Motherhood is a precious gift! There is no other joy greater than bringing a new life into this world. And, the moment you hold your baby for the first time, the tenderness you feel inside your heart, that would be an everlasting memory for every mother.
But like any other precious achievement in life, motherhood also comes at a certain cost. It requires the mom to be prepared and aware of all the changes and challenges she might have to undergo.
Pregnancy can bring a plethora of changes to the woman’s body - both expected and unexpected changes. While many women are familiar with the regular hormonal changes that trigger visible physical signs, there are a few changes that many of them are not familiar with.
This blog here unveils all the changes that occur to the body as a result of pregnancy, during and post childbirth.
Changes during the Pregnancy
The body undergoes rigorous changes during pregnancy. The visible physical signs may appear in all pregnancies but the changes will be drastic in the case of a high risk pregnancy. Here are a few changes women undergo upon the pregnancy confirmation.
- Hormonal Changes - A woman produces more estrogen during pregnancy than all her life. This is the same case with the production of progesterone. These two chief pregnancy hormones cause the following changes.
- Sudden changes in mood are quite common
- Leads the formation of blood vessels and nutrient transfers to the fetus
- Physical Changes - While most of the physical changes that occur during pregnancy are temporary, a few of them such as stress marks, can remain permanently.
- Excessive hair growth or loss can be observed
- Faster nail growth but some may notice increased nail breakage or keratosis
- Hyperpigmentation that darkens skin on various parts of the body, including face
- Increased heartbeat, dizziness and fainting starts to appear from 2nd trimester
- Milk duct development followed by enlarged breasts
- Increased body temperature (hyperthermia), metabolism, and breathing
- Changed sense of balance as a result of new curvature of her back
- Sensory Changes - The sensory system, too, undergoes changes along with the whole body that is adjusting to the new norms triggered by the hormonal and physical changes.
- Increased threshold for sour, salty, and sweeter foods
- Heightened sense of awareness for variety of smells and odours
- Some women may experience increased nearsightedness, only to go back to the pre-pregnancy vision after the childbirth
Changes that Occur During the Childbirth -
While the whole experience may appear daunting for many women, remember that a woman’s body has incredible ability to bring life to this world and the body is perfectly designed to do it.
Here is how the hormones, powerful muscles, and the pelvis change and work together during labour.
- Preparing Uterus and Cervix for Labor - The person may experience Braxton Hicks Contractions weeks before the actual contractions. The person feels tightening and relaxing of her uterus. These contractions may get regular as the time of birth gets closer.
- Changes to the Cervix - The cervix starts becoming thinner in order to get ready for the dilation, also known as the widening. This allows the baby to enter the vagina.
- Water Break - This is, probably, the final change the soon-to-be-mom observes in her body. Also known as the rapture of the membranes, the amniotic fluid containing the baby breaks before the birth. In natural birth, the fluid looks light yellowish in color.
Due to gynaec problems, and pregnancy-related issues, the water would be green or red in color. In those cases, the fertility experts examine and consider the other delivery options such as caesarean section and laparoscopic surgeries.
Changes that are Associated with Post-pregnancy
These are more like the interruptions that stand between the new mom and the joy of motherhood. The body changes a lot after pregnancy in order to regain its pre-pregnancy state. Here are a few changes that may occur post-child birth.
- Perineum Soreness - Perineum is the region between rectum and vagina. The person will feel soreness of the perineum as a result of childbirth. Your gynecologist will help you during postpartum check ups with the best solution. Visiting your doctor post-childbirth is highly recommended and do not miss any appointments.
- Vaginal Discharges - The discharges are nothing but your body trying to get rid of the blood and tissue that was left inside the uterus. Medically known as lochia, it might be heavy during the initial days of the childbirth and may even contain blood clots. The discharge may happen for 2-3 weeks and the flow gets reduced eventually.
- Breast Engorgement and Nipple Pains - The new mother may feel discomfort as her breasts are full of milk. Feeding the baby might ease this discomfort or pain but she might start feeling nipple pain right after breastfeeding. Using warm water for shower and placing soft and warm cloth on breasts may ease the discomfort or pain.
- Other Physical and Emotional Changes - Starting from urinary problems, incontinence, hemorrhoids, losing loss, feeling stressed, giddiness, exhaustion, baby blues and postpartum depression, the changes a woman goes through are plenty after the pregnancy.
Family support and medical help is all that a mother-to-be or a mother needs during this long journey and exhausting journey. While your doctor helps you ease all your physical pains, it is your family that helps you feel relieved from your emotional burden.
Being vocal about every discomfort with your partner, family and your gynecologist helps, always!