The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – A guide to pregnancy
Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010A HUMOROUS LOOK AT YOUR EVER CHANGING BODY DURING PREGNANCY AND BIRTH 
No matter what stage of pregnancy you are currently in, you need to realize that your body simply doesn’t belong to you any more, or at least for the time being. An expecting mom may look at the changes in her body with wonderment, amusement, or horror. Luckily, not every expectant mother gets every single possible change that may come with having a baby. That would be one miserable woman indeed.
Every woman is blessedly different, though, and your body’s reaction to expecting a baby depends on several different factors including genetic predisposition, current health status, and environmental factors. Then we discuss the good, the bad and the ugly.
THE GOOD
You’re glowing! Pregnancy hormones coupled with the vast nutrients contained in prenatal vitamins normally taken to assist a healthy pregnancy can result in shinier and thicker hair, stronger fingernails, and for some women a nice complexion.
There are some women who take to pregnancy so beautifully that they have a certain glow about them, almost like an aura of motherly content. Now of course there are countless jokes that could be inserted here about how that motherly glow will likely vanish with the first real painful contraction of baby birth, but for now it’s best for women to just enjoy their pregnant radiance.
When your belly bump starts to show and it is obvious that you are pregnant you will be surprised how many people come to your aid. Strangers will open doors for you, passengers give up their seats on the bus, and everyone is just more willing to be helpful to a woman having a baby.
This is to your advantage because everyone sees your condition, while you may not be the kind of person who is willing to slow down and listen to your body, with everyone around you cautioning you to take it easy you may have to actually listen.
THE BAD
Are you feeling like a stuffed sausage? For some women, the act of swelling and bloating is simply par for the course when expecting a baby. After all, it isn’t only just your stomach which is going to get bigger.
Expecting fundamentally changes your body whether you like it or not, and it’s not uncommon for women to actually go up a shoe size from bloating and swelling during pregnancy. Don’t be shocked if a year or so after the pregnancy and birth you look at a picture of your pregnant self and don’t even recognize the swollen face in the photo.
While promoting a healthy pregnancy, drinking plenty of water, ironically, can help keep the swelling at bay because it helps to flush everything out of your system. Be advised though, that any rapid swelling is something that needs to be checked by your doctor because it can be a sign of problems. If your doctor finds no problem and the swelling continues, just rest assure that even if your ankles disappear while you are expecting baby, they will more than likely magically reappear quickly after you give birth. It’s amazing how quickly the body can recover after the baby birth.
Your internal workings may slow down when you’re expecting a baby, and this includes your digestive system. Add to this the fact that prenatal vitamins have a ton of iron in them to stave off anemia issues, and you’re bound to be…well…bound.
Sometimes being an expectant mother can bring with it a double whammy, constipation and hemorrhoids. This really makes bowel movements uncomfortable. So not only do you have problems mustering up the need to ‘go’ but the act thereof can be incredibly painful. Luckily doctors can prescribe stool softeners, and hemorrhoid wipes, which most often do a good job of cooling the pain after a bowel movement.
Acid reflux is common with an expectant mother in late stages of pregnancy since the baby is pressing up on the digestive system, making it difficult for everything to run smoothly.
How do you know if you have acid reflux? If you have burps that feel sort of like a small bit of stomach acid has invaded your throat, then it’s likely you’re having this problem. Sometimes it can be so bad that when expecting a baby, women will abruptly awaken from a deep sleep, coughing and gasping for air accompanied by the disgusting feeling of having thrown up a little in their throat. There are some medications, which are safe to use for acid reflux during pregnancy, but many times it can be easily controlled with dietary changes.
You will quickly realize which foods result in grief, and you can either avoid them all together or simply eat them early in the day long before laying down to go to sleep. Some common culprits include tomato sauce, coffee, and citrus fruits. If acid reflux becomes a real problem then talk to your doctor; there is no reason to suffer if you don’t have to. Acid reflux is another ailment that seems to magically disappear once the baby is born, so just know that you won’t be burping up spaghetti sauce for the rest of your life.
Do you feel a bit wobbly? Even before your belly starts to expand you may find that your balance feels a little off. This is truly the time to put away your heels and trade them in for some sensible shoes because your balance is going to disappoint you time and again during pregnancy. When you begin to show, and when you can no longer see your feet, you are really going to need to pay attention to what you’re doing and take care to not fall down stairs or trip on rugged terrain. Remind yourself daily that you are in a delicate state, and act accordingly.
THE UGLY
Is that a roadmap on your belly? Not all expecting women get stretch marks on their pregnant bellies, but there are a good amount of women who do. Really, there is only so much your poor skin can take before it starts forming stretch marks, and the average pregnant belly gets pretty darn big.
You’ll notice stretch marks at first, as red marks, which look a lot, like scratches. They’ll get longer and more defined the bigger your belly gets. Even after the baby is born and the belly begins to return back to its normal size your stretch marks will remain. They’ll start to fade eventually, and instead of being a blazing red color they will instead look a more silvery color. So they’ll never really go away naturally, but they won’t be nearly as pronounced as they once were.
Are there ways to avoid getting stretch marks when expecting a baby? There are many creams and lotions on the market which purport to prevent stretch marks but nothing has ever been proven. If you wind up with stretch marks try to see them as an earned badge and consider purchasing a one-piece bathing suit next summer instead of a bikini.
Are those craters on your face? If you thought acne breakouts were reserved for puberty and certain times of the month then you’ll be disappointed to find out that many women will break out with acne pretty regularly while expecting a baby. Chalk this one up to hormones. If the acne bothers you then be sure to check with your doctor before employing an acne remedy. Some acne medicine is simply not appropriate for an expectant mother to use.
What are those veins on my legs? While you’re pregnant you can see your veins through your skin easier, so this can result in all sorts of interesting bluish patterns emerging just below your skin. Some pregnant women also have problems with varicose veins that are not only unsightly but also painful in some instances. Staying off your feet and not gaining too much weight can help you avoid varicose veins, and as far as being able to see your veins easier that will go away shortly after having the baby, if not before then.
Sure, expecting a baby can feel downright miserable at times, but there are other times when you will find yourself patting your belly and smiling to yourself about how amazing you feel. If you begin to feel overwhelmed with the changes to your body then remind yourself that you are busy growing life, and if this means you need to be uncomfortable for a while then so be it.
Many of the discomforts of pregnancy magically dissolve the moment you have the baby…it’s one of the gifts of baby birth. Just remember to cut yourself some slack; too often in today’s society, especially with everyday pressures, an expecting mom are sometimes expected to virtually ignore their condition and continue on with their daily tasks without getting the rest they need and deserve, thus putting undue strain on a healthy pregnancy.
Take a little pregnancy advice, Rest up now, because after the baby comes it’s a whole new ballgame.
Following these pregnancy tips will help you nurture a healthy pregnancy. If you have any other pregnancy questions or need further pregnancy advice, we have compiled a great new 57 page pregnancy guide full of information, tips and facts covering every possible subject and answering every possible question from the time you find out you are expecting to the baby birth and right through to getting ready to plan for the next little one.
If you would like to read more from our So You’re having a baby – The guide to pregnancy, visit our full informational page at www.womenslifestylepublications.com/parenting/having-a-baby/
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