Pregnancy marks one of the major milestones for a woman, physically, emotionally and mentally. Profound changes occur and these changes differ from one woman to another and vary for each pregnancy! Do not be surprised to see your body change every trimester. Expect to feel some or all of them. Pregnancy transforms the shape and body of a woman to help her nurture and grow the baby in her. However, many of these changes are temporary. Here are some of the changes that you can expect during your pregnancy.
1. Skin
Skin is one of the most affected and visible change in a woman during pregnancy. These are due to hormonal effects on the entire body. Increased levels of estrogen and progesterone darken the skin, which is called pigmentation. Increased melanin production can also cause pigmentation on the face called melasma. It also causes linea nigra, a dark line that runs down the center of the abdomen. Besides these woes, women get a shinier skin due to increased supply of blood in the body.You may also increasingly sweat during pregnancy since the body steps up the functioning of sweat glands. Acne can also flare up due to excess oil secretion in the oil glands. Pregnancy also stretches the skin on waist, abdomen, thighs and breasts causing visible stretch marks. Various factors determine the formation of stretch marks. It is seen that genes also play an important role along with hormones in stretching the skin.
2. Hair
Some women notice excessive shedding of hair during pregnancy. This condition, Telogen effluvium, starts from one to five months following pregnancy. Hair gets into resting phase in this condition. This is part of a normal hair loss cycle. It stops naturally after four to six months after delivery. This occurs due to hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy. You will also notice faster nail growth during pregnancy due to hormonal changes. Some women may also experience, nail brittleness, separation of nail from the nail bed or groove formation.Talk to your doctor to get the right pregnancy vitamins which improve your skin, hair and nail strength. Intake of nutritious diet such as eggs, peas, bananas, milk, nuts, whole grains are some of the foods that will help your skin, hair and nails to be healthy.
3. Eyes
If you find yourself having vision changes during pregnancy, do not panic. Minor eye changes occur due to changes in fluid retention, metabolism, hormones and blood circulation. The curvature of the cornea of your eye may thicken due to water retention. These changes are quite temporary and you can expect it to be normal few months after delivery. However, you should get your eyes checked if you feel that your vision has changed notably.
4. Digestive and excretory system
With the progression of pregnancy, the uterus enlarges to allow the expansion and growth of your baby. The enlarged size of the uterus bears an effect on digestion as well as urination. You may feel the urge to frequently urinate, since the uterus pushes against the bladder. The pressure of uterus on the stomach can also cause digestive problems, such as heartburn, nausea and vomiting. The ingested food stays in the stomach for a longer period of time, since hormones slow down the digestion process. The body thus takes a long time to absorb the nutrients and can cause heartburn, indigestion and constipation. Intake of high fiber food with good amount of physical activity can ease these symptoms.
5. Respiratory System
Your body requires more oxygen during pregnancy as it has to meet this demand in several ways. The amount of oxygen that you draw will be considerably higher during pregnancy. As the pregnancy advances, increasing size of the uterus pushes itself on the abdominal wall. This push is also felt on the diaphragm and the bottom of the rib cage. You may experience short of breath due to the widening of the rib cage. This symptom will return to normalcy once you give birth. Do not try to over exert yourself and take things a bit slowly.
6. Cardiovascular system
To nourish the forming life in the body, heart works harder and faster. This increases the volume of the blood pumped by the heart by thirty to fifty percent. This ensures that the growing baby receives sufficient oxygen and nutrients. Heart palpitations are common during pregnancy. However, if you feel uneasy you should check with your doctor. Sometimes there can be low blood pressure which can cause dizziness. The heart rate returns to normalcy after five to six weeks after delivery.
7. Breasts
Changes in the breast tissue occur due to variation in hormones. This makes your breasts swell, sensitive, sore and tender. They increase in size during sixth or eighth week of pregnancy. As your pregnancy progresses, the skin may stretch and cause itching. These changes occur to help you prepare your body to nurse your baby after delivery. Some women also see veins running under the skin of the breast. You may also notice that the nipples become larger and darker with pimple like white areas on your aerola. There are also cases where women do not undergo any of the above symptoms. You need not panic and this will not hinder the success of your pregnancy in any way. Follow a healthy diet and the advice of your doctor.
8. Metabolism
Your body increases its metabolism to provide nutrition to the growing baby. Sufficient reserves are built to meet the bodily demands during and after pregnancy. You must intake enough proteins, minerals, carbohydrates, calcium and fat to provide nutrition for your own as well as your baby. Generally, women gain about twenty five pounds during pregnancy, out of which twenty pounds account for placenta, amniotic fluid, and increase volume of blood, uterus and the remaining weight is other fluids and fat.
9. Legs and Feet
Since women gain weight during pregnancy, it causes added pressure on your knees and feet. Varicose veins, leg cramping are some of the symptoms that women experience during pregnancy. Over-pronation or flat feet, occurs when the arch of the foot flattens due to weight and the feet rolls inward while walking. This can lead to extreme pain in the heel and arch of the foot. Varicose veins are a condition where the veins swell or bulge near the surface of the skin. These may cause itching, discomfort, throbbing while walking.
10. Mouth
Some women develop oral problems during pregnancy. Hormonal changes make the gum swollen and sore. It may even cause gum bleeding. It is important that you visit your dentist to prevent oral health problems. Gentle brushing and flossing can help prevent oral problems.