Excessive Saliva During Pregnancy
Excess Saliva During Pregnancy
It is quite common for pregnant women to produce more saliva than usual during pregnancy. Excessive saliva during pregnancy is in fact a common pregnancy side effect. Not appetizing? Don't worry. You won't salivate so bad you drench your chin unintentionally. It is common however for pregnant women to salivate frequently enough to find the side effect annoying. Some women find excessive salivation during pregnancy complicates pregnancy related nausea.
The effects of pregnancy related salivary output vary from woman to woman. Some women will barely notice the phenomena. It is not one of the more commonly reported side effects of pregnancy. Still others will notice they have to spit frequently or feel the need to wipe their face particularly at night due to excessive drool.
Take heart. If you have a pup at home he's bound to find the side effect interesting in the vary least! The bottom line is excessive saliva production during pregnancy won't realistically harm you or your baby.
Causes of Excess Saliva During Pregnancy
Most women experience excessive salivation as a result of changing hormone levels. Excessive saliva may happen sporadically during periods of rapid hormonal fluctuation like during the first and third trimesters. Other women will notice they have more saliva in general throughout their pregnancy. Your best bet is to swallow more frequently. Most women do so naturally.
Some women find excessive salivation contributes to pregnancy heartburn. Fortunately you can relieve pregnancy related heartburn using simple over the counter antacids. Some women find drinking milk helps relieve the problem. Still others find brushing their teeth multiple times each day helps relieve their symptoms, or at the very least makes the problem seem less annoying. You may find drinking more water improves rather than worsens the condition. Your body may produce more saliva in response to dehydration. Still other women find chewing gum or sucking hard candies helpful for at least taking their mind off the problem.
Other Strange Pregnancy Symptoms
Aside from excess salivation, some women experience other strange or unusual pregnancy symptoms and side effects, particularly during early pregnancy. Here are some of the more common yet unpredictable or unexpected side effects women experience when pregnant:
- Frequent nosebleeds or nasal congestion. Pregnancy often increases the likelihood you'll have a nosebleed or two and generally contributes to nasal congestion, particularly at night. You may be surprised to find you wake with a stuffy nose. This can happen whether or not you have a cold.
- Increased vaginal discharge. Some women are surprised to find they have more discharge than normal during pregnancy. This is also a response to changing levels of hormones in your body and usually nothing to worry about unless accompanied by other symptoms like odor, itching or burning.
- Metal mouth. Some women report tasting metal in their mouths particularly during early pregnancy. This is an uncommon but sometimes reported early pregnancy side effect.
- More gas than usual. Don't be embarrassed, most pregnant women find they have more gas than normal during pregnancy. At least if your burp or pass gas in other ways unexpectedly, you'll have a legitimate excuse during pregnancy!
The best way to deal with the unusual and strange effects of pregnancy is to embrace them. When you take a moment to step back, you might realize they are actually quite funny. When in doubt, laugh off your symptoms. In the grand scheme of things pregnancy is too short to worry about too much gas or excessive salivation! The little baby that is born at the end of your pregnancy is well worth any small inconveniences you experience throughout your pregnancy!
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