8 Changes In Pregnant Mother's Body

Although welcoming a baby is a feeling of delight, surely there is an anxious feeling which is also occurred. Especially when you begin to realize changes on your body that you might encounter during pregnancy. What are those changes? Just go directly to the explanation below:

1. Breast Changes
When you’re pregnant, your breasts will soften, nipples become darker and more sensitive. Breast enlargement began to happen until you need a stronger and bigger bra size . That's the sign of the mammary gland starts producing milk.

2. A change of heart and lungs work
Heart of pregnant women will work harder to supply the increasing blood needs. In addition, the effect of uterine pressure on the lungs will cause a pregnant mother easily exhausted and breath harder.

3. Changes in skin and hair
Just don’t be lazy to take care of your skin and hair during pregnancy, because hormonal changes will make changes to both of them. Hair and skin may become more oily or drier than before you’re pregnant.

4. Emotional changes
It is very common if a pregnant mother discover uncertain feeling. Many feeling such as sad, happy, annoyed and others can arise in any moment. If these feeling is not managed properly, this condition can lead to depression or stress in pregnant mother. This can later influent the fetus, particularly its language ability development.

5. Changes in the mouth
Pregnant women often experience swelling of the gums, the occurrence of tartar and gum bleed easily. Teeth holes can also occurred.

6. Changes in urine
Enlargement of the uterus and the fetus is pressing the bladder causing urination of pregnant women more frequent. This can occur both day and night.

7. Feet and hands swelling
Accumulation of increasing blood volume due to fetal growth can cause legs to swell and also cause varicose veins. Usually the size of the shoe will be bigger than before.

8. Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are often enlarged in pregnancy and worsened after delivery. To avoid this, avoid loud straining during loosing the bowel and consume fibrous foods to avoid constipation.

Many or few, changes in your body will definitely occur during pregnancy. Sometimes the changes will make you uncomfortable. Now the decision is yours, whether you can cope with those changes with ease so you can spend a wonderful 9-month period happily. Because the excitement during pregnancy will later bring joy to your baby too.

5 Signs When You'll See Your Baby For The First Time

Here are the signs when the delivery time is getting closer:

1. Baby down
A few weeks before delivery, the baby's head will go into the pelvic cavity. It's called the baby down and you will feel a lightening. If in the previous weeks, breathing felt tight because of fetal pressure on the lungs, then in this moment you will feel easier to breathe because the pressure in the pulmonary has been reduced. But on the other hand, the pelvic would be loaded and will felt heavier.

2. Contraction
Contraction is a common sign that started the process of childbirth, but many mothers also be fooled by false contractions (Braxton Hiks) which also frequently appeared in the last weeks of pregnancy. To distinguish these two contractions, noticed the pattern. False contractions are not painful, irregular and usually will be lost in any moment.
On the contrary, the intensity of the real contraction will be increased toward delivery. Along with the time, the more frequent, the more powerful contraction is. Initially, it will last for 30 minutes every 15-20 minutes. Then increase until up to 30-90 seconds at intervals of 3-5 minutes.

3. Spotting
During pregnancy, the cervix is covered by mucous to prevent the baby from infection. When the delivery is getting closer, the cervix open and become thinner in order to make the pass of baby’s head possible. Mucous mixed with blood came out due to interruption of the blood vessels at the opening of the cervix. Baby’s delivering can occur within hours or days.

4. Fetal membrane sac rupture
Sudden large amount of liquid discharge from the vagina indicates the fetal membrane was torn and broken. This usually makes panic. Go to the hospital or midwife immediately. 80% of mothers deliver their babies within 12 hours after the broken of fetal membrane.

5. Backache
This condition commonly occurred during pregnancy. But if the intensity is increased, it's a sign of back labor. Normally when the baby down into the birth canal, its face pressed the spine and causing pain. This pain can be felt in the abdomen but more dominant in the back area.

Hopefully useful!

Ideal Weight Increasing During Pregnancy

Many moms complain of excess weight after giving birth. According to research, there are two factors why it happen:
1. Because before pregnancy, excess weight is already happened.
2. Because during pregnancy, mother gains more weight than recommended.
Excessive weight gain is not recommended for pregnant women due to the risk for back pain, leg varicose veins, excessive fatigue, and even could be worse: diabetes, hypertension and pre-eclampsia.
Obesity also increases risk of miscarriage and complications during childbirth. Also the risk of having an overweight baby (> 4.5 kg) which can that cause long time and complications during childbirth.

Before you plan and set weight increasing during pregnancy, you should first calculate the Body Mass Index (BMI) with the following formula:

BMI = Weight (kg) / Height (m2)

So, if your weight is 45 kg and height 150 cm, then your BMI is:

BMI = 45 / (1.5 x 1.5) = 20

Next, check the table below to see the recommended weight gain during pregnancy:


Set the weight increasing during pregnancy is very important, so that after delivery there is no excess weight "left". This condition will result difficulties in restoring the body weight to its original weight before pregnancy.

Picture from here
Source: Baby Guide (MaxMedia)

7 Things of How To Make Your Pregnancy an Exciting Moment

Congratulations! Finally you’re pregnant. For most people, a pregnancy is the most eagerly awaited since the beginning of the marriage bond.

Now is the time you begin a wonderful 9 months. The thought of the presence of a new member in your family in the next 9 months will surely make you and your whole family delight.

Only, sometimes pregnancy may become an unpleasant period because your body will inevitably change. If you are not mentally ready, then you will feel burdened to run through this period. Here are some tips for having an exciting pregnancy, no matter what happen during this period:

1. Getting Closer to the Lord.
Changes might have caused you stress. You, who probably had been mobile before, now must put the brakes on almost all the activities. Maybe you used to be a career woman who decided to quit your job in order to prepare the presence of your baby. All can be very stressful and make you feel missing something. Become closer to God will help you make peace with all the changes and can respond to any changes in more delighting ways.

2. Thinking that pregnancy is a gift
Remember that your pregnancy is a great gift, not all women can be given the opportunity to nurture life in her womb for 40 weeks and absolutely there is no gift from God which burdened His people. Whatever your condition during pregnancy, whether it be vomiting, sickness or swollen everywhere, just think of it as a sign that you are a woman who has given this fabulous privilege.

3. Pregnant = sexy
Your body shape is no longer slim. That's for sure. But do not ever think that you are now unattractive. However, distended belly and chubby cheeks actually make you sexier than ever. You're in luck because now a lot of pregnant dress with modern and unique design, so you can still look attractive even with a belly bulge.

4. Pregnant = meal time
During pregnancy, your diet is strictly prohibited (unless you previously obese or have diabetes). So not to feel guilty if you enjoy a meal or snack with an extra portions than usual.

5. Finding alternative activities
If before pregnancy, you are one of a woman who are doing a lot of extreme physical movement, now is the time you break for a moment and look for other alternative activities to replace your previous routine. Trying new things can be very enjoyable. Why don’t you try cooking, baking, knitting, writing, arranging puzzles, arranging flowers, or any activity that does not require excessive physical movement. Fatigue will make you irritable and affect the baby development.

6. Preparing the name
Searching for the baby name will be exciting. It’s better not to ask your gynecologist about the sex of your baby, just let it be a surprise. Now, you have to prepare both the names of boy and girl so when they’re born, you will no longer confuse to give them name.

7. Baby shopping
Filling the room with furniture and baby equipment can be fun. You will see new face of your home fully decorated with cute and bright colors of baby’s gadget. Believe me, it will help you change your mood and will be more exciting to wait for the moment of the first meeting with your baby.

Your pregnancy is an incomparable gift. Happy pleasant pregnancy...!!!
Just remember, not every woman can be pregnant, so enjoy your pregnancy.

Photo from here