If the movies have taught us anything, it's that newly-pregnant women can expect to experience a host of unpleasant symptoms - vomiting in embarrassing places, the need to urinate almost constantly and fatigue so intense as to border on narcolepsy, to name a few of the most common. But let's separate myth from reality. What can you really expect when you're expecting?

Every woman is different, and every pregnancy is different. Just because your mom spent every morning for the first three months of her pregnancy hunched over the toilet doesn't mean you will. Morning sickness, of course, is the quintessential pregnancy symptom - despite the fact that "morning sickness" is a misnomer, since it occurs at all times of day. Some women experience occasional queasiness, others vomit and still others have no nausea at all. If you experience morning sickness, help stave it off by snacking throughout the day, enjoying bland foods like crackers and gingerale and even wearing motion sickness bands. If your morning sickness is extreme, see a doctor - he or she might be able to prescribe a course of treatment that will bring you relief.

Another common first trimester symptom of pregnancy is sore breasts. Many women describe this as being similar to the tenderness you experience before your period, but slightly more intense. Although uncomfortable, this symptom poses no real threat. Invest in some seriously supportive bras and avoid dresses and tops that are too tight. It is also common for women who are newly pregnant to feel the need to urinate more frequently. This can be because your growing uterus is pushing down on your bladder - which, although not dangerous, can be an inconvenience. Finding out that you're pregnant is an exciting time, one that, although exhilarating, can also be fraught with anxiety. When you know what to expect, you can rest a little easier.