What to Expect When You’re Expecting

Hello, Moms-To-Be!

They say that one of the most beautiful phases in the life of a woman is motherhood. For most women, motherhood doesn’t come with the baby; a woman is made to feel like a mom from the moment she finds out that she is pregnant. Thanks to social media, we all get to see the beautiful side of pregnancy. Those maternity photos, the clicks with the little bundle of joy in the arms – it’s all so beautiful! But what they do not tell you is the hard bit and it’s essential that you are prepared by fully knowing what to expect when you’re expecting.

What to expect when you’re expecting

There’s a whole person growing inside you. Quite naturally, your body will change. Plus, the uncertainty of the future also adds pressure to the mind. So, while it looks all fun on social media and baby product sites, it’s not so in real life. Here’s a look at the changes to expect from your body when you’re expecting.

1. Sore breasts

Initially, your breasts will start to grow in size. And, while you may want to start to revel in this glory, they will grow sore. Because of the additional flow of blood and hormones, as well as the production of fat, you feel the soreness. The areolas become darker, while the nipples start protruding.

2. Constipation

During this time, muscles will start to relax so that you do not get early contractions. But it also means that you have constipation. Normally, your muscles work hard to keep things moving. But, when your muscles relax too much, things stop moving inside your body, and hence, you get constipated. Things can get even worse if you use laxatives without taking the doctor’s advice.

3. Hair growth

Ok, here’s some temporary good news after the bad news. During your pregnancy, you will probably have a lot of new hair growth. This is because of the hormonal changes in the body. However, while you’ll look and feel like a beauty queen with long locks to flaunt, you must also remember that you’ll lose them after the baby comes. Also, remember that you may have to face hair growth in unwanted areas like face or belly.

4. Varicose veins and haemorrhoids

Varicose veins arise in the legs and near the genital area, because of the blood pooling in the veins, when the hormones during pregnancy enlarge the veins. Haemorrhoids, on the other hand, are the swelling of veins in and around the rectum area because of the growing uterus, as well as increased flow of blood. Be ready for some itchiness and even pain in both these areas during your pregnancy.

5. Itchy skin

Among the many hidden wonders of pregnancy is itchy skin. Your skin starts to stretch during this time in every possible way, not only in the belly area, but everywhere else because of the weight gain and swelling. In addition, there’s hormonal imbalance, too. Altogether, your skin quality deteriorates, becoming dry. You will also find your skin looking darker because of higher pigmentation.

6. Stronger nail

Your nails can show two kinds of changes. Like your hair, your nails, too, can look amazing, as they grow faster and become stronger. On the other hand, (no pun intended), your nails can become quite brittle, and your nails start to tear and split. Either way, it’s time to start taking your nails seriously and grooming them. Why not have some cute nails to scratch your itchy skin?

7. Mood Swings

Because of the hormonal ups and downs, you are likely to have huge mood swings. You can be happy this moment, and crying bitterly over a lost newspaper the next moment, particularly in the first and third trimesters. Some women develop depression in this phase, as evident from the problem of mood swing lasting for over a couple of weeks, along with sleeping and eating disorders.

The only things that women are really prepared for during pregnancy are weight gain and a lack of bladder control. But pregnancy brings a lot more with it that no one talks about. That’s because no one likes to talk about their daily defeats. But remember that these are all temporary. The bigger picture is that you will be a mom for the rest of your life.