A guide to learning about your bodily changes during pregnancy – Part 1
Congratulations You’re Pregnant! Your body already has been and is going to continue to change so much in the next 9+ months!
We wanted to write a series of blogs to provide you with an overview of the bodily changes you will experience during pregnancy and list some helpful tips on managing your expectations in the coming months.
Here is a short breakdown of the upcoming changes to look forward to! Remember to check out the other pregnancy and pelvic health blogs.
Disclaimer: Each person and pregnancy is going to be unique! This is intended to be a brief summary to give a general picture of the physiologic changes associated with uncomplicated pregnancy. This is not meant to be an all-encompassing list or medical advice of any kind.
At any time, if you have any medical concerns or specific questions, please ask your healthcare provider.
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM: This is the primary system responsible for conceiving and growing the baby. For a general understanding of this system, watch a video here.
This system is made up of uterus, ovaries, and much more and will make some of the largest changes in the upcoming months. These changes mostly occur due to increases in blood flow and hormones, specifically progesterone.
- Changes in uterus:
- Increased blood flow helps to support the fetus, placenta, and uterine tissues.
- Position change: The uterus grows upward towards the ribcage and moves from the pelvic cavity to into the abdominal cavity around the 12th week.
- Growth: As the uterus houses the growing baby, it increases its volume from 10 ml (less than a tablespoon) to over 5000 ml (average amount of blood in the human body) and from a size of a fist to over 2.6 pounds.
- Braxton-Hicks Contractions: These “minor labor-like” contractions can begin as early as the first trimester, and can increase in frequency and intensity by the third trimester, sometimes creating ‘false labor’ alarms. It’s important to note that the Braxton-Hicks are different from the actual labor contractions as they are irregular and tend to resolve with position or activity changes.
- Changes in the cervix: The cervix has glands which produce a mucus plug to block the entry to the cervix and provide a layer of protection from the outside bacteria. This mucus plug dissolves by the third trimester, and the cervix itself becomes thin (or effaced) and dilated to prepare for the delivery. Typically, the cervix is assessed for dilation during labor to see how your labor is progressing.
- Vaginal/Vulvar Changes:
- The vaginal canal (and its ridges) stretches to accommodate for the delivery, and can start to produce a connective tissue discharge.
- The skin and tissue between the vaginal and anal opening (also called as the perineum) also relaxes.
- Veins within this area can enlarge (and cause vulvar varicosities) as blood flow increases.
- Typically the vaginal/vulvar area becomes wet when your “water breaks” due to the weight of the baby rupturing its sac and beginning the process of labor.
- If you have any symptoms associated with the perineal or vulvar area, like heaviness, achiness, or pain which cannot be resolved with sitting or lying down, please go to our module on varicose veins and/or consult your healthcare provider.
- Breast Changes: Each breast can gain up to 1 pound leading to striations or “stretch marks”. Nipple(s) can grow and become darker and produce a thick yellow milk-like substance which contains protein and antibodies (called as colostrum). Interestingly, individuals can start producing colostrum as early as 12 weeks of pregnancy!
What This Means To You:
- All of these changes may make your body feel and look different.
- This guide is mainly to help you understand how your body changes during this pregnancy, note that you may experience less or more symptoms than another pregnant person.
- Also, you may look and feel different, but if you start experiencing pain or other symptoms that you don’t feel are “normal”, please voice your concerns to your prenatal healthcare provider to see if this should be an issue addressed.
What you may feel?
- Due to these changes and need for increased growth, your body requires more energy, and as a result, you may feel tired or fatigued and hungrier at times.
- This also means you will experience weight gain in your breast and pelvic region.
- You may feel some heaviness or pressure in your perineum and abdomen, and if you start to experience pain, please see your provider to see if any treatment for its cause is possible.
- Due to this gain weight, you may move a bit slower when exercising or during everyday life activities. This is also normal and the decreased intensity of exercise can help you shift your focus on exercise to being healthy during your pregnancy and prepare for labor and delivery. Here is a link to a blog on Exercise during pregnancy and post-partum to help you get started with exercise.
- With the Braxton Hicks contractions, you may feel some tightening around your abdomen or even abdominal cramps (like when on your period) randomly throughout the day or after intense activity or working out. These may be very weak or strong and rhythmic. These can give you a sense of going into labor, but most of the time, these will subside within 30 after stopping an activity/working out or with positional changes (lying down to rest). This is what is known as “false labor”. If these cramps happen regularly for a while (over an hour) and you think you may be in labor, contact your healthcare provider.
What you may look like?
- Do not be discouraged if you are looking different than your normal self, with weight adding to your legs, hips, trunk, arms, and even face. This is normal and healthy.
- You can lose this weight during the postpartum time period if desired, but embrace this as your new healthy body during this pregnancy.
GASTROINTESTINAL (GI) SYSTEM: The GI system includes the mouth, pharynx (throat), esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus, and can undergo several minor changes. Most popular symptoms with this system include “morning sickness” and cravings. For a general understanding of this system, watch a video here.
- Dental Changes: With increases in estrogen levels during the pregnancy, gingivitis, bleeding gums, or excessive saliva in the mouth can be present. Chewing gum, oral lozenges, or eating small meals can help with this. Also, tooth erosion, tooth loosening, or mouth sores can be complications that arise from other issues. Please consult your healthcare or dental provider if you feel this is interfering with your health.
- Heartburn: Reflux of stomach acid and heartburn can occur due to high lower esophageal sphincter tone due to progesterone. Try to avoid trigger foods, such as fried or spicy foods, citrus fruits/juices, or carbonated drinks. Also, Over The Counter (OTC) heartburn medication may help. Please consult a healthcare provider if you want to begin one of these medications.
- Nausea/Vomiting: “Morning sickness” or nausea, vomiting, or lack of appetite can be a common symptom. This is typically present during the first trimester, with an increase in the body’s hormone levels, but can occur throughout your entire pregnancy. Hyperemesis gravidarum is a severe form of this, where an excessive amount of vomiting/nausea can interrupt or keep one from performing even simple activities of daily life. If you are struggling with excessive vomiting, please consult your healthcare provider, as hospitalization for proper nutrition and hydration may be necessary.
- Constipation: The increase in progesterone makes the smooth muscle of your intestines less active which can lead to constipation and hemorrhoids. The good news is that it also allows for increased nutrient and water absorption and supplies the fetus with the necessary nutrition!
Some symptoms of constipation include:
- Decreased frequency of bowel movements
- Difficulty, pain, or even bleeding with bowel movements
- Need to excessively strain with bowel movements
Note that if you are experiencing blood in your stool, please consult your healthcare provider to find the cause of this, as this can occur from other causes. If you have these symptoms, please go to our module on constipation and hemorrhoids and/or consult your healthcare provider for further help.
What This Means To You:
- All of these changes may make your body feel and look different. With any of these issues, you will mostly be feeling different, but other people may not be able to tell you are having these symptoms.
- If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and they are impacting your daily life, please let your prenatal healthcare provider know to see if these symptoms can be addressed.
What you may feel?
- You may experience heartburn after eating certain foods or laying down. This makes you feel nauseous or lower your appetite.
- You may also feel nausea or constipation due to the slow gastrointestinal movement.
- Due to these changes and need for increased growth, your body requires more energy, and as a result, you may feel tired or fatigued.
- This also means you will experience weight gain in your breast and pelvic region.
- You may feel some heaviness or pressure in your perineum, and if you start to experience pain, please see your provider to seek recommendations.
- Due to this gain weight, you may move a bit slower when exercising or during everyday life activities. Remember to read our blog on Exercise during pregnancy and post-partum to help you get started with exercise.
What you may look like?
- Most of these gastrointestinal issues are not seen by other people or even visually noticed by you. This doesn’t mean that these aren’t
- Do not be discouraged if you are looking different than your normal self, with weight adding to your legs, hips, trunk, arms, and even face.
URINARY SYSTEM: This system includes your kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra (see image) and undergoes a lot of changes due to increased fluid and other changes throughout your body. For a general understanding of this system, watch a video here.
- Urinary urgency and leakage: As the baby grows, there is greater compression of the bladder in the pelvic cavity resulting in increases in urinary frequency and urgency. Nocturia (urination at night) can also begin or increase during pregnancy. Though bladder capacity can double by the end of pregnancy due to increased estrogen, urine can retain in your bladder after peeing (known as urinary retention or stasis). This can cause more urinary tract infections, so staying properly hydrated is very important. Drinking at least two thirds of half of your weight in ounces of water a day is a good place to start. If you are experiencing any symptoms of a urinary infection; discolored, cloudy, or bloody urine, pain and/or burning with urination, increased urinary frequency or urgency, consult your healthcare professional.
- Water Metabolism: Fluid requirements increase during pregnancy, which challenge the kidneys to manage these changes. So you may see changes such as:
- Swelling or dependent edema or other fluid congestion syndromes like the carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Symptoms include swelling in the hands, feet, or legs, numbness/tingling in hands or feet, temperature changes, or dull/achy pain.
- If you have these symptoms, please go to our module on carpal tunnel syndrome or leg/ankle/foot swelling and please consult your healthcare provider for further help. Some of these symptoms can be well managed during pregnancy, so seek help!
Hope this blog series is a one-stop shop for you to understand the changes in your body during pregnancy. Please note that this blog is Part 1 of a 3-series module. So don’t forget to check out the others on this page!
Remember to check out the other pregnancy and pelvic health blogs written by our team! We want to hear from you! Please give us some feedback by writing in the comment section below. We look forward to our many discussions!
Written by:
Megan Pratt, PT, DPT (Physical therapist)
Kelsey Kushlan, PT, DPT (Physical therapist)
Hina Garg, PT, MS, PhD, NCS, CEEAA (Physical therapist)
10,077 total views, 21 views today