Body Changes During Pregnancy

A woman's body undergoes many transformations during the nine months of

pregnancy. Some of these physical changes are visible, such as an expanding belly
and weight gain, while others are well known, such as an enlarged uterus, morning
sickness and backaches. However, a few bodily changes may be unexpected and
catch some women by surprise. It's remarkable how a woman's body adapts to
accommodate a pregnancy. One change that often takes some pregnant women by
surprise is an increase in breast size. A woman's breast size and her bra size may
change several times during pregnancy.
A second unanticipated change is varicose veins in the genitals. Women may
expect varicose veins in their legs during pregnancy, but veins near the vagina and
vulva can also become swollen and pop out usually in the third trimester. Although
swollen veins in this area can be uncomfortable, they tend to go away after delivery. 
Here is a head-to-toe guide of some other physical changes that a woman's
body may experience while she is pregnant. 
1. Mouth and oral health
Bleeding gums are a common pregnancy complaint, and they may create an
open portal to infections. Women are more susceptible to infections during
pregnancy because the immune system tamps down. It's very important to keep
up with oral hygiene to prevent gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums. But some
women are afraid to go to the dentist while pregnant. Even though it's okay to get
dental X-rays during pregnancy as long as the belly is properly shielded from
radiation.  
2. Hair and nails
A woman may have many good hair days during pregnancy as estrogen
increases the length of the growing phase of hair follicles often resulting in a
thicker and healthier looking head of hair. A woman may not only get more hair
on her head, but also more hair growth on her body — sometimes in unwanted
places, such as the upper lip, stomach, back and nipples. 
As estrogen levels fall after giving birth, women may shed more hair. They might
see clumps of hair falling out after a shower or brushing, which is a normal
occurrence. Most women find their hair returns to its normal growth and texture
within four to six months after giving birth. 
There also tends to be a coarsening of the texture of nails during pregnancy,
making them more brittle and soft, and they may split more easily. Nail changes
may be a result of increased blood flow to the fingers and toes due to increased
estrogen levels. Like hair, nails also tend to grow faster when a woman is
pregnant, making them good targets for manicures and pedicures before giving
birth. 
3. Skin
Skin changes are very common during pregnancy, but the ones that tend to be
the most bothersome to women are stretch marks. These pinkish, purplish lines
are typically seen on a woman's abdomen, breasts, backside or thighs, and they
tend to itch. 
Stretch marks are more likely to occur in women who are obese, have rapid
weight gain during pregnancy, or have large fetuses. They may be caused by a
 breakdown of collagen, or connective tissue that supports the skin, in areas
where the skin has had rapid growth and stretched. Using cocoa butter can help
relieve the itchiness of stretch marks, but that there may not be a way to prevent
them. They also typically shrink after giving birth and become less noticeable. 
Women who are expecting may often have a "pregnancy glow." A rosy
complexion may occur because of increased blood circulation to the skin. But not
everything is rosy when it comes to skin changes during pregnancy. Pigment
changes, such as the "mask of pregnancy," also known as melasma or
chloasma, are a common occurrence. 
These brownish patches of darkened skin may appear on the face around the
eyes and over the cheeks and nose, due to an increase in melanin, a pigment
that gives skin its color. 
In addition, fluctuating hormone levels can produce a dark line in the middle of
the abdomen running from the belly button to the pubic bone. Known as linea
negra, this pigment change is usually more common in women with a dark
complexion, and it often fades after delivery.  Pigment changes can also cause
freckles and moles to darken and enlarge during pregnancy.  Acne can also
worsen during pregnancy or result in breakouts in women who had clear
complexions prior to pregnancy. Hormonal shifts that cause the skin to secrete
more oil are likely responsible for the flare-ups. 
4. Breasts
A woman's breasts may feel more full and tender when she is pregnant, and her
nipples may also be more sensitive to the touch. For additional support, some
women may sleep with a maternity bra at night. In addition, the areolas, the skin
surrounding the nipples, will darken and enlarge early in pregnancy. And a
woman's breasts may start leaking colostrum, a milky fluid. This typically
happens during the third trimester but it can occur earlier. 
5. Belly button
As a woman's abdomen expands late in the second trimester or during the third,
her belly button tends to pop out. This could make an innie look like an outie,
and an outie stick out even more.  
6. Body temperature
Women will tend to feel warmer and sweat a lot during pregnancy due to an
increased metabolic rate and increased sweat gland activity. To stay cool,
especially in the summer, that women wear loose clothing and drink plenty of
water every day. A woman is getting enough water when her urine looks yellow
or clear and not the color of tea. However, that some prenatal vitamins may turn
urine bright yellow.  
7. Joints and ligaments
During a woman's first prenatal visit, her pelvis will be examined to decide if it's
roomy enough to deliver a baby. But nature has also provided a way to help
create more space in and around a woman's pelvis, and that's by secreting
pregnancy hormones, including one known as relaxin, to loosen joints and
ligaments (bands of connective tissue). 
Relaxin not only relaxes ligaments in a woman's pelvis to prepare her for labor
and delivery, but it also stretches joints and ligaments all over the body. This can
lead to back pain and sciatica, or pain along the sciatic nerve — which starts in
the lower back and runs through the backside and down the leg. Relaxin is also
responsible for the "pregnancy waddle," an altered walk resulting from a bigger
belly and an increased curvature of a woman's spine. Yoga is good for pregnant
 women, especially cat pose and cow pose, which are both good for lower body
discomfort. 
8. Feet
Some women say their feet grow an entire shoe size during pregnancy, and an
increase in growth hormone may possibly be the reason why. A few small
studies have confirmed that feet get bigger when women are expecting and they
suggest that arches in the feet flatten out. Swelling in the feet and ankles may
also occur because the body is producing extra fluids that might pool in these
two locations.