What effect does pregnancy have the mother's body

Physiological

• Breast tenderness and swelling. Soon after pregnancy, hormonal changes may cause your breasts to be sensitive or sore. The discomfort will lessen after a few weeks as your body gradually adjusts to the hormonal changes.

• Feeling nauseous or with vomiting. Pregnancy vomiting, which can come on at any time of the day or night, usually starts after you have been pregnant for one month. This may be due to a rise in hormone levels. To help relieve nausea, avoid fasting. Consume small amounts of food slowly every one to two hours. Choose foods that are low in fat. Avoid foods or smells that make your nausea worse. Drink plenty of water. Foods containing ginger may be helpful. If your nausea and vomiting are severe, contact your health care provider.

• Increased urination. You may find yourself urinating more often than usual. During pregnancy, the amount of blood circulating in your body will increase, which causes your kidneys to filter more fluid, which eventually enters your bladder to form urine.

• Fatigue. In early pregnancy, progesterone hormone levels spike which can put you to sleep. Try to get as much rest as possible. Healthy eating and exercise will increase your energy.

• Changing food preferences. When you are pregnant, you may become more sensitive to certain smells and your sense of taste may change. As with most other pregnancy symptoms, food preferences can be attributed to hormonal changes.

• Heartburn. Pregnancy hormones can loosen the valve between the stomach and esophagus, which allows stomach acid to leak into the esophagus and cause heartburn. To prevent heartburn, eat small, frequent meals and avoid fried foods, citrus fruits, chocolate or spicy foods.

• Constipation. High levels of progesterone hormone can slow the movement of food through the digestive system, leading to constipation. Iron supplements can exacerbate this problem. To prevent or relieve constipation, include plenty of fiber in your diet and drink plenty of fluids, especially water and plums or other juices. Regular physical activity can also help.

Psychological

Pregnancy can make you feel happy, anxious, excited and exhausted, and sometimes all of these emotions can come together at once. Even if you are excited about your pregnancy, the birth of a new baby can add emotional stress to your life.

References

1. Bastian LA, et al. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of early pregnancy.
2. Smith JA, et al. Treatment and outcome of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.
3. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Your Pregnancy and Childbirth Month to Month. 6th ed.
4. Frequently asked questions: Pregnancy FAQ126: Morning sickness: Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.