As many as 1 in 6 women feel unable to share their embarrassing pregnancy experiences with anyone, with many mums also feeling confused by all the conflicting pregnancy advice and information on offer, according to a new survey by charity Tommy’s.

The survey, which polled 1303 mums and mums-to-be, revealed that almost half had experienced memory loss and mood swings, half developed bladder weakness, and 1 in three suffered with constipation and flatulence.

The women also reported that 1 in 4 experienced random breast leakage; 1 in 5 reported to have increased body hair; 1 in 7 developed excessive sweating; 1 in 7 developed acne during pregnancy; 1 in 8 found they had stronger body odour than normal; and 1 in 10 women experienced hair loss during pregnancy.

The survey found that 1 in 3 women were confused by what you can and can’t eat during pregnancy; one third of women confused about whether or not it is safe to colour your hair when pregnant and 1 in 3 respondents confused about which prescription drugs are safe to take during pregnancy.

Many women did not know what exercise is considered safe when pregnant, and 1 in 7 were confused by how much alcohol, if any, they could drink during pregnancy. 1 in 7 were confused about whether it is safe to travel by plane; 1 in 14 did not know whether or not you can have sex when pregnant; and 1 in 20 women did not understand why they needed to take folic acid when pregnant.

Women are also often confused about the differences between normal pregnancy side effects, and when they should worry, with almost half of women complained of receiving conflicting information about their pregnancy.

“Being pregnant is one of the biggest changes the body goes through, bringing with it a wealth of new, and sometimes unexpected, experiences,” said midwife Sharon Simms. “Whilst most are harmless, it is important that women are paying attention to these changes, as they can provide vital early warning signs if something is wrong.”

She said that changes such as itching, bleeding or pain, should never be ignored.

“Research is revealing new findings all the time about the best ways for women to keep their babies healthy, so it is vital that mums-to-be get the most up to date information from both their midwife and other credible sources,” she added.

The news comes as Tommy’s launches a new campaign – Let’s Talk Baby, to help empower pregnant women by bringing the realities of pregnancy into the open.

By talking openly about some of the less well known physical changes women may experience when expecting a baby, the campaign aims to encourage women to get in tune with their bodies during pregnancy, in the hope that women will seek medical advice about any changes they think may be cause for concern.

For more information and advice on pregnancy, including foods to eat and avoid during pregnancy and how much alcohol it is safe to drink during pregnancy, Click Here.