Pregnancy is a very wonderful, awe-inspiring time for some obvious reason. There is a certain attractiveness about a pregnant woman, but with all that is good about it, there is most definitely another side of it that is not so wonderful and may actually seem more like a horrible curse.

When a woman becomes pregnant she starts to feel things good and bad things that she has never felt before, both physically and mentally. While it can be the best time of her life for some, it can also be the worst time of her life. It is no wonder some women can become an emotional wreck, with their feelings being tied up like a big pile of entangled Christmas lights, and we all know what a mess that can be.

When we see a pregnant woman out in public, she may seem very happy and proud of her baby bump, but what goes on when she is at home may be an entirely different story. There will always be some women who are much stronger than others, but there are those whose mental state will have to endure a seemingly endless roller coaster ride. We have here a list of 20 of the harsh realities of pregnancy that the general public doesn’t always see.

17 Pregnancy Markings

Stretch marks are a very unsightly problem for pregnant women according to nhs.uk. Stretch marks are not harmful but unfortunately even though they will fade pretty much after birth I hate to say it but they usually will not disappear altogether.

The majority of the marks will be on your stomach for obvious reasons like your belly getting bigger and bigger, but you may also get them on your ta-tas and maybe your upper thighs. This is an issue that I personally wish women didn’t have to deal with, mostly because of the fact that they may have to live with a certain amount of it the rest of their lives.

During pregnancy, you will have to face so many harsh realities, and most of the issues you will have to face will only last until the baby comes but unfortunately the curse of stretch marks may be a lasting thing.

It may not help at all but one thing I can guarantee is that if your man truly loves you he is not going to care one bit about any changes in your appearance. He will feel no different about you then he did when he first fell in love with you.

16 Morning, Afternoon, And Nighttime Sickness

As it says in parents.com vomiting is one of those most unpleasant realities of pregnancy. Even though you see a pregnant woman out in public looking her best, you don’t see her behind the scenes bent over a toilet.

Some women only experience it in brief moments throughout the day, others might only feel sick in the mornings, but there are some who claim to have that feeling all throughout the day. That would be horrible. There is apparently no remedy for this that is 100% effective. And some things help for some women and not for others. You need to try different things until you find something that seems to help for you.

One thing you can do is to have a very light snack before bed. Another thing that can help is eating a few saltines in the morning before you are up and about. Keep them next to the bed and eat a few before you get up, saltines often help nausea. It is good to get out of bed slowly, and when standing up, always do so slowly, because standing up too fast can cause dizziness.

Along with saltines warm ginger ale also helps to calm the stomach, as does warm cola. I would suggest that if you are one of those people who seem to be getting sick a lot, avoid eating out to save you from the embarrassment of getting sick in public.

15 Pregnancy Is A Pain In The Back (Literally)

Back problems are more common these days than ever before. It seems like the majority of people have some type of issues in their back. There can be so many things that cause this from the type of work that you do to sitting at a computer too long or even the way we sleep. Well, according to pregnancybirthbaby.org.au, pregnancy is another thing on a long list of things that can cause a backache.

During pregnancy as your body prepares for labor, your ligaments become softer and begin to stretch, and this puts a strain on your back.

Your doctor is sure to tell you not to do any heavy lifting during this time. Anytime you have to pick something up off of the floor you should always bend your knees and keep your back straight.

In order to avoid twisting your spine, you should always move your feet when you turn, I may not have been pregnant but I know from experience that this is good advice for anyone. I had hurt my back just by turning to the side once without moving my feet, it can happen rather easily. If possible, try not to stay on your feet for too long.

14 Cravings Make It Hard To Go

It is said in parents.com that some women will experience some constipation during pregnancy and we all know how uncomfortable constipation can be, and even more so if you have a baby in your belly. You may have experienced a severe case of it if you have ever had surgery, because sometimes after surgery you can be constipated.

If you are one of those women dealing with this terrible affliction, it is said on health MedHelp that it is perfectly safe for you to take Miralax during pregnancy to combat constipation and many women claim that it was the most helpful product for them during their pregnancy.

Of course certain foods may clog you up as well, and it is a good idea to talk to your doctor and ask him which types of foods you might want to avoid in order to reduce the risk, no sense in making it harder than it has to be, especially when you will have enough issues to deal with during your pregnancy.To anyone who has never had a baby, nine months might not seem very long, but for a woman carrying a baby or even babies in her belly, it might feel like a lot longer than that.

13 The Infamous Line

Have ever noticed a vertical line running down a pregnant woman’s stomach? According to Parent.com, this line is called the "Linea Nigra", which is a Latin word that simply means "dark line" and the culprit of these lines are pregnancy hormones.

There is a lighter line between the belly button and the pelvis that is usually not seen. During pregnancy, that line darkens. As a matter of fact, much of your skin may become darker during pregnancy.

Sometimes a woman’s face will become darker which is known as the “Mask Of Pregnancy.” There is an old wives tale that says if the line goes all the way up to your ribs you are having a boy, but if it goes only to the navel, you are having a girl. Although there is no scientific proof of this.

If you are one of those women who are very self-conscious about your looks and you don’t want people to see this line on your belly, obviously the best thing to do is to keep it covered, but one thing to keep in mind is that too much exposure to the sun will make it much more pronounced and easier to see.

12 Is It Nap Time Yet?

Fatigue is something that affects many of us today. Many times it is because we work so hard and sleep so little. During pregnancy many women find themselves suffering from major fatigue which according to pregnancybirthbaby.org.au is caused by hormonal changes. Also because of all of the many issues a pregnant woman is dealing with, she may be losing a lot of sleep which can definitely add to the fatigue.

During pregnancy, it is recommended that you get plenty of rest and I know that is probably easier said than done. Even if you can’t seem to fall asleep at least lay back on the couch with your feet elevated.

There are a lot of strong-willed women out there who would rather do everything for themselves but during this time it really is a good idea to accept whatever help is offered to you. Along with trying to get enough rest you should also try to eat balanced meals. A poor diet can add to the worn out feeling.

As your pregnancy progresses and you start carrying more pounds with you, the fatigue will more than likely get worse, but try to rest in the fact that your baby will soon be here.

11 Spider Webs All Over The Belly

Dilated veins on the labia are called Vulvar Varicose Veins, or Vaginal Varicose Veins, according to parents.com. There is more pressure being put on your v-area by your uterus. Even though they can sometimes look very large as if they are going to burst, Dr. Hakakha from Beverly Hills California says that it is not possible for the veins to open up and bleed.

As far as appearances during pregnancy go, this is probably one of the worst things a woman will have to endure. One good thing is that after pregnancy not all but with some women, these veins will go back to normal, but for some women, they will shrink but not completely heal.

Varicose veins are an ugly sight and many older women know what that is like. I am sorry to say that there is not much more you can do about it other than just try to hide it for a while. Women really get the worst of just about everything, don’t they? Imagine for a moment a man having to go through all of this, how do you think he would fare? I know I wouldn’t do so well, I only need to come down with a bad cold to turn into a big child.

10 The Leak That Keeps On Leaking

Everyone is familiar with the leaking ta-tas during pregnancy and it can be a little embarrassing when it happens in public, but according to parents.com, this is just a sign that your body is getting ready to take care of your baby.

Closer to the end of your pregnancy your body is preparing for you to be able to breastfeed and at this point, even the slightest stimulation to your nips can cause them to leak and that is perfectly fine because it means that the girls are ready for your baby.

You can buy pads to put inside of your bra to absorb the leakage, but if you ever notice a foul smell or any blood you need to get ahold of your doctor right away as this may be the sign of an infection. When you are pregnant your body can tell you so much as far as how well you are coming along in the pregnancy.

When you look at the increase in the size of them you see a good milk supply for your baby but unfortunately, when a man sees them getting bigger, his mind is more than likely in the gutter, but don’t blame them they are hardwired that way.

9 Itchy, Itchy, Itchy

Parents.com says that when you are pregnant, because of your ta-tas growing and the skin stretching, it can cause your nips to start itching. Most issues that women have to deal with during pregnancy a man cannot even begin to understand what it must be like, but although a man might not have to deal with itchy nips, he can definitely understand the annoying itch from another part of his body that most men have to deal with, so he can have a little sympathy there.

I would be willing to bet that any man would be more than willing to scratch that itch for his wife, but I don’t think she would appreciate that so much.

One thing that may help to alleviate that itch is after a shower put some cocoa butter on the area.

I think if you are not embarrassed about it, a good person to talk to about what might work the best would be your local pharmacist. But if it bothers you to talk to him or her you might feel more comfortable talking to your doctor. As you should with any product you want to use during pregnancy for your safety as well as your baby’s.

8 Hot Flashes

Hot flashes don’t just happen to older people, according to NHS.uk pregnant women are very susceptible to having hot flashes. This is not a big deal, it’s just an uncomfortable pain in the rump. It is best to wear loose-fitting clothing which most pregnant women do anyway. If you are at home and you feel hot you can turn on a fan and sit by it for some relief.

Depending on what time of the year it is, and what part of the world you live in you could always go for a car ride with the windows down, that would be nice and refreshing. Whenever you go out into public you might want to make sure you have enough deodorant or perfume on because there will be times when you will sweat more than normal.

I know very well how uncomfortable those hot flashes can be because I have type two diabetes, and when my blood sugar is too high It makes me get really hot, so I can sympathize with you in this area.

If it happens to be summertime it can feel so much worse, and that would make it a great time for that car ride.

7 'Accidents' Will Happen

During pregnancy according to parent.com, your pelvic muscles begin to relax in order to prepare for birth and with this comes the increased chance of leakages down there. As you come further along in your pregnancy the baby begins to put pressure on your bladder.

Some women will wear adult diapers or pads to avoid embarrassing leaks especially out in public.

It is nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about though because it is quite expected with pregnancy. I know that is easy to say when you have never been pregnant, but most people would understand. Everyone is of course very different. There are women who could care less what people think and then there are also women who are overly sensitive about it, and for those women, it would be much harder because they are already more than likely extra sensitive because their hormones are messed up right now.

As long as you wear some kind of protection, you won’t have to worry about having embarrassing mistakes, which should give you a little more peace of mind when you go about your day. Just remember, there are elderly folks out there who have to deal with this kind of problem every day.

6 You Might Need A Pillow

Hemorrhoids, OUCH! This is a real pain in the butt, no pun intended, ok, maybe a little. But according to parents.com, this is an issue many pregnant women may have to deal with. Dilated blood vessels around your bunghole are known as hemorrhoids, and they can burn and itch something terrible. One of the causes of this is because of your baby putting pressure on the veins in your groin, and another cause of this is when you are constipated, which also happens during pregnancy, and this causes you do more pushing which in turn can cause hemorrhoids.

Sipping on lots of water and eating foods rich in fiber may combat constipation which will lessen your chances of getting hemorrhoids. If you do have them and they are not too severe, keeping the area dry and clean will help and you can dab the are with hazel pads to reduce swelling, but if it is not helping or it gets worse than obviously, you will want to talk to your doctor about it.

They also make hemorrhoid pillows that you can use when you sit down to help ease the pain. With every painful, itchy moment you may be thinking of your husband as the biggest hemorrhoid for putting you in this position, even though it does take two.

5 Gassy From Both Ends

Having gas is a very natural thing. Men and women are usually a little different in this area. Most women would be very embarrassed to pass gas in public, but unfortunately for some women when they are pregnant they may end up having more gas than they are used to according to parents.com, whether it comes as burping or out of the other end.

Most women will try to do their best not to let it out in public, but unfortunately, when they are pregnant the pressure can be too much to hold in.

For a man, this might not seem like such a bad thing, but for a woman, the embarrassment can be too much.

Of course, a lot of men, if they hear their pregnant wife letting something escape, might make a joke about it, but that's probably not a good thing to do to a woman whose emotions may be on high alert.

The majority of women, especially if they have had other children, are very aware of the fact that they will probably experience excessive gas, but still even knowing this, it doesn’t make it any easier for them. I think more men need to keep this in mind and be a little more attune to the feeling of these women.

4 Getting Your Tiger Stripes

Stretch marks are a very unsightly problem for pregnant women according to nhs.uk. Stretch marks are not harmful but unfortunately even though they will fade pretty much after birth I hate to say it but they usually will not disappear altogether.

The majority of the marks will be on your stomach for obvious reasons like your belly getting bigger and bigger, but you may also get them on your ta-tas and maybe your upper thighs.

This is an issue that I personally wish women didn’t have to deal with, mostly because of the fact that they may have to live with a certain amount of it the rest of their lives.

During pregnancy, you will have to face so many harsh realities, and most of the issues you will have to face will only last until the baby comes but unfortunately the curse of stretch marks may be a lasting thing.

It may not help at all but one thing I can guarantee is that if your man truly loves you he is not going to care one bit about any changes in your appearance. He will feel no different about you then he did when he first fell in love with you.

3 The Kim K Kankles

According to pregnancybirthbaby.org.au swollen ankles are a common problem during pregnancy, it can be a very annoying problem not to mention a little embarrassing out in public.

During pregnancy, the veins that send blood from your legs to your heart may be slightly blocked because of your uterus pushing on them as the baby grows. Also, the walls of your veins may become softer because of your hormones and in return, it can become more difficult to work properly.

Spending a lot of time on your feet will increase the swelling. This will not cause any permanent damage, but it will definitely be very uncomfortable. It may also make it a little hard to put your shoes on.

Limiting salty foods will help in preventing too much swelling as well as keeping your legs elevated when resting. It is a good idea to sleep on your left side because this will help the blood flow to your heart.

You need to keep the blood flowing properly by doing some walking or swimming. If you do go walking just do little bits here and there, even though walking will be good for you, too much will also cause swelling in your feet and ankles.

2 Is Aunt Flo Visiting?

Parents.com says that discharge "down there" is one of the problems associated with being pregnant and this is because of rising estrogen levels. It is not very pleasant but it is one of the harsh realities or pregnancy.

This is also another time in which you may want to wear some kind of extra protection, because otherwise, you may be changing your underwear much more often.

If this is your first pregnancy then you might be a little concerned if you find this sort of discharge in your underwear, but you need not be concerned it is very natural although not at all pleasant, but then again what about being pregnant is pleasant?

Obviously, the best part about being pregnant is knowing that after all of the unpleasantness that go along with it, you are going to soon be holding your precious little child, and at that point, you can finally let go of all of the negativity and fall in love with this beautiful baby. And maybe once again you will look at your husband with a twinkle in your eye because he is no longer the cause of all your pain, he is now the one who help to make this wonderful baby.

1 Lights Out

According to nhs.uk feeling faint can be a real problem for pregnant women. It has mostly to do with hormonal changes, it’s amazing how much a women’s hormones can affect her. One thing you really don’t need, when pregnancy already brings you so many issues is to end up fainting and falling down possibly creating even more problems.

One thing you can do to avoid fainting is to always get up slowly if you are sitting or laying down, getting up to quickly is a sure way of getting that fainting feeling. If you already happen to be standing and you are starting to feel fain you need to sit down right away and almost always the feeling will quickly pass.

Some of the things to be aware of are ringing in your ears, or if you suddenly feel sweaty and clammy. These don’t always have to mean that you are about to faint, but it is a very good idea to take a seat just in case. You may even want to lay down on your side just in case the feeling doesn’t pass. If this seems to be happening too often especially while you are in a standing position then you should probably call your doctor.

References: parents.com.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au , nhs.uk, blogs.babycenter.com, target.com