There are many physical changes that women should expect during pregnancy including abdominal cramping or pain, backaches, breast changes, contractions, fatigue, frequent urination, gas, hair changes, headaches, heartburn and indigestion, hemorrhoids, leg cramps, nasal congestion, nausea, shortness of breath, and skin changes.

Abdominal cramping and pain can occur normally in pregnancy if they are mild but severe, strong cramping or pain is a symptom of something possibly serious and your healthcare provider should be contacted right away. Mild cramping and pain may be from implantation, stretching of ligaments, false labor, gas, the pressure of the growing uterus, constipation, or heartburn.

Backache can be normal during pregnancy because of the strain on the back from the extra abdominal weight up front and from changes in posture and shifts in the center of gravity. Weak or stretched muscles that support the spine or abdomen can also cause backache in pregnancy too.

Breast changes during pregnancy include increased breast size, sensitivity of nipples, stretch marks on the breast, larger veins of the breast, nipples that are sore, areolas darken and become bigger. The smaller glands located on the surface of the areolas become bumpy and raised. Colostrum may leak from the nipples as early as weeks 12 through 14 of pregnancy and others will see the first colostrum shortly after giving birth.

There are several hair changes that occur during pregnancy. Some common changes include thicker hair, hairs on your head will stay in the resting stage of the hair growth longer when you are pregnant so you won’t see much hair loss until after the baby is born, then you may see more than normal hair loss in your hairbrush or on your pillow.

Changes that occur to your gum and teeth include bleeding gums, inflamed or infected gums, and an excessive amount of saliva.

You can keep your gum and teeth healthy during pregnancy and avoid these issues by brushing your teeth at least twice daily and remember to be gentle while brushing and use a soft toothbrush. Floss daily, reduce sweets, and see a dentist prior to becoming pregnant and as often as recommended during your pregnancy.

Different pregnant women may not experience the same skin changes during pregnancy. Skin changes may include acne during early pregnancy, a bluish or blotchiness in the legs, the “mask of pregnancy” which is a brownish darkening of the skin on the face which appears on the forehead, temples or middle of the face around the eyes or across the nose. Another symptom of pregnancy that involves skin discoloration is called, “linea nigra”, which is a dark line on the pregnant belly. During pregnancy there is an increase in blood flow that can show up as the “glow of pregnancy” that you hear so much about. Another common symptom that pregnancy brings to women is that of itchy skin.

Read also:

1. The Joys Of Pregnancy May Lead To The Woes Of Hair Loss Have you noticed that when you are pregnant your whole body changes? Your hair is...
2. Bodily Changes During Pregnancy Pregnancy has got to be the time when the human body changes the most between...
3. Info You Can Use On Ectopic Pregnancy Many women worry about ectopic pregnancy, AKA tubal pregnancy when they find out that they...
4. Experiencing Pregnancy Loss And Understanding Why It Happens It is never easy to lose a child no matter how it happens. Pregnancy is...
5. Preterm Labor A Pregnancy Complication If a woman is pregnant and she has regular contractions and the cervix dilates before...