Is this pregnancy symptom normal?

Pregnancy can do strange things to your body, and much of it is normal. This page covers common symptoms, what helps, and the signs that mean you should call someone.

Checked against NHS and US Office on Women’s Health guidance. Not reviewed by a clinician. Last updated 5 November 2026. How we check.

Get help for these, whatever week you’re in

The NHS says to get help for any of the following. Sudden changes in your vision, sudden swelling, and sudden shortness of breath need checking immediately.

Your baby is moving less than usual, or their pattern has changed
Vaginal bleeding, or fluid leaking from your vagina
A high temperature of 38°C or above
A severe headache
Sudden vision problems
Sudden swelling of your face, hands, legs or feet
Sudden shortness of breath, breathlessness lying down, or chest pain or dizziness
Pain you’re worried about
Itchy skin
Severe vomiting
Stress, anxiety or low mood that affects your daily life

Who to call

In the UK, the NHS suggests your GP or early pregnancy unit in the first 12 weeks, your midwife or early pregnancy unit from 12 to 19 weeks, and your midwife or maternity unit from 20 weeks. Call 111 if you’re unsure. In the US, call your ob-gyn or midwife. Call your emergency number if you think it’s life-threatening.

Common symptoms and what to watch for

Usually normal, with the signs that need a call
Symptom	What’s going on	Call if
Peeing a lot	Often starts early on. Later, the baby’s head presses on your bladder.	It hurts or burns, there’s blood, or your pee is cloudy
Bloating and gas (wind)	Hormones slow your digestion. Trapped gas, or wind, is a harmless cause of tummy pain.	Pain is severe, or doesn’t go after 30 to 60 minutes’ rest
Constipation	Can start early on. Iron can make it worse.	Food and water aren’t helping
Piles	US guidance says up to half of pregnant women get them.	You’d like a cream, so ask what’s suitable
Heartburn	More common from 12 weeks. Small meals and not eating within 3 hours of bed can help.	Medicine doesn’t ease it, which can be a sign of pre-eclampsia
Sore, larger breasts	An early sign. Colostrum can leak in the third trimester.	You feel a lump, or have skin changes or discharge that isn’t colostrum
Darker nipples	They can get darker and browner, and usually fade after birth.	Nipples change in other ways
Sensitive to smells, metallic taste	Both are listed by the NHS as early signs.	Sickness becomes severe
More discharge	Normal. Usually thin, clear or milky, with no unpleasant smell.	It smells, is green or yellow, or you’re itchy or sore
Tiredness	A common early sign.	You’re worried about it

From the NHS and the US Office on Women’s Health. The “call if” column isn’t complete. If something feels wrong, call anyway.

Peeing a lot, or a urine infection (UTI)?

Needing to pee more often is normal on its own. The NHS says to contact your GP within 24 hours if it hurts or you pass blood. If you might have a urine infection while pregnant, it advises an urgent GP appointment or calling 111, because the pharmacist route doesn’t cover pregnancy.

To cut night-time trips, drink less late in the evening, but keep drinking plenty during the day. Later on, rocking backwards and forwards on the toilet can help you empty your bladder.

Gas, bloating and constipation

Try small meals, plenty of water and high-fibre food. Don’t stop iron or other supplements without asking, but do tell your midwife if they’re causing constipation.

We couldn’t find official guidance specifically about gas or wind in pregnancy, so this rests on the NHS page on stomach pain and US guidance on bloating.

More on specific symptoms

Read about morning sickness, bleeding and cramps, pre-eclampsia and the size of your bump. If you’re worried about having no symptoms, that isn’t usually a problem.

Questions people ask

Is it normal to pee so much in pregnancy?

Yes. The NHS says it often starts in early pregnancy, and later it’s caused by the baby’s head pressing on your bladder. Contact your GP within 24 hours if it hurts or you pass blood.

Is gas normal in pregnancy?

It’s common. US guidance says hormones slow your digestion, which can cause bloating, and the NHS lists trapped wind as a harmless cause of tummy pain. We couldn’t find official guidance specifically about gas. Call if the pain is severe or doesn’t go after 30 to 60 minutes’ rest.

Why do my nipples look different in pregnancy?

Nipples can become darker and browner, and this usually fades after birth. Tell your doctor about a lump, discharge that isn’t colostrum, or skin changes.

Why can I smell everything when pregnant?

The NHS lists sensitivity to smells as an early sign of pregnancy. The page doesn’t give a reason, so we won’t guess at one.

References

Advice differs between countries, so follow your own care team’s plan. How we check this.