Physical Changes During Pregnancy: What Every New Mom Should Know
What Changes During Pregnancy Would a New Mom Need to Know About?
If you’re a first time mom that is currently pregnant, let me know which changes during pregnancy you were most surprised to learn about. As a new mom, I had no idea most of these existed during my entry into motherhood. Also, I had no idea that some of these continued post partum! These physical changes during pregnancy were surprising. Not all women will experience these changes during pregnancy. If you get some or most, know that with time it should get better. If you have any issues, your provider can give some more information about it.
One item I am including in this section that was surprising to know was itchiness. If you’re experiencing intense itchiness in your palms, feet, soles of your feet, and just in general – LET YOUR PROVIDER KNOW. They might want to run some tests to make sure your liver is working optimally. Itchiness was one surprising potential change that can happen that I learned about from social media.
Physical Changes During Pregnancy
1. Breast
As mentioned above, not everyone is going to see the same type of bodily changes. Some women might have more than others. Sometimes these physical changes don’t happen until later in the pregnancy. The first thing you might notice is extreme tenderness. You might notice a decrease of tenderness toward the second trimester.
Size of the breast itself will slowly increase because of the hormones. As you get closer to your due date, the glands start ramping up to produce milk for the baby. The size of the areolas usually increase. Honestly, I had no idea this was a thing. The color of this area and the nipples can darken because of hormones. You might notice leaking. You can place a cotton pad or get padding in your bra if it becomes a distraction to you.
After pregnancy and breastfeeding you might notice that your breasts are not the same shape or size. This is normal! It might take a bit of time for you to adjust, but know that there is nothing wrong with these changes. Partner support is crucial during this time where a mother can become self conscious and not feel like herself. If you’re a first time mom, read about partner support here.
2. Swelling
I knew that swelling happened in the feet and legs. I had no idea that it could also happen in the face. My lips and at the very end of pregnancy my nose were very swollen. I took a video of myself toward my due date and then months after giving birth I looked at it again. I was so shocked to see my before and after. My husband thought I had edited the photo because I seriously looked like ogre Fiona (look at that middle picture).
3. Stretch marks
Most new moms are aware of stretch marks that literally mark ‘motherhood’. The creams, lotions, and oils WILL NOT PREVENT STRETCH MARKS or get rid of them. Genetics play a huge role in if you will get a stretch mark. Not only this, but quick weight gain can cause stretch marks. Quick weight gain applies to any kind, not just in pregnancy. Some women get nothing, while others have tiger stripes everywhere.
My stretch marks appeared on the side of the hips, on the inner thighs, and the lower half of my stomach. They also developed toward the end of the third trimester. I thought I would have very little or no stretch marks, but that last trimester of weight gain gave them to me. This area wasn’t a big deal to me, but it might be for some women. If it makes you feel better, stretch marks can fade over time – mine did. Again, sometimes it doesn’t improve. Every woman and every pregnancy is different.
4. Weight
Weight gain or loss depends on the individual. My first pregnancy I only gained 15 pounds. I was working 12 hour shifts as a pharmacist, standing the entire shift, with barely enough time to eat. I would have a cheese and cracker ‘meal’ with a strawberry fairlife shake. This was not nutritious at all, but I think this stopped me from gaining too much weight. On a side note, breastfeeding can make it difficult to lose weight for some. Social media and other people told me that breastfeeding would let me lose weight. They were completely wrong. I only started losing weight once I stopped. During this pregnancy I have already gained 20 pounds and still have another month to go. Just to show you that weight gain can fluctuate with pregnancies.
5. Hair
Did you know that your hair can grow longer and nicer while pregnant? After you give birth you can lose it though. I had no idea that it would grow so quickly and then about four months post partum I started losing more and more hair. I also didn’t have any leg hair or in other places for a bit.
6. Urinary Issues
A weak pelvic floor can happen over time in pregnancy. You might notice that you pee more but also that you might have a couple of leaks when you sneeze or laugh. I don’t know much in this area, but if you are experiencing this you can contact a physical therapist that specializes in this area. During the post partum period and beyond, you can still experience this.
Mental Changes During Pregnancy
7. Brain Fog
WOW, I was not prepared for this one. This was one of the changes I had no idea about. Did you know that you can get extreme brain fog during and then after pregnancy? As a pharmacist I found this part of pregnancy to be extremely difficult to navigate. I would counsel patients and completely forget basic words like ‘aisle, talk to your prescriber’ and other phrases during the counseling session. I constantly called items ‘things’. Can you get me that thing? The thing is over in that thing. Can you imagine how annoying that must’ve been for my technicians to deal with?
I would describe brain fog as forgetting a word or even the part of the sentence you were in. If I was talking about a vaccine, I would stop midway and forget what I had just said. My advice would be to be patient, pause, and think about what you’re saying. Your words might come to you!
If you have any questions on whether something is normal or not during your pregnancy, consult your provider. Social media might be beneficial in some areas, but the information is not always accurate.