Pregnancy Basics
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You're either pregnant or trying to get pregnant. What should you know about pregnancy? While often welcome, pregnancy is something that will change your life and you need to be prepared by understanding what you should expect.
Some of the changes you will notice during pregnancy will involve changes to your body. As you probably know, you can expect your uterus to expand but as that happens you will also experience other changes. These changes may include backaches, pain in the pelvic area and even joint pain as the joints begin to loosen. You will also notice changes in your breasts. For most women, the breasts become larger and fuller during pregnancy. This can sometimes result in tenderness. During the last trimester, the breasts may begin to leak a thick, yellowish substance known as colostrum. This is the first milk that is produced in anticipation of breastfeeding. Inserting nursing pads in your bra can help absorb any wetness.
You may also experience dizziness during pregnancy. Although most women do not actually faint, it is a possibility. Lightheadedness in pregnancy is due to the growth of blood vessels, especially early in pregnancy. Stand up slowly and make sure you do not sit or stand in one position for too long to help with this problem. If you do faint, contact your doctor.
Unfortunately some women also experience problems with hemorrhoids during pregnancy. If you have not experienced this problem before, hemorrhoids are veins in the rectum that become swollen and begin to bulge. It can cause bleeding, pain and itching.
Many women also experience shortness of breath during pregnancy, especially as the baby begins to grow. Try taking deep, long breaths to help with this problem and maintaining good posture to ensure your lungs have plenty of room for expansion.
Another common change during pregnancy is swelling. This can occur in the ankles, hands and face and is most common during late pregnancy. If you notice sudden, significant amounts of swelling, you should contact your doctor immediately as this could be a sign of toxemia or preeclampsia; both of which are very serious conditions.
Digestive problems are also common during pregnancy, including constipation and heartburn. Remember that you should not take any medications unless advised by your doctor. Instead, try to eat plenty of foods rich in fiber, drink plenty of water, avoid foods that are greasy or fried and eat slowly.
You will also likely notice a variety of skin changes during pregnancy. While stretch marks are dreaded as a part of pregnancy, only about half of pregnant women actually get them. Other possible skin changes include brown splotches, tingling and itching.
During pregnancy you may also experience changes in your sleep patterns. Even though you may be exhausted, you may also find it difficult to sleep. This is usually most common in the first and third trimesters.
Of course, you will also experience weight gain during pregnancy. The exact amount of weight you can expect to gain will vary, but a healthy weight gain will be between 25 and 35 pounds for a singleton birth.
Generally, it is perfectly safe to continue having sex during pregnancy, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. You should contact your doctor if you have pain in the abdomen or begin to bleed.
Finally, you should know that you will likely experience a range of emotions during pregnancy. Hormones tend to increase rapidly during pregnancy which can cause you to experience a host of emotions. You may feel ecstatic one moment and feel like crying the next. While disturbing, mood swings are perfectly natural and part of pregnancy.
