4 Annoying Symptoms That Are Signs of a Healthy Pregnancy

Heartburn. Constipation. Backaches. No one ever said being pregnant was a walk in the park. But the good news is that some challenging side effects actually signal that your pregnancy is thriving, says Yvonne Bohn, MD, co-author of The Mommy Docs' Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy and Birth.

You may wonder how to tell if your baby is healthy in the womb without using ultrasound. Thankfully, your body will give you many signs to let you know your pregnancy is healthy and thriving. Here are four annoying pregnancy symptoms that can be signs of a healthy pregnancy:

• Sore and enlarged breasts
• Increased vaginal discharge
• Morning sickness
• Exhaustion

Read on to learn what these symptoms mean for you and your baby.

Sore and Enlarged Breasts

Sore and tender breasts happen early in pregnancy, thanks to rising levels of estrogen and progesterone. Sure, the surge of hormones may make your chest feel heavy and sore, but it's also an indication that your body is adapting well to pregnancy, Dr. Bohn says.

Part of why breasts are so tender is because the basic structure of breast tissue begins rapidly changing during the first trimester, starting with increased blood volume and milk ducts beginning to enlarge in preparation for lactation. As estrogen drives the milk ducts to branch out and expand into the breast tissue, it also stimulates the pituitary gland, located in your brain, which begins producing prolactin, the necessary hormone needed in the production of milk.

One widely cited study has shown that 76.2% of pregnant people report tender breasts in the first trimester of pregnancy. So, while tender, sore breasts are definitely not fun, it is a common sign of a healthy pregnancy.

Increased Vaginal Discharge

Noticing more wetness down there these days? You're not alone. Lots of people see an uptick in watery, clear, odorless discharges during pregnancy. The culprit is an increase in estrogen. During pregnancy, a rise in estrogen kicks off increased vaginal discharge in preparation for birth—it may feel uncomfortable, but rest assured that it is a normal part of your pregnancy journey.

Besides being a sign of a healthy pregnancy, the extra discharge is thought to help cleanse the vagina and even prevent infections from entering the womb. This process happens thanks to high levels of estrogen influencing the vaginal lactic acid called lactobacilli, which creates a hostile environment for pathogens. In other words, extra vaginal discharge is a sign of a healthy pregnancy.

But while vaginal discharge can go a long way to protect the cervix from pathogens, which could potentially harm a growing fetus, it can't stop everything. Some pregnant people will experience bacterial vaginosis or yeast infections, both of which are common during pregnancy. Healthy vaginal discharge during pregnancy should be odorless, clear, or white and not include an itchy or burning sensation. If your vaginal discharge includes any of the following, call your doctor right away:

• Discharge that is white, grey, yellow, brown, red, or green
• Strong fish-like odor
• Burning sensation, especially after urinating
• Itching, redness, or swelling of the vulva or vagina

Morning Sickness

Morning sickness usually occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy and is often an early sign of pregnancy. Though fighting off waves of nausea can be downright debilitating, morning sickness is considered part of a healthy pregnancy.

For far too long, no one could pinpoint the exact cause behind the queasiness, but now researchers have found that morning sickness is caused by a hormone called Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15). This hormone typically hangs out in the hindbrain and is responsible for telling you when to vomit. During pregnancy, however, the fetus begins to make its own GDF-15, and the birth parent experiences a sensitivity to it, which we know as morning sickness. This same study also showed that babies who were exposed to morning sickness during pregnancy had a lowered risk of birth defects.

Aside from being a normal sign of a healthy pregnancy, those frequent trips to the bathroom could be beneficial for you and your baby. Research suggests that parents who experience morning sickness are less likely to miscarry or deliver prematurely. Older research has even shown that their babies may even perform better on IQ tests.

It's also been suggested that nausea and vomiting help prevent pregnant people from eating foods that could harm their baby in the first trimester when organ development takes place. "The idea is that meats and many vegetables may have toxins or parasites that could hurt the fetus," Dr. Bohn explains. "Forcing one to eat bland food prevents the potential exposure of toxins."

That said, don't worry if you're not experiencing morning sickness. Many people don't and go on to deliver perfectly healthy babies.

Exhaustion

Fatigue is a classic sign of pregnancy that can last for the full 40 weeks. While it can be exhausting to experience (yup, you guessed it), this sluggish sensation is—in most cases—a sign of a healthy pregnancy.

Metabolically, your body is changing, says Dr. Bohn. Your hormones are adjusting, and you are carrying a human being. In short, your body is being taxed. Taking short breaks or even midday naps can help combat tiredness and fatigue.

In one study, 94% of pregnant people reported feeling exhausted, making pregnancy fatigue one of the most common pregnancy symptoms. Researchers noted in that study that fatigue levels fluctuate throughout pregnancy and that sleep quality can directly impact how much exhaustion you experience. In other words, if you're feeling exhausted, consider getting more sleep.