting your sleep, be sure to bring it up with your doctor as they can discuss some treatment options that might be best suited to you.

6. Heart rate fluctuations

Your blood volume increases significantly in pregnancy (usually in the range of 30-50%) and so your heart has to work a bit harder to manage that increased cardiac output. This can result in a higher resting heart for some women, anywhere between 70-90 beats per minute. On top of that, some women will experience heart palpitations (feelings of fluttering or very fast beating all of a sudden).

This isn't a great feeling to have, but in most cases, this is normal and not harmful to you or your baby. As always, if it's causing you added concern, be sure to mention it to your doctor. The best things you can do for yourself to manage your heart rate are relaxation techniques (such as our breathing exercises on the app!), drinking plenty of water (as dehydration can increase heart rate), and avoiding stimulants such as caffeine.

7. Body hair changes

"My body hair didn't grow - like no hair growth on my legs. It was a noticeable enough difference and I'm told it is a sign of having a girl but not sure how true that is!"

During pregnancy, your estrogen levels are pretty high and this typically does two things: 1) prolongs the anagen phase of hair growth (which is when hair grows), and 2) delays the exogen phase (which is when hair sheds). This often results in hair that feels thicker and can lead to more growth on the body overall. BUT hormones are fickle, and our bodies all respond to them differently. Estrogen is also responsible for finer and softer body hair, so many women are surprised to find that body hair can appear as if it's growing less or getting lighter during pregnancy.

Our bodies are all different and hormones have a powerful way of causing different experiences! As far as the gender predictions and body hair and nail growth goes, there isn't any science that links the two, but we'd love to know if you've heard this baby gender prediction too!

8. Lightning crotch

"No one told me my lady bits would start feeling like they were being struck by lightning."

While lightning crotch isn't recognized as a technical or medical term, it's a very real sensation that women in pregnancy experience. It's often described as sudden and shooting pain (almost electric shock-like) in the vagina, rectum, or general pelvic region, and takes a lot of women by surprise. Just like a bolt of lightning to your lady bits would...

Not every woman in pregnancy will experience this, and it is more common later in the third trimester. There isn't any concrete evidence that points to the cause of this sensation, but it's believed to be a form of round ligament pain, or the result of your baby's position possibly pinching a nerve, or them descending deeper into the pelvis. Be sure to bring this up with your doctor if it's something you're experiencing regularly, but otherwise, we recommend checking out our post on pelvic pain for more support!

9. Early milk production

"My boobs started leaking in the 2nd trimester. Wasn't prepared for that!"

You might begin to leak a form of breastmilk called colostrum during pregnancy thanks to the hormone prolactin, which is produced in the third trimester to get you ready for baby. Colostrum, known as pre-milk, actually starts producing early in the second trimester, but estrogen and progesterone maintain a delicate balance to keep milk production regulated at this time. As a result, leaking in the first half of pregnancy is less common, but that doesn't mean it can't happen!

Early milk production is more common later in the third trimester when prolactin production ramps up, but breastmilk discharge can also happen at any time of pregnancy when your breasts are massaged or sexually stimulated. Either way, it shouldn't be a cause for concern. Wearing nursing pads inside your bra will help catch any leakage during those later stages of pregnancy.

10. Linea nigra

The linea nigra is a dark line running down the abdomen from the belly button to the pubic area that usually appears in the middle of pregnancy or by the 2nd trimester. About 80-90% of pregnant women experience this but you may be surprised by it, especially if it's your first pregnancy! You’ve always had this line, and it's called the linea alba. As estrogen and progesterone rise in pregnancy, they stimulate cells in the skin that produce melanin, a pigment that changes the color and darkens the skin. As melanin production increases, your linea alba can darken and become more noticeable (and that's when we refer to it as the linea nigra). 

There’s nothing you can do to prevent this line from appearing as it’s a natural part of pregnancy, but there are some things you can do to help minimize the appearance including avoiding sun exposure and wearing sunscreen over the belly and other areas whenever in the sun. Make sure to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30!

Did you learn about a new pregnancy symptom you'd never heard of? Let us know in the comments below and share your most surprising pregnancy experience.

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