How do it feels being pregnant

I was taking bump selfies when I was just six weeks along because the gas made my belly pop. I had to retire my jeans and switch to sweats, leggings and maternity pants earlier than I expected. Not only was my wispy auburn hair luscious for the first time ever, it also turned quite blond. And the carpet matched the drapes, as well. Rare, but a result of the hormone relaxin. I actually felt great when I was pregnant. It felt like a return to s gender values.

I feel like my boss took me more seriously and, in general, people were nicer to me! Oh, and people were so excited. Like, more excited than I was, which was strange. Your otherwise cool and supportive partner might freak out. When I became pregnant, he basically shut down. I lied awkwardly, elaborately and constantly to loved ones and colleagues.

I felt so bad by week 12 that I fully expected everyone to be mad at me when I told them the news. Of course, nobody was. With my first, I breezed though the first trimester, woke up early for work, drank coffee and kept running. During my second pregnancy, I had no energy, napped for two hours every day when my toddler did and had weird food aversions. Coffee and anything meaty or green made me nauseous. And everyone has a gazillion opinions. But no one ever tells you to prepare yourself.

I swear there is nothing like it. I loved feeling and watching my baby moving and doing somersaults during the last trimester. I have to keep this thing—forever? This is especially true with your second. It feels very unfair! I hear that this is very different if you use a midwife , but I was under the care of an OB and had very poor postpartum follow-up. I hear people frantically worrying about vaginal births, C-sections, inductions and epidurals , and honestly, none of it matters.

Try not to worry too much about how the baby comes out—just focus on the outcome. But not everyone feels that way. This might have had something to do with the fact that it took two years to convince my spouse it was time to try, and then two years of trying , so it was four solid years of waiting for this baby!

Plan for plenty of bathroom breaks during your next trip to the movie theater! Your pregnancy symptoms have probably appeared in full force now: nausea, breast tenderness, fatigue, frequent urination, mood swings, bloating, etc. Another unusual symptom is extra saliva in your mouth, which sometimes lasts until the end of the first trimester. Some women also experience headaches from hormonal surges coupled with caffeine withdrawal, stress, and dehydration.

Did you know that pregnancy does a number on your digestive system? Many women suffer from constipation and excess gas, in addition to the nausea that accompanies morning sickness. Are you glowing, mama? Your growing baby bump might cause aches and cramping around your abdomen. This round ligament pain can be mildly uncomfortable or cringingly painful. Did you know that blood volume increases by about 50 percent during pregnancy?

One side effect is visible veins on the skin, which are especially noticeable in fair-skinned women. As you near the end of the first trimester, many early pregnancy symptoms will diminish. You might notice, however, that you feel dizzy throughout the day. You can thank hormonal shifts, reduced blood flow, and lower blood pressure for these dizzy spells. Combat them by taking deep breaths with your head between your knees.

Many women report increased appetite, renewed energy, and higher sex drive during the next few weeks. The second trimester comes with a few strange symptoms. You might experience stuffy nose thanks to an increase of blood in the mucus membranes , leg cramps , and sensitive gums. As the hormone relaxin loosens your ligaments, you might also feel extra clumsy at this stage of pregnancy.

About 90 percent of pregnant women experience darkening of skin around the nipples, inner thighs, armpits, and navel. Backaches are inevitable while expecting you can thank pregnancy hormones yet again! As a plus, many moms-to-be start feeling their baby kick around weeks 16 to 25, so be on the lookout! By now, your belly looks undoubtedly pregnant—and your boobs have swelled up to prepare for breastfeeding. Expect to gain weight regularly until delivery usually about one pound per week.

A few stretch marks might appear as you quickly pack on the pounds. During the second trimester, some women experience heartburn , since pregnancy hormones relax the muscles of your lower esophageal sphincter LES. Try eating smaller meals, staying upright after eating, and avoiding anything acidic, greasy, or spicy. Constipation might also occur as Baby presses against your intestines.

By now, your little one might be kicking up a storm! The kicks feel like fluttering in your stomach. Also common during this time are leg cramps, swelling in the hands and feet, dry eyes, varicose veins, and trouble sleeping. The growing uterus could also put pressure on your lungs, causing shortness of breath.

Pregnancy often causes thick and shiny hair and fast-growing nails as your body stocks up on extra nutrients. While some women may still have high sex drives, others notice a dwindling libido. They might feel too sore and tired to do the deed at all. Other pregnancy symptoms include tingling hands from bleeding gums, as well as snoring from swollen enlarged membranes and pregnancy weight gain. Do your hands and fingers feel tingly? This will generally be lighter than your typical period and should not be overlooked as a possible sign you are pregnant.

Breast tenderness can start within just a couple weeks of conception, as your body starts rapidly producing additional estrogen and progesterone. This causes glands in the breasts to grow.

Coupled with increased fat and blood flow, your breasts will likely become fuller, larger and heavier. Soreness is a natural byproduct. Your body undergoes a lot of changes very quickly when pregnant. Among these, variations in hormone levels, lowered blood sugar and blood pressure and elevated basal body temperature can all contribute to you feeling short on energy. Some women report fatigue as early as the first week of pregnancy. There are several other symptoms that may or may not impact you to some degree.