The most common physical and emotional changes during pregnancy are very difficult to hide from the outside world. As the fetus grows, so does the abdomen of the mother. During the 40 weeks of pregnancy, the expectant mom will go through a huge list of physical and emotional changes. Nearly all of these changes have little to do with the mother and everything to do with the needs of the fetus.
The Physical Changes During Pregnancy
The most common physical changes during pregnancy are very difficult to hide from the outside world. As the fetus grows, so does the abdomen of the mother. This growth is noted from the 4th month through the end of the pregnancy for most women. The growth of the fetus in the abdomen creates physical changes in the interior of the body as well.
As the baby grows larger, the fetus will spread up into the abdomen and down into the kidney area of the body. This growth causes the organs of the body to adjust into a smaller space. This adjustment can mean a reduced appetite, increased need to urinate, decreased lung capacity and lower back pain as the baby load on the back increases.
The physical changes during pregnancy do not stop with the physical body, however. The hormonal changes and the blood capacity of the body also increase. The mother's blood capacity will increase between 25% and 40% in order to adapt to the need for more blood by the vital organs. Baby is also fed by the blood of the mother.
The Emotional Changes During Pregnancy
While the hormonal changes in the body are often thought to be the cause of many emotional changes, there is another reason why mom may feel a bit under the weather during and after the pregnancy.
Many women grow attached to the attention the unborn fetus acquires during the pregnancy. This attention is for the baby, but the mother feels the effect of the attention just as strongly. After the baby is born, the attention continues to be on the baby, but mom is no longer holding the fetus and instantly becomes a secondary thought to baby. This is, by no means, a vindictive process, but mother's often feel more depressed emotionally after the baby is born due to this change.
Dealing with the emotional changes during pregnancy, including the possibility of post partum depression is something the obstetrician is familiar with. Talking about these emotional changes is the first step is getting the right treatment for the emotional changes during pregnancy.
Other emotional changes during pregnancy may include feeling uncomfortable with having a baby, feeling anxious about caring for the new baby and even negative emotions about the baby from time to time as sleep deprivation takes its toll on the new mother and father. These emotional changes are also very common and should be discussed with the obstetrician.
The physical and emotional changes during pregnancy can also be linked. After the fetus is born, the mother's hormones will return to normal levels. This can occur quickly and the mother may feel the changes of the reducing hormone levels by experiencing emotional distress. This distress can lead to post partum depression in some women. If you feel as though you are suffering from post partum depression, talk to your doctor immediately.