Changes during pregnancy

'Pregnancy is a stage that marks the life of women'

You will have read this phrase on more than one occasion since you were pregnant. It is true that the period you are going through is a time of many physiological and psychological changes. Luckily, you have nine months to assimilate these changes!

At this moment you have begun to share your life with someone you don't know yet but you already have a special affection for them. Now it is necessary to follow some care that will benefit both you and him, who is in full development. The first step before caring for the baby is caring for the mother.

We know that pregnancy is not a disease, quite the contrary. It is a fact for which every woman is perfectly prepared. Everything and with that, not all pregnancies are equal, because not all women are equal. We know that during this time there are doubts, expectations and a host of emotions that most moms think about. Knowing the steps and stages helps you to be confident and strong in the face of what is to come. It is likely that your doctor or midwife will solve some of them, but we want to be a support so that you can re-read and remember the important points.

CHANGES DURING PREGNANCY

Over the next nine months, the changes will be presented little by little, starting with the physical:

• The growth of the uterus to allow space for the baby and become a strong organ capable of expelling it on the day of delivery.
• Hormonal changes (estrogens, progesterone)
• Changes in appetite in the first weeks. They may appear vomiting and nausea to what. throughout the day, the morning being the most intense moment, due to the hormone HCG (Human Chorionic Hormone)
• Breasts  they become more sensitive, increase their size and acquire a darker tone in the areola and nipple.
• The skin It is also sensitive to hormonal changes and spots may appear on the face, genitals and the alba area.
• Weight gain it is 8 to 12 kg during the entire pregnancy process, with the last trimester being the time of greatest increase.
• Appearance of stretch marks on abdomen, breasts, legs and hips. They usually have a reddish color d that is produced by a destruction of the collagen of the skin due to stretching. Therefore it is important to hydrate a lot, both externally and internally.
• The heart it increases its frequency of beats per minute, it lowers blood pressure and blood circulation is slower, especially in the leg area since the uterus begins to exert weight and this makes it difficult for the venous return to appear varicose veins and swelling in the feet .
• Lungs They begin to have less space towards the third trimester and this contributes to their rhythm changes, increasing the number of breaths per minute. You may notice some respiratory distress, but it is totally normal during pregnancy.
• The urinary system It will also be affected by the size and weight of the uterus compressing and causing the need to urinate more frequently.
• Heartburn appears consequence of the change of position of the stomach caused by the uterine growth.
• The gums They can bleed with any contact, so you should visit the dentist in the first few weeks for a checkup.
• The intestine its motility changes due to the action of progesterone and the compression exerted by the uterus. The way to improve this situation is to practice moderate physical exercise.
• Muscle and bone structure prepares and undergoes changes, such as lordosis, which help compensate for weight gain in the anterior part by arching the spine. These changes cause the characteristic walking of the pregnant woman to appear and pain in the lumbar and cervical areas.

In addition to these physical changes, changes may appear psychological during pregnancy as:

• Irritation
• Changes frequent in the mood
• Fears towards what is to come
• Feelings of rejection, sadness, worry, joy

All of these changes are completely normal, so there is no need to worry. It is a good time to be accompanied and ask for support from the couple and the family, if you need it.

You will see that this sensation improves in the second trimester of pregnancy since when noticing the movements of the baby it makes many worries and doubts disappear.

Not only does the mother experience changes, the couple may also show signs of worry, joy, fear, and even jealousy. Therefore, there needs to be good communication to share emotions and decisions about the baby.

From the third trimester, it is normal that you are impatient and restless to know how the delivery will be, the time to meet your child and the doubts about what care you should provide. Don't worry, you're going to do great!

Attentive because in the next post we will talk about what are the recommendations for a pregnant woman in terms of food, sleep, health, etc.