The Surprising Changes Your Pregnant Body Goes Through
Bigger nipples and extra fuzz – what’s going on?
When you are pregnant, it’s exciting looking for the signs that your baby is growing inside you and watching your belly start to swell. But there’s a lot more happening to your body when you are expecting a baby – like strange food cravings, mood swings and difficulty getting to sleep.
On top of all that, you may have concerns about how you are going to cope with being a mother and worries about breastfeeding. So emotions are running high.
On top of all this, the physical changes people don't talk about a lot can come as a shock. Here’s some body changes experienced by pregnant women, so you can know that you are not alone.
It’s quite normal to grow extra hair on your head when you are pregnant – and also develop more fuzz on your belly. It’s caused by an increase in the male hormones called androgens which are needed to develop your baby. (this doesn't mean your baby will be a body though). There’s not much you can do about this extra hair.
If it bothers you, you can remove the extra hair on your tummy with waxing. Shaving isn't a good idea because it will cause an itchy, stubble that you will find hard to itch as your belly gets larger.
Relax, most women gain extra fat around their but and hips when pregnant. It’s nature;’s way of ensuring you stockpile some fat so you have energy to feed your growing baby, and make breastmilk. This doesn;lt give you an excuse to avoid exercise or “eat for two” - but there is also no need to over-exercise or watch calories.
Enjoy your new curves and know that your body will return to normal in time, especially if you breastfeed your baby, which really burns up calories.
For most women, the breasts start to change around week 12. Your breasts may become larger and more tender or itchy. Some women find their breasts increase a cup size or more throughout the pregnancy. Others find their breasts stay more or less the same until after they give birth and start breastfeeding.
Your ribcage and back also expand when you are pregnant, and your body also tries to lay on some extra fat across your back. It’s a way of stockpiling extra calories to feed the baby. All these changes mean you may need to get a maternity bra. For the most comfort, look for wide straps and a supportive full cup design.
Varicose veins and spider veins are common in pregnant women. It’s because hormones cause your vein walls to soften to allow for the extra blood flow needed to feed the baby in your belly. This also causes the valves in your veins to soften and become less efficient, so blood and liquids have more tendency to pool in the veins and around your ankles (hence, itchy and swollen ankles are also common in pregnancy).
Remember to put your feet up frequently and ask your doctor if you can wear compression socks or stockings. You can buy these compression socks in a pharmacy or travel shop without prescription, because they are often worn by passengers on long plane flights.
Your breasts will probably grow larger while you are pregnant and you will also see changes to your nipples at this time. They often become darker and larger. Doctors think it is to create more contrast, which helps the baby latch on better for feeding. Newborns have limited long distance sight, but they can see contrast very well.
Some women find the nipples return to their previous colour after they stop breastfeeding, but it’s common for the nipple to remain slightly darker forever. When you are pregnant you may also see a few hairs growing around your nipples. It’s fine to pluck them out if they bother you.
It’s also common to see white spots of discharge from your nipples while you are pregnant. It’s colostrum, your baby’s first nutrient-packed milk. Don't squeeze it out. Just wash your nipples.
Hyperpigmentation can mark your cheeks, upper lip and forehead when you are pregnant. THis butterfly shaped darker skin is called melasma or “the mask of pregnancy”. Melasma is uneven skin discolouration that's more common in women who naturally have a little colour in their skin, so it’s quite common in SIngapore and Asia.
Melasma is caused by sun exposure, genetic predisposition, hormone changes, and skin irritation.The increased oestrogen hormone in your body during pregnancy makes pigment cells in your skin called melanocytes more active and more sensitive to sunlight. These melanocytes then pump out more pigment, and do it unevenly, which causes the mask of pregnancy.
It’s one more reason to wear sunscreen every day, and carry a sunshade when you are outside. Many women find the marks gradually fade away after they give birth. But if they bother you, speak to your dermatologist, who can prescribe creams and serums to calm your skin back into balance. They can also treat the dark marks with a series of IPL or laser treatments.
Text: Bauer Syndication/ARE Media