A-Z Pregnancy Symptoms

Did your pregnancy dreams include visions of a neat rounded belly, and little kicks that made your heart flutter? While it's true that pregnancy has its share of wonderful moments and experiences to cherish, it also has a raft of less than fabulous pregnancy symptoms - including many you'd rather not discuss in public and many you'd probably like to forget (which you will, by the way, since forgetfulness is another symptom).

There are pregnancy symptoms you expected (like morning sickness – which also arrives in the evening) and symptoms you almost definitely didn't (like constipation, nosebleeds and bleeding gums). It's probably reassuring to know that you're not alone suffering these ailments - you're actually joining millions of other expectant women who are also wading their way through a different selection of pregnancy complaints. But it also helps to have some tried and true remedies at your (swollen) fingertips that will allow you to navigate around the majority of pregnancy grumbles.

Cramps

Cramps Leg cramps in pregnancy can be extemely painful; why pregnant women are more susceptible to cramping isn't really known. It may be linked to a number of factors, including a deficiency of calcium - so you could try increasing your intake of dairy products. Other dietary deficiencies of pregnancy cramp may be Vitamin B, so you could increase your intake with the addition of wheatgerm.

Heartburn

Heartburn
Pregnancy heartburn is caused by the increase in t...

Oedema

Oedema
Some degree of swelling in your ankles and feet is...

Overdue

Overdue
If the average pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, you can b...

Haemorrhoids

Haemorrhoids
These are, effectively, varicose veins that occur ...

Headaches

Headaches
Headaches occur for a variety of reasons whether or not you are pregnant. If you get a recurrent headaches, run through the following checklist to see if it is possible to identify a cause:

Constipation

Constipation
Constipation is common in pregnancy because the hormone progesterone relaxes the smooth muscle in the bowels, making them sluggish. Up to 40% of pregnant women become constipated.