Hormonal changes in a woman's body during pregnancy

Pregnancy is a normal condition, and most healthy women experience no complications or only minor problems. However, your body undergoes significant changes compared to its usual functioning, so it’s helpful to know what to expect during pregnancy. It’s important to remember that every woman responds to pregnancy in her own way. If this is your first pregnancy, you’re probably closely monitoring all the changes in your condition. Some of them are hard to ignore, such as weight gain, while others may be less noticeable, and you might not even pay attention to them.

The line between normal and concerning can be very blurred. Some changes are alarming: bleeding, abdominal pain, or slowing down of the baby’s movements. But other changes, such as increased blood pressure or protein in the urine, are harder to detect on your own. This is one reason why it's so important to regularly see a doctor or midwife during pregnancy.

Remember that consulting your doctor is an important means of reducing stress and increasing enjoyment during pregnancy. Their role includes education and support, so make a list of things you want to find out and don’t hesitate to take an active role in managing your pregnancy.

Most early changes during pregnancy are associated with the movement of the zygote from the fallopian tube and its attachment to the uterine wall. The primary priority of your body will be to support it and increase its chances of survival.

In the early weeks of pregnancy, it seems that the body functions on autopilot. Your body knows how to nourish the fertilized egg and support it until full development. This, of course, means that you and your needs take a back seat for a while. Throughout your pregnancy, your comfort, mobility, digestion, and metabolism will change to maximize the baby’s chances of survival.

In the early weeks, try to minimize contact with toxins that could potentially cause problems. Taking 500 micrograms of folic acid daily will help reduce the likelihood of neural tube defects in the baby.

• Missed Period: If you have a 28-day cycle, ovulation likely occurred around the 14th day after the first day of your last period. Conception usually happens within a few days after ovulation.
• Light Vaginal Bleeding: Around 5-10 days after conception, known as implantation bleeding, occurs when the zygote penetrates the blood vessel-rich endometrium of the uterus. Less than 50% of women experience implantation bleeding, so don’t worry if you don’t.
• Breast and Nipple Changes: Increased sensitivity, enlargement, darkening of the nipples, and a feeling of heaviness in the pelvic area are normal.
• Metallic or Strange Taste in the Mouth.
• Many Pregnant Women Report Strange Sensations or Simply an Intuitive Awareness That They Are Pregnant.
• Increased Frequency of Urination: The inability to hold the urge for long and the need to empty the bladder immediately.
• Feeling Exhausted and Overwhelmed.
• Nausea and Changes in Normal Appetite: An acute sense of smell and intolerance to certain odors. Red meat, raw chicken, fish, and eggs can be especially difficult to tolerate in the early months of pregnancy.
• Acne and Vascular Network on the Face and Chest.

• Increase in Abdominal Size: Around the 12th week of pregnancy, the enlarged uterus begins to rise, exiting the pelvic ring and moving upward.
• Increase in Breast Size and Darkening of the Areola with the Appearance of Small Bumps: By the third trimester, colostrum production begins with occasional leakage. These changes occur as your breasts prepare for milk production.
• Weight Gain: A normal and healthy weight gain during pregnancy is 10-14 kilograms. In the first trimester, weight gain is usually minimal, more in the second trimester, and most in the third trimester.
• Fetal Movements That Can Be Felt and Seen: Most mothers first feel the baby’s movements (quickening) around the 16th week of pregnancy. Mothers who have been pregnant before and know what to expect may notice movements a little earlier.
• Shortness of Breath: As the enlarged uterus pushes against the lungs and diaphragm. Around the 36th week, you may experience "lightening" as the baby drops into the pelvis, preparing for birth. This happens more often with first-time mothers than those who have already had children.
• Varicose Veins, Hemorrhoids, Stretch Marks, Digestive Issues, Heartburn, Flatulence, Constipation, and Leg Swelling: When you list all these symptoms, you wonder what drives women to give birth. And although it sounds trite, all problems will be forgotten when you hold your baby in your arms.
• The Amount of Blood Your Heart Pumps Per Minute Increases by About 40% in the First 20 Weeks of Pregnancy: The total blood volume increases from 5 to about 7-8 liters by the time the baby is born. This means that your heart and entire circulatory system become more active and work harder to meet the additional demands of pregnancy. No wonder you sometimes feel tired.

During pregnancy, it may seem that hormones are running your life. They play a major role in maintaining your pregnancy and ensuring your baby’s chances of survival. But hormones are also responsible for mood swings and emotional instability. If you are usually not prone to tears and are quite reserved, pregnancy may reveal completely new sides of your character.

Sometimes you may experience depression and some confusion due to the changes happening in your body. These mood swings are not permanent; your emotional background will stabilize after the baby is born.

Since pregnancy means the beginning of many changes in your life (physical, mental, and emotional), you sometimes feel overwhelmed. Often women experience increased stress levels during pregnancy.

Your stress level can depend on several factors, but some actions help minimize it:

A certain degree of stress is normal during pregnancy. But if you feel overwhelmed by stress or find it difficult to cope with daily situations, it may indicate a mental disorder.

During pregnancy and the first year of a child’s life, women are more susceptible to mental disorders than at any other time in their lives. There are various types of mental disorders that can arise during pregnancy, including a range of anxiety conditions and depression. The likelihood increases if you have a history of mental disorders or if there is a family history of such conditions. Women with bipolar disorder are also at risk, so it’s important to talk to your doctor about your medical history, as this may affect which medications can be safely used during pregnancy.

The most important thing is to be able to identify signs of a mental disorder and seek help early. The sooner you see a specialist, the sooner you can recover and prepare for the birth of your baby.

If you’ve always had full control over your dietary preferences, portion sizes, and overall appearance of food, during pregnancy, you may lose much of this control. Body shapes and clothing sizes will inevitably change during pregnancy. But this doesn’t mean you should give up trying to look good.

Focus on hair care, choose beautiful clothes, and maintain a healthy weight gain. Feeling helpless about pregnancy will only make your condition worse. Try to perceive this time positively and not lose your sense of humor.

Anxiety is a common emotion during pregnancy. It can be quite general, or it can be more specific and directed (for example, fear of childbirth). Pregnant women may obsessively return to the same problems and worries in their thoughts. In critical cases, this obsessiveness may be a symptom of depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Discuss your feelings with your midwife or doctor. They have heard similar stories many times before, and you need to take care of your mental health for yourself and your baby.

Serious concerns may also include practical problems: reduced income, finding housing, budgeting, childcare, and simply the arrival of another little person in the house. Talk to your partner and family. Think of practical, realistic ways to lighten the load.

Pregnant women often experience conflicting emotions. Sometimes you are thrilled at the prospect of motherhood, and a minute later you feel completely neutral. You may be overwhelmed by guilt, especially when you can’t sleep. You worry that the baby will know it was not planned or that it will be born earlier than you and your partner planned. Confusion, guilt, regret, and even panic are common emotions during pregnancy.

Pregnant women are often extremely sensitive to criticism. Sometimes you perceive what is said as criticism, even though it wasn’t intended to be critical. Extreme sensitivity and emotional tenderness are common, so allow yourself to make mistakes occasionally.

Be mature enough to apologize to someone if you feel you were wrong. This helps build empathetic relationships. You’ll be surprised at how sensitive and understanding most people can be.