7 Embarrassing Pregnancy Symptoms

By Lisa Fields
WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

Pregnancy changes your life -- and your body.

You knew that your belly would expand, you'd feel more tired than usual, and you might throw up a few times as your pregnancy developed. But you may not have expected some of the other physical changes.

"So many things happen to a woman's body when she becomes pregnant, and most are shocking: hair growth on your belly, belching and constipation, increased vaginal discharge , and hemorrhoids, to name a few," says ob-gyn Michele M. Hakakha, MD, author of Expecting 411: Clear Answers & Smart Advice for Your Pregnancy.

"These aren't things that a woman usually talks about, so it's no wonder that there's a bit of embarrassment," she says."I always joke that half my day revolves around answering questions that begin with: 'This is a really weird one,' or 'This is really embarrassing, but I need to ask.'"

Don't be shy! Your ob-gyn needs to know what's going on with you to make sure your pregnancy is on track.

"The majority of the time, it's normal signs of pregnancy," says Kim Hoover, MD, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. "Reassurance is important -- letting women know that their gas, bloating, incontinence, stretch marks, and belching are normal."

Here are seven embarrassing -- yet completely normal -- symptoms that many pregnant women experience, plus what you can do to minimize them.

1. Excess Gas

Virtually every pregnant woman gets gassy. That's because pregnancy brings a hormonal surge that can slow down your gastrointestinal tract.