What Happens To Your Body During Pregnancy?

Becoming pregnant is something which a lot of people consider to be one of their biggest life goals. Not only is the opportunity to bring a child into the world an amazing thing, but it is also an important part of living in a society. Of course, though, just because something like this is very normal, it doesn’t mean that it will be easy. To give you an idea of what to expect from this part of your life, this post will be exploring some of the ways a mother’s body will change when they become pregnant, giving you the chance to plan ahead and adapt your life to make room for them.

The Monthly Cycle

In the past, a woman failing to have her period was just about the only way to tell whether or not she was pregnant. Your monthly cycle will come to a halt when you are pregnant, your body conserving the eggs you have to be used once the child is born. This will be a relief to a lot of mothers, as this time of the month can be very unpleasant. It can also be scary, though, as some people don’t expect a change like this, and this makes it easy to assume that the change you’re going through isn’t normal.

Swollen Bellies

Looking at yourself in the mirror, it is probably hard to imagine your body having the room to store a whole person inside it. Of course, though, you don’t stay the same size when you are pregnant, and this can have a knock-on impact on the rest of your body. Most pregnant women will gain between 20lbs. and 24lbs. during the process.

Legs/Feet

Your legs and feet are going to experience a big impact from this added weight, as they won’t have time to adapt and get strong enough to deal with it. This leaves a lot of pregnant women with swollen legs and feet, making shoes and trousers very uncomfortable. Thankfully, there are loads of garments on the market which are designed to help with this, providing flexibility and free movement when you need it the most.

Back

When you have so much extra weight to carry around, it makes sense that your back is going to struggle a little bit. Good posture is one of the best ways to help with this, though this isn’t always easy to maintain when you have a large amount of weight at the front of your body. Massages and other treatments will also be helpful, along with using pregnancy pillows which are designed to put you into comfortable positions.

Belly

Of course, while other parts of your body will feel the strain of a swollen belly, the belly itself will often have to bear the brunt of this impact. Stretch marks during pregnancy are extremely common, and this can have a negative effect on your mental health, making it worth looking for treatments which can make them better. Along with this, though, you will also have to deal with feeling bloated, and this will only become more pronounced as your belly gets larger.

Hormones

The chemical balance in a pregnant woman’s body is very different from what you’ll find in a normal person, with all sorts of different hormones creating a strange balance which can be difficult to understand and control. This can result in a number of different side-effects, and it is worth being mindful of them to avoid letting them get in the way of your life. It can be easy to let yourself feel bad when you aren’t on top of areas like this.

Mood Swings

One of the most common issues that comes with the hormones which pregnancy brings is mood swings. Going from happy to sad to angry in a heartbeat can be hard to deal with, making you feel bad about what you’re putting your partner through. Of course, though, dealing with something like this can be as simple as telling your partner to be honest when they think you’re being too harsh or aren’t in control.

Depression

While having a child is often viewed as a miracle, it can feel like the opposite to a mother. Through not fault of your own, depression is very common amongst pregnant women and new mothers, with countless people going through this when they have their children. Being open and honest with the people around you can help with this, though it will also be worth putting some time into talking to professionals about this sort of issue.

Cravings

It makes sense that you have to eat more than usual when you have a baby on the way, as you will be working to develop their body while also sustaining your own. Most mothers don’t expect the weight cravings which can come with this, though. For example, pregnant women often crave things like chocolate, bacon, and even raw fish, with little explanation to make it all easier. In most cases, it’s best to feed into this a little bit, giving your body what it wants. Some cravings will be too much to cope with, though, and you may have to teach yourself some restraint as you go through the process.

There are loads of apps available for your smartphone which can help you with this. The best are those which are able to pair the craving you have with an alternative which is easier to get and will be better for you. For example, if you can’t stop thinking about chocolate, eating a banana could be a good idea. These fruits are fatty, filled with sugar, and offer a similar texture to the brown stuff, without being bad for you.

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to take on the challenge of dealing with the changes your body goes through during pregnancy. A lot of people struggle with this, finding it hard to know what needs to be done when they are facing their impending baby. Of course, though, this is something which you can work on with your partner.