Wacky Pregnancy Symptoms: What Your Doctor Won't Tell You

Anyone who's ever watched a sitcom or had a pregnant acquaintance knows the stereotypical gripes and complaints: morning sickness (aka all-day queasiness with or without vomiting), exhaustion, insatiable appetites for bizarre food combinations like fudge ripple ice cream with sardines on top, and of course the quarter-hourly trips to the potty. But newly-pregnant women are often surprised to find themselves with a host of unusual symptoms their doctors never told them about.

Food Aversions

The bathrobe-clad dad-to-be making a midnight run to the convenience store for a pint of chocolate ice cream is a pregnancy icon. But women frequently find that, in their first trimester, they are repulsed by the taste, smell, and even sight of foods that were previously a mainstay of their diets. Women who couldn't start their days without a cup of coffee are pushed to the point of vomiting just by the smell of freshly-ground coffee beans. Even the most hard-core carnivores may find that their sensitive tummies won't agree to a meal of meat.

Of course, these food aversions are often triggered or exacerbated by another wacky pregnancy symptom—a super-human sense of smell. First-time moms are especially likely to feel guilty about eschewing meat since protein and iron are so important, but not to worry. In the second trimester, these aversions usually give way to a voracious appetite for anything edible; and the need for extra protein is more important later in pregnancy than in the first trimester.

Other Things Happening Inside Your Mouth

Queasiness can be compounded by over-production of saliva. Although this is a harmless and short-lived phenomenon, disappearing before the end of the first trimester, it can be very unpleasant for a mom-to-be already combating queasiness. A sudden flood of saliva can be a harbinger of impending vomit or can even trigger it. Frequent toothbrushing, sucking a mint, or chewing sugarless gum, and taking small sips of water can help eliminate the gobs of spit.