How many classic movie scenes can you think of in your head where the extremely preggo mom, monnnnnnths deep into her pregnancy, makes her significant other run to the grocery store at 3 AM to pick up a pint of chocolate ice cream and a can of the saltiest sardines in town? (Cue hangry mom-to-be sitting on her kitchen floor in the middle of the night indulging in one of the weirdest food combos alive.)
Pregnant women can experience many physical changes throughout their time carrying babe, with symptoms that range in presentation and intensity from person to person. Each mom-to-be’s body is unique and special, and no matter the body changes you experience during your pregnancy, Hatch is here to guide you through the signs and symptoms so that you’ll feel prepared with what to expect.
First Trimester
Once you start missing your periods and get that positive pregnancy test, you may start to experience physical bodily changes soon afterward. Even though your baby bump likely won’t start to show until the second trimester, you can experience other physical symptoms, such as swelling in your breasts that leaves them sensitive, tender, and sore to the touch.
Pregnancy Hormones
Changes in your hormone levels often cause breast tenderness, which can additionally bring on more drastic mood swings and a more short-term breadth of emotional changes throughout your day. The hormones that are responsible for you crying over a cute dog in a raincoat at the park could be a combo of estrogen, progesterone, and more.
You might start to experience lovely bouts of morning sickness (helloooo, nausea and ginger chews!). Staying hydrated and avoiding long gaps in your snacks or meals can help you manage morning sickness.
Cravings
Speaking of snacks and meals, you can begin to experience food cravings during your early pregnancy stages (peep the late-night craving for a very specific ice cream flavor or for the saltiest savory loaded nacho plate in town). With these food cravings can come heartburn and indigestion, particularly if you crave a lot of fried or spicy foods, as well as chocolate.
Additionally, the first trimester of pregnancy can also cause constipation, thanks to elevated progesterone levels. You might also experience increased urination due to the extra blood flow volume increases throughout your body.
Taking prenatal vitamins and supplements that are rich in iron can help relieve constipation symptoms. So can physical activity, which can also help boost your mood and regulate your emotions as a brand-new mom-to-be.
Second Trimester
Thankfully, most expectant moms start to experience a wane in their morning sickness during the second trimester of pregnancy. Your sore breasts often also start to become less tender, and you may feel that you have a bit more energy as your fatigue can start to die down.
Bump Growth
The second trimester is super exciting (and also sometimes uncomfortable). With your growing uterus and placenta, weight gain is common.
In the first and second trimesters of your pregnancy, you may also experience skin changes due to hormonal changes. You may notice more oily skin, new acne developments, or dark spots called melasma. Staying on top of a pregnancy-safe skincare routine can help nourish that glamorous expectant mom glow all through your pregnancy.
Third Trimester
The third trimester, which typically lasts weeks 28 through 40, can bring a few final changes to that glamorous preggo mom bod before your new little one arrives. Your baby’s organs are now fully developed, and you can even start to experience special moments of movement inside of you.
One of the most common symptoms for your third trimester of pregnancy is more aches and pains due to increased weight gain as that cute bump continues to grow. By the end of the third trimester, your bump may be so big that you can’t even see your toes anymore.
Effects of Increased Blood Volume
Carrying that little one for so many months can mean that you experience swelling in your legs, feet, and ankles, as well as leg cramps and back pain. Gorg compression socks can help ease the swelling symptoms and are a totally hot retro look for all the chic moms-to-be out there.
You may also continue to experience increased urination and heartburn during your third trimester. Additionally, a couple of new signs and symptoms can show up, one of them being shortness of breath as your growing uterus takes up more space and slightly compresses other organs, including your lungs.
While your nipple soreness might decrease (and in some preggo moms, it doesn’t, which is also totally normal although uncomfortable), you will likely start to produce colostrum. Colostrum is yellow and watery milk that’s not quite milk yet, that your breasts produce in preparation for your newly nursing babe-to-be.
If you do start to leak colostrum, it doesn’t mean you’re necessarily ready to give birth. Some women leak colostrum as early as 16 weeks of pregnancy. Don’t express this milk — just grab your nipple shields and call your OB/GYN if you have any questions.
Mama Must-Haves Kit has incredibly soothing self-care items like belly oil, lotion, and balm. This pampering kit can help nourish your body through the aches, stretch marks, and swelling in the final stages before (and after!) your due date.
Fourth Trimester
The fourth trimester lasts from your baby’s birth up until 12 weeks afterward. During this postpartum period, you might experience symptoms such as back aches, perineum pain, fatigue, vaginal bleeding, constipation, hemorrhoids, and night sweats.
The Urge To Shop
If you are breastfeeding, you can experience sore nipples as your engorged breasts fill with milk to feed your new babe. Stocking up on a few comfort items, like our Nipple and Lip Balm, our 4th Tri Feeding Bundle, or the New Mama Sleep Bundle, can help provide you with the utmost comfort and luxury as you and baby take on the world together.
Soothe Your Body Through Every Change
Whether you experience extreme morning sickness or no nausea at all, the seemingly worst leg cramps of your life or mild ankle soreness, a wild acne breakout, or a slightly oilier skin combo — Hatch is here to help you through all your body changes during pregnancy.
Plus, we’ve got all the latest fashion and style tips so that you can still look like a chic, Vogue-esque mom-to-be through every trimester.
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