35 Pregnant Women Whose Day Is Going Worse Than Yours Is (New Pics)

It's no secret that the physical symptoms during a pregnancy can range from morning sickness to acne to anything in between. So we asked Shanna and Laura of "Big Fat Positive" what their strangest physical symptoms were, and their answers did not disappoint. "My nipples felt like they were on fire!" responded Shanna. "It was actually the very first symptom of both my pregnancies and lasted the entire time... I found out it was a condition called Raynaud’s phenomenon, which causes blood vessels to constrict and cause pain." Thankfully she said that it did go away after giving birth, "Thank goodness, because I was terrified I would have to breastfeed with fire nipples!" On the other hand, Laura's strangest physical symptom sounds more like a superpower she developed. "When I was pregnant with my first child I almost instantly developed a heightened sense of smell, and it's never gone away! I can even smell weird things, like if people are hungry or the weather is changing."

Pregnancy can also lead new mothers to become more open minded to trying new things. You never know what might miraculously help the baby! Laura told us that she tried "all kinds of unusual things" to try to get her first baby to turn, including incense-powered acupressure. "You light cigar-shaped bundles of mugwort leaves on fire and hold them close to certain pressure points," she explained. "But the smoke was too pungent for me. So I found myself sitting outside in December, barefoot, 9-months pregnant, in a bathrobe and shower cap, holding burning embers to my pinkie toes. (Spoiler alert: it didn't work.)" In Shanna's case, she shared that her pregnancy brain caused "failure to accept the limitations of [her] changing body". "At about six months pregnant I thought I could ride a bike to my office with my big belly, while holding my backpack, lunch and a full cup of iced tea. It wasn’t my bike, so the seat was way too high, my toes barely reached the pedals, the seat was digging into my crotch, and I could barely control the handlebars."

When asked what they would like to tell anyone who has never had a child to help them be more sympathetic towards mothers, both Laura and Shanna want to remind others how exhausting pregnancy is. "The first trimester is unbelievably fatiguing, which can be surprising since you don’t have a big baby in you yet," shared Shanna. "The energy it takes to create an entirely new organ (placenta) and a new life is monumental. Be easy on pregnant women and let them rest, rest, rest!" Laura gave similar advice. "Pregnancy is a gauntlet," she said. "But even more than the physical demands, society puts unrealistic expectations onto pregnant people. We're supposed to be enjoying every moment while also monitoring everything we eat and drink and limiting activities in case they're risky for the baby. It's emotionally exhausting and anxiety inducing."  

To hear more about Laura and Shanna's experiences navigating pregnancy and motherhood, be sure to check out "Big Fat Positive".

Many women share their hilarious food combinations online, after experiencing inexplicable cravings. There is not one single answer as to why women experience these cravings, however. Explanations include changes in hormones, sensory sensitivity, shifting nutritional needs, cultural expectations and simply a desire for comfort. One study from The State University of New York Albany, found that some of the most common pregnancy cravings for women in the US include sweets, pizza, chips, fruit and animal proteins. Some of the more cliché examples, such as ice cream, pickles and fast food, are common as well. 

Creative food combinations, another rite of passage during pregnancy, might be spurred by changes in smell and taste buds, writes Wendy Wisner for Verywell Family. Whatever the reason for these cravings may be, if jalapeños on fruity cereal provides comfort for an exhausted pregnant woman, who am I to stop her from enjoying that?

Another phenomenon many women experience during pregnancy is "pregnancy brain" or "baby brain". This refers to the increased forgetfulness, lack of concentration, disorientation, absentmindedness and clumsiness that pregnant women often report feeling. Baby brain can encompass anything from leaving your cell phone in the freezer by accident to obliterating your dinner after forgetting you put it in the oven. While there is not one concrete explanation for pregnancy brain, up to 81% of pregnant women do cite experiencing it to some degree, wrote Colleen de Bellefonds for BabyCenter. Similar to affected eating habits during pregnancy, hormones, stress and anxiety can all play a role in this brain fog. Trouble sleeping may be a significant factor as well. "More than half of women report insomnia and other sleep problems during pregnancy," wrote Bellefonds. "A consistent lack of sleep has been shown to impact cognitive functions and memory," she also shared. It's fun to giggle at all of the silly behaviors caused by baby brain, but remember, these mothers are trying their best!

Pregnant women have to deal with constant discomfort from their bodies growing and changing to accomodate their little buns in the oven, so many rely on the emotional support of their partners and loved ones to provide a bit of relief when possible. It can be crucial for women to feel secure and understood while pregnant. A study published in The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine found that the partner's role in pregnancy directly affects the woman's stress levels. A more active, loving, communicative and financially stable partner can lead to a much more positive pregnancy experience. Even if you are not physically carrying the baby, you can certainly help alleviate stress for the mother (and in turn the baby).