These are the pregnancy symptoms no one talks about

Pregnancy can be almost a walk in the park for some, while for others it can bring with it a host of uncomfortable and even unsettling symptoms and side effects. Many women find themselves asking, why did no one warn me?

Máire Finn, a GP in Co Clare, joined Today with Claire Byrne to talk about the lesser known pregnancy symptoms.

"It's not that people are trying to hide the hard truths", she said. "It may be because there's so many of them, there's so many potentially unusual symptoms and you don't want to frighten people off, I suppose."

Even the most commonplace and likely ones, such as morning sickness, can affect women differently: some can have debilitating morning sickness, while others will barely experience it.

"Pain is normal, tiredness is normal", she added, but said that sometimes people "underestimate the level of tiredness that some people will experience."

Some symptoms, Claire added, are so unexpected that you might not think to warn another woman about them, such as constant blocked ears and nose. Finn explains that this is cause by increased blood flow and is "very common".

"The main reason for most of these symptoms is either because of increased blood flow to an area of the body, or the hormone changes [are] causing the problem. In pregnancy we have much bigger blood flow, we have bigger blood volume, and partly as well we also have the volume of the amniotic fluid and what we're carrying around with us."

Greater blood flow to parts of the body, including the nose, can put strain on it. This can show up as feeling like "you have a cold the entire time and it's very uncomfortable, and you can't do much about it to be honest".

Using Vicks and Olbus Oil are simple fixes that are "fine as long as you're not using too much of them", Finn said, but added that sometimes you can't tolerate strong smells like those during pregnancy. "You find what works best for you", she said.

Inflamed gums is another symptom relating to blood flow that women may not be anticipating. "Years ago, before we understood this, they used to say that with every pregnancy a woman would lose a tooth, which thankfully doesn't happen any more, but it just shows you that you have to be very careful."

Skin rashes can also occur, due to the increased blood flow, or itchy skin - while could be related to biosalts. If you experience itchy skin during pregnancy it could be worth speaking to your doctor about it.

"Even though they very often innocent, if you have something and it's a bit odd, you should check it out because you're seen very frequently during pregnancy and those are opportunities to check anything you think is a little bit different."

To listen back to the full interview, click above.

If you're concerned about your health or have questions about your pregnancy, consult your GP. For more information, visit the HSE website.