Physiological and psychological changes of pregnant women

Introduction

Pregnant women can be roughly divided into three stages according to the changes in their physiological conditions: 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 be a mother also needs to be adjusted, and attention should be paid to the reasonable range of weight changes.

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

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

Phenomenon: nausea, vomiting, small amount of vaginal bleeding, frequent urination, 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, mothers will have a small amount of bleeding symptoms because the thickening of the endometrium causes some tissues to peel off and bleed. If the bleeding is spot-like or brown discharge, you can wait and see, but if the bleeding increases or even appears fresh blood, please see a doctor as soon as possible.

Frequent urination is also common in early pregnancy, due to the increase in progesterone secretion and blood flow in the body. Do not hold back urine or drink water during this period because of frequent urination. In the early stage, the body will secrete a large amount of hormones, and the mother will feel particularly sleepy and tired. It is recommended to rest more.

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

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

In the second trimester of pregnancy, the secretion of progesterone increases, causing more secretions and more vaginal discharge; gastrointestinal motility also slows down due to the increase in progesterone, promoting the large intestine's absorption of water, resulting in constipation. The increase in prostaglandin secretion causes local vasoconstriction, which can cause some pregnant mothers to feel dizzy and have headaches. As the belly grows during the cycle, the pressure on the mother's lumbar spine will become greater, causing the waist muscles to become tight and inflamed. During this period, it is recommended that mothers use cushions more often to relieve pressure.

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

Symptoms: Hardening of abdomen, tender breasts, lactation, increased abdominal weight, varicose veins, hemorrhoids.

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.

At around 33 weeks, the weight should increase by 10 to 13 kg. The uterine fundus will be 12 to 3 cm above the navel. At this time, the discomfort caused by the growing expansion of the uterus will become increasingly obvious, such as nausea, chest tightness, palpitations, fatigue, and difficulty breathing. 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 been 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. During this stage, you will often feel tired, back pain and pelvic discomfort.

Around 40 weeks, the cervix and vagina will become soft, ready for the birth of the baby. During this stage, irregular contractions, edema, varicose veins and hemorrhoids will become more obvious.

Psychological changes during pregnancy

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 (12-28 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 (28-40 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.

Nutritional Needs

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.First trimester (1-3 months): This is the cell differentiation period for the fetus. The fetus doesn't require much nutrition yet, and if the pregnant woman consumes excessive calories, it will only increase her own weight. During this period, weight gain should be limited to 1-3 kg. The most important thing at this stage is to consume sufficient green vegetables and fruits to ensure adequate folic acid and vitamin B group, no special tonics or supplements are required.。

2. Mid-pregnancy (fourth to sixth month): The embryo develops rapidly, and sufficient protein and calcium are needed. During this period, the appetite of pregnant women will suddenly improve, morning sickness will no longer occur, and some people will gain weight rapidly. They should be careful to control their weight and limit the increase to 3-6 kg.

3. Late pregnancy (seventh to ninth month): In addition to iron supplementation, you can also supplement vitamin A, such as eating some yellow fruits and vegetables such as mango and pumpkin, to help the development of the 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, B vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B12), folic acid, calcium, iron, and dietary fiber.
health goals	Reduce discomfort during pregnancy and lay the foundation for baby's development
Food	Dark green vegetables, eggs, beans, salmon, sweet potatoes, whole grains, walnuts, yogurt, lean meat, multi-colored vegetables