What to expect during pregnancy

Pregnancy is an exciting event, but there are also many myths surrounding it. For this reason, many women ask what they should expect during pregnancy. The answer is slightly complicated because each woman is different and each pregnancy is different, making it challenging to compile a list of things to expect that will apply to everyone. However, there are certain things that happen more frequently than others, including weight gain, hormonal swings, and other physical symptoms.

A certain amount of weight gain is a common change that happens to your body during pregnancy.  However, you probably won’t gain a lot of weight right away. During the first trimester, most women gain ten pounds or less. During the second two trimesters, you can expect to gain between one and two pounds per week for a total of 25-35 pounds.

• Read more about how to have a healthy pregnancy and limit unnecessary weight gain

Hormones are the way that your body knows what to do during pregnancy – when to start producing milk, when to supply certain nutrients to the baby, even when to feel more tired so that you get the rest that you need. This means that during pregnancy, you should expect to experience hormonal changes unlike anything you have experienced since puberty. This can manifest itself in mood swings, emotional ups and downs, and even hot flashes, all of which are normal parts of a healthy pregnancy.

Finally, there are many physical symptoms that you can expect to feel at some point during your pregnancy. You may have them only for a short period, for the entire pregnancy, or not at all.

Some of these symptoms include:

• Cramps. This is most common during the first trimester as implantation occurs and the uterus grows. 
• Nausea or morning sickness. Again, this symptom is most common during the first trimester. The nausea generally occurs for several hours before receding, but does not always take place in the morning. 
• Digestive issues such as heartburn or constipation.
• Longer, thicker hair. You lose less hair during your pregnancy than you do normally, leading many women to enjoy beautiful hair during this time.
• Changes in your skin. Your skin may become dryer or you can experience acne due to the hormones in your system. In most cases, your skin will return to normal after the baby is born.

During your pregnancy, you can expect many physical changes and an emotional rollercoaster, but this is all normal. If you experience anything that causes you concern, the best idea is to call your doctor.