Changes to Your Body During Pregnancy

Pregnancy brings a variety of changes to your body. They can range from common and expected changes, such as swelling and sore boobies, to less familiar ones such as nasal congestion and bigger feet. Keep reading to find out some more!

First Trimester

Your body goes through some big changes during your first trimester and unfortunately most of them may have you spending a lot more time in the bathroom than you would like or investing in way more tissues as those hormones rage.

Here are some changes you may experience through your first trimester...

• Morning sickness
• Mood swings - Pregnant women experience sudden and dramatic increases in oestrogen and progesterone which can cause mood swings.
• Pregnancy cravings
• Increased urination - Towards the end of the first trimester, you will feel like urinating more often. This is because your growing uterus pushes on your bladder, as well as due to the increasing hormones.
• Increased vaginal discharge (thin and milky)
• Constipation – If you are taking iron tablets this can cause you to be constipated, drink lots of water to help relieve this or tell a medical professional if it’s becoming a little too much.
• You might realise you have gained a few pounds
• Heartburn – A number of things will cause heartburn during pregnancy such as the muscles that break food down relax, hormone changes slow your digestion down and food stays in your stomach longer to absorb all the nutrients.
• Fatigue and tiredness – Your body is working overtime to accommodate the changes to support a baby, so it’s bound to make you feel more tired!
• Light-headedness – Your body is working overtime; it’s starting to produce more blood to help support your body to carry your baby, which may leave you feeling light-headed.
• Tender, swollen breasts - Most women notice changes in their breasts early in pregnancy.
• Headaches
• Nausea with or without vomiting

Second Trimester

Your baby is growing fast, and so are your growing belly and boobs!

During your second trimester your energy levels will start to pick up and you will hopefully not have your head over the toilet all the time, HURRAY! Here are the other changes you are likely to notice…

• Dizziness
• Nasal congestion and nosebleeds - These result from increased blood flow to the mucous membranes in your nose and mouth.
• Skin changes/ Stretchmarks – Our Bump Envy is the ideal product when it comes to skin changes as it is the perfect product to keep those stretchmarks at bay.
• Sensitive gums - Caused by pregnancy hormones.
• Stomach pains – This is due to your stretching uterus.
• Bigger breasts - Your breasts may not be as tender as they were in the first trimester, but they will continue to grow. Enlarging milk glands and deposits of fat cause the growth. These changes prepare you for breastfeeding.
• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) - You may develop an infection in the second trimester. Hormonal changes slow the flow of urine and your bladder doesn’t empty completely because your enlarged uterus pushes on it.
• Movement - You will be able to feel your baby start to move.
• Aching back, pelvis & hips – This is caused by the added strain your growing baby is putting on your body, hormones also play a part in this as they relax the ligaments holding your bones together to help your body prepare for childbirth.
• Constipation
• Leg cramps and pain – Expect this more when you sleep.
• Puffiness in your ankles, hands and face
• Heartburn - Heartburn may begin or worsen in the second trimester as your growing uterus presses on your stomach.

Third Trimester

The end is near, and unfortunately this is the trimester where you may start to feel a little fed up as well as huge! Everything may swell, it’s probably going to be uncomfortable to sit or sleep and when you think your belly can’t get any bigger it does. Here are some other changes you may notice during your last trimester…

• Tingling and numbness - The swelling in your body may press on nerves, causing tingling and numbness. This can happen in your legs, arms, and hands.
• Difficulty sleeping – As your belly grows it becomes more difficult to get comfy and sleep, your hormones may also cause you to have some crazy dreams and interrupt the only sleep you do get.
• Increased fatigue
• Heartburn
• More breast growth – Your nipples may also start to leak.
• Dry, itchy skin – The blend of ingredients we use in our Bump Envy will help relieve your skin.
• Stretchmarks – Stretchmarks may start to appear on your abdomen, breasts and thighs. Our Bump Envy is a blend of plant oils and butters will soothe and hydrate your skin, locking in the moisture and helping to maintain its elasticity - thereby also reducing the appearance of stretch marks.
• Full Baby Movements - If you baby stops moving contact your Midwife/GP.
• Shortness of breath
• Varicose veins – This is due to the pressure your growing uterus puts on the large veins behind it, which slows blood circulation.
• Hemorrhoids - These are varicose veins in the rectum. They may stick out of the anus and cause itching, pain, and sometimes bleeding.
• Braxton Hicks - Braxton Hicks contractions (tightening of your uterine muscles) may happen more often and become stronger. These are often a sign labor will be starting soon.
• Sudden groin pain
• Increased need to pee – This is due to an increase of pressure on your bladder.
• Muscle cramps in your legs