Well, it is coming down to the wire for me.  I am 33 weeks pregnant and due around Christmas.  These last few weeks have been tough.  I have been totally exhausted and my motivation level has really plummeted in comparison to my usual super mommy self.  And in addition to being really tired, I have been struggling with a of the usual and annoying pregnancy symptoms.  I think as you get farther along in your pregnancy they get even worse.

So, here is the list of the most common pregnancy symptoms.  

• Nose Bleeds & Nasal Stuffiness – I wrote a whole blog post on this.  Check it out here.

• Vaginal Discharge – OK, come on, when you are pregnant, your period is supposed to stop right?!  Who wants to have an annoying discharge?  For the past several months I have been stuck using panti-liners which really do help a lot to keep things dry – but still annoying!  I did read that this will also increase in amount until the baby is born.  Ugh!  But please remember that if there is ever a change in color or an odor, you should report it to your doctor or midwife.

• Insomnia – This has to be the hardest for me to deal with right now because I am already extremely tired as it is.   Pregnancy insomnia can manifest itself in the form of an inability to fall asleep or as the inability to fall back to sleep after being awakened (like your nightly trips to the potty).  So, now every night when I get up to go to the bathroom, it take me forever to get back to sleep.  I keep telling myself that it is preparation for the many sleepless nights ahead.  🙂

• Gastrointestinal Distress (Burping & Gas) – The hormones of pregnancy have sent my gastrointestinal tract in a spin. The unladylike affliction of belching, burping and gas are fairly common.   My last 3 pregnancies I struggled more with the heartburn and acid reflux, but for some reason with this pregnancy I am plagued with this horrible burping syndrome.  I burp constantly and I have to be honest with you, I hate burping!  They say to try and avoid offending foods and never hold the air inside because it can cause pain.

• Constipation – This actually just started for me about 2 weeks ago.  The hormones of pregnancy can cause your intestines to slow down and become sluggish.  So not only am I constipated, but I am also getting hemorrhoids from trying to push.  Ugh!  Drinking plenty of water and eating high fiber foods can be very helpful in this issue.   There are also medications that you can take, so be sure to ask your doctor if you are really having a hard time.

• Lower Back Pain – This has always been something that I have struggled with.  I am usually a pretty small framed person and it seems like all this extra weight really puts a lot of pressure on my lower back.  I am not able to roll over very easily when laying down or get up easily from sitting or laying down.  I pretty much have to moan in agony because it hurts so bad.  But the funny thing is, that once I give birth the pain goes right away.  So I keep that in my mind and try not to complain too much.  Heating pads can give some relief and of course not overdoing it like I often do by staying on my feet for too long.  I think taking it easy is the best bet at the end of any pregnancy.

How about you?  What annoying pregnancy symptoms did you have to go through?