Physical changes during different stages of pregnancy

Changes in the physiological condition of pregnant women can be roughly divided into three stages: early pregnancy (0-3 months), mid-pregnancy (4-6 months), and late pregnancy (7-9 months). The health goal at this time is to reduce the physical discomfort caused by pregnancy and supplement the nutrients needed for the baby's development. In addition to physiological phenomena, the psychology of preparing to become a mother also needs to be adjusted, and attention needs to be paid to the reasonable range of weight changes.

【Physiological changes】

The overall physiological change during pregnancy is weight gain, which is about 11-13 kg during the entire pregnancy. Weight gain in the first three months (early pregnancy) is relatively slow, with a total increase of about 1-2 kg. In the second and third trimesters, gain 5 kg each, about 0.45 kg per week, or starting in the second trimester, gain no less than 1 kg and no more than 3 kg per month.

First trimester – 0-3 months (0-12 weeks)

Symptoms: nausea, vomiting, a small amount of vaginal bleeding, easy urge to defecate, and drowsiness.

There will be feelings of nausea and vomiting, which is actually related to the body's hormones. Generally, the 5th to 12th week of pregnancy is the most serious period of morning sickness. Nausea and vomiting usually occur in the morning and evening. It is recommended to eat small meals frequently, keep the diet light, avoid consuming oily and irritating foods, and do not drink soup immediately after meals. If you vomit more than ten times a day and find that your weight and urine have decreased, please be sure to consult a doctor.

In the first three months of pregnancy, expectant mothers will experience a small amount of bleeding symptoms because the thickening of the endometrium causes some tissue to peel off and cause bleeding. If the bleeding is spotting or the amount of brown discharge is small, you can wait and see. However, if the amount of bleeding increases or even fresh blood appears, please seek medical attention as soon as possible.

In the early stages of pregnancy, you may also feel the urge to defecate due to the increase in progesterone secretion and blood flow in the body. Do not hold your urine or drink water during this period. In the early stages, because the body secretes a large amount of hormones, expectant mothers will feel particularly sleepy and tired, so it is recommended to get more rest.

Second trimester – 4-6 months (13-24 weeks)

Phenomenon: increased secretions, constipation, dizziness, headache, and back pain.

In the second half of pregnancy, the secretion of progesterone increases, causing more secretions and more leucorrhea; gastrointestinal motility also slows down due to the increase in progesterone, promoting the large intestine's absorption of water, resulting in constipation. The increased secretion of prostaglandins caused by hormones can cause local vasoconstriction, which can make some expectant mothers feel dizzy and have headaches. As the belly grows during the pregnancy, the pressure on the expectant mother's lumbar spine will become greater, causing the waist muscles to be tense. During this period, it is recommended that expectant mothers use more cushions to relieve pressure.

Late pregnancy – 7-10 months (25-40 weeks)

Symptoms: Abdomen becomes hard, breasts become soft, milk secretion, abdominal weight increases, edema

During this period, weight gain will begin and continue until delivery. The abdomen will feel firm, but the breasts will become tender and may begin to secrete milk. At this time, the abdomen will rapidly expand as the baby grows, and calf cramps and mild ankle edema are likely to occur.

By 33 weeks, the baby should have gained 10 to 13 kg. The fundus of the uterus will be 12 to 13 centimeters above the navel. At this time, the discomfort caused by the growing expansion of the uterus becomes increasingly obvious, such as nausea, chest tightness, palpitations, fatigue, and difficulty breathing. Also, because the fetal head is gradually descending, these uncomfortable symptoms will gradually improve. After 35 weeks, the fetus has descended and the fetal position has become fixed. At this time, the abdominal wall and uterine wall become thinner, and the baby's elbows, feet and head sometimes clearly protrude from your abdomen. Fatigue, back pain and pelvic discomfort are common during this stage.

Around 40 weeks, the cervix and vagina will become soft, preparing for the birth of the baby. During this stage, irregular contractions, swelling and other problems will become more obvious.

【Psychological changes】

First trimester (before 12 weeks of pregnancy)

At the same time, the fetus felt very unreal. Even if the pregnancy was planned, there can still be conflicting feelings, mixed feelings.

Second trimester (13-24 weeks of pregnancy)

When you notice fetal movement, you begin to feel that the fetus is a real individual, and you feel excited and accept the fact of pregnancy. Physically and psychologically, the mother gradually develops a sense of "oneness" with the fetus, begins to pay attention to prenatal education, and the focus of life and topics are concentrated on the fetus.

Third trimester (25-40 weeks of pregnancy)

The weight gain caused inconvenience in movement and they were worried about the pain and danger of childbirth. The focus will be on preparing for birth.

【Health goals and required nutrition】

The goal of weight gain for expectant mothers is based on their ideal weight.
(1) Ideal weight for women: (height - 70) × 0.6
(2) Low: less than 90% of the standard body weight.
(3) High: higher than 135% of standard weight

1. Early pregnancy (first to third trimester)
This is the differentiation period of fetal cells. The nutrition required by the fetus is not very much. If pregnant women consume too many calories, they will only increase their weight. During this period, the weight gain of pregnant women is limited to 1-3 kg. The most important thing at this time is to consume enough green vegetables and fruits, and supplement enough folic acid and B vitamins. No special supplements are needed.

2. Mid-pregnancy (fourth to sixth month)
The embryo develops rapidly and needs to be supplemented with sufficient protein and calcium. During this period, pregnant women's appetite will suddenly improve and morning sickness will no longer occur. Some people will gain weight rapidly, so they should carefully control their weight and limit the increase to 3-6 kg.

3. Late pregnancy (seventh to ninth month)
In addition to supplementing iron, you can also supplement vitamin A by eating some yellow fruits and vegetables such as mangoes and pumpkins to help the development of your baby's skin and bones. It is recommended that the weight gain during this stage should not exceed 7 kg.

Nutrition: Vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin B complex (B1, B2, B6, B12), folic acid, calcium, iron, fiber
health goals : Reduce discomfort during pregnancy and lay the foundation for the baby's development
Food : Dark green vegetables, eggs, beans, salmon, sweet potatoes, whole grains, walnuts, yogurt, lean meat, multi-colored vegetables