Pregnancy brings a lot of changes to the body, from the obvious ones like swelling and fluid retention to the less familiar, like changes in vision. Our bodies are truly amazing, and pregnancy is a perfect example of what they can do. Some changes you can see, while others happen behind the scenes. These unseen changes are often the reason for common pregnancy symptoms, like acid reflux, needing to pee all the time, or feeling short of breath. Let's dive into all the visible and hidden changes your body goes through during pregnancy.
The Hormonal Rollercoaster
Pregnancy brings about wild hormonal and physiological transformations. A pregnant woman, undergoes abrupt and substantial rises in estrogen and progesterone levels, as well as modifications in various other hormone levels. These changes go beyond influencing mood, as they can also:
give the famous "pregnancy glow"
play a crucial role in fetal development
change how exercise and physical activity affect the body
Estrogen and progesterone changes
Estrogen and progesterone are the main hormones during pregnancy. A woman produces more estrogen in one pregnancy than throughout her entire life outside of pregnancy. The rise in estrogen helps the uterus and placenta form blood vessels, transfer nutrients, and support the baby's development. It also plays a crucial role in the baby's growth and in breast changes for milk production, especially during the second trimester.
Progesterone levels also skyrocket, helping loosen ligaments and joints. It causes internal structures like the ureters (which connect the kidneys to the bladder) to grow. It also enables the uterus to expand from the size of a small pear to accommodate a full-term baby.
Managing Weight Gain, Fluid Retention, and Physical Activity During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, weight gain increases the effort needed for any physical activity. This extra weight and the pull of gravity slow down blood and fluid circulation, especially in the legs, leading to fluid retention and swelling in the face and limbs. This water weight can make exercise more challenging.
Swelling often starts in the second trimester and can continue into the third. It contributes to much of the weight gain during pregnancy. To help ease swelling, it's good to rest, avoid standing for long periods, limit caffeine and salt, and eat more potassium-rich foods.
The added weight also makes it hard to exercise at the same level as before pregnancy, even for athletes. Discomfort during exercise can also come from round ligament pain, the growing uterus, and pelvic instability due to looser ligaments.
What to expect in each trimester
Each trimester brings its own set of symptoms and changes. Both your body and the baby will go through significant growth and development. For example, your uterus starts off about the size of a lemon and expands to the size of a watermelon!
First Trimester
The first trimester lasts until you're 13 weeks pregnant. Once you find out you're pregnant, it's important to contact a pregnancy care provider.
Here are some common experiences you might have in the first trimester:
Feeling fatigued and tired
Morning sickness
Tender and swollen breasts
Food cravings or aversions
Heartburn
Constipation
Mood swings
Headaches
Your pregnancy care provider will likely recommend taking a prenatal vitamin and give you a list of things to avoid during pregnancy, such as:
Alcoholic beverages
Tobacco products
Recreational drugs, including marijuana (even medical marijuana should be discussed with your provider)
Certain foods, like unpasteurized dairy, raw fish, or fish high in mercury
Second Trimester
The second trimester covers weeks 13 to 28. Many people who experience nausea and fatigue in the first trimester often start feeling better during this time. However, some symptoms from the first trimester can continue into the second. This is also when most people begin to feel the baby move. By around 17 weeks, most have gained at least 10 pounds.
Some common symptoms during the second trimester include:
Body and muscle aches
Weight gain
Darkening of the areolas (the skin around the nipples)
Developing a linea nigra (a dark line from the pubic bone to the belly button)
Patches of dark skin
Third Trimester
You're in the final stretch! The third trimester lasts from weeks 29 to 40. As the baby continues to grow, you may experience more aches and pains, and you'll likely gain a few more pounds as the baby builds up fat to stay warm after birth.
Some common experiences during the third trimester include:
Shortness of breath
Lower back pain due to the natural arching of your back as your belly grows
Frequent urination
Difficulty finding a comfortable sleeping position
Leaking colostrum, the first form of breast milk
The baby dropping into the pelvis in preparation for birth, known as lightening
Signs of labor, such as contractions or losing the mucus plug
Changes and shifts during pregnancy
Pregnancy can dramatically change how a woman experiences the world through sight, taste, and smell. Additionally, hormonal changes starting in the first trimester trigger various physiological shifts throughout the body, helping prepare the mother for pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding.
Vision
During pregnancy, some women might see changes in their eyesight, like becoming more nearsighted. Researchers are still unsure about the exact reasons for these changes. But usually, women get back their normal vision after having a baby. Common vision changes during pregnancy include blurry vision, discomfort with contact lenses, and higher eye pressure.
Taste and Smell
During pregnancy, women often experience changes in their taste and smell perceptions. They may find themselves preferring saltier and sweeter foods, while also being able to tolerate strong sour, salty, and sweet flavors. In the first trimester, it is common to experience dysgeusia, a reduced ability to taste. Additionally, pregnant women may notice heightened sensitivity to smells and some may believe they can detect scents more acutely than those who are not pregnant.
Breasts
During pregnancy, women experience various changes in their breasts as their bodies get ready to provide milk to their newborns. Hormones during pregnancy can lead to darkening of the areola, along with breast growth, tenderness, and darker veins. Some women might develop stretch marks due to rapid breast growth. Additionally, nipples and areolas may increase in size. Areolas may develop small bumps, and many women start producing colostrum, a yellowish substance, during the second trimester. Milk ducts also expand to prepare for milk production. Women may notice lumps in breast tissue, possibly from blocked milk ducts, which should be checked by a doctor if they persist after self-massage and warm compresses.
Cervix
During pregnancy and labor, the cervix undergoes physical changes. Initially, it thickens and becomes firm. As the due date nears, it softens and may dilate due to baby's pressure. A mucus plug seals the uterus early on, later discharged as the "bloody show." Before birth, the cervix dilates, softens, and becomes thin to help the baby pass through the birth canal.
Moreover, several women may undergo alterations in their skin's physical appearance while pregnant. While most are transient, certain changes like stretch marks can lead to enduring effects. Furthermore, women who encounter these skin changes during pregnancy are prone to experiencing them again in subsequent pregnancies or even while using hormonal contraceptives.
Remember!!!!
Being pregnant can be a rollercoaster of emotions, from excitement to worry and everything in between. Your body will go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to know what's normal and what's not. It's totally normal to have a ton of questions about what's coming and how to have a healthy pregnancy. The most important thing during this time is to keep up with your regular check-ups with your healthcare provider. They're there to help guide you through this amazing journey, so don't be afraid to ask them anything that's on your mind.
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