Pregnancy is an amazing experience—mentally, emotionally, and physically. But that isn’t a big surprise – after all, you’ve got a little human being growing inside you! But with that little “bun in the oven” comes a lot of changes. Here are 7 awesome things your body does during pregnancy:
[mighty_toggle title=”1. Your Blood Volume Increases” state=”open”]
“During pregnancy, the volume of blood in a woman’s body increases by a whopping 50 percent in order to help support the uterus. Accordingly, the amount of blood pumped by the heart increases as well. As the Merck Manual explains, by the end of pregnancy, a woman’s uterus receives one-fifth of her pre-pregnancy blood supply.”
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[mighty_toggle title=”2. You Actually Glow” state=”open”]
During your pregnancy you have an increase in circulation that cause many women’s faces to appear brighter, or flushed. And, according to the American Pregnancy Association, “as women’s bodies produce more hormones, their oil glands can go into overdrive, resulting in that famed pregnancy glow.”
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[mighty_toggle title=”3. You Grow an Entire Organ” state=”closed”]
Women grow a whole new organ – the placenta! It typically grows onto the upper part of the uterus and is linked to your baby via the umbilical cord. The placenta provides oxygen and nutrients to your growing baby. After your baby’s born it is simply expelled through the birth canal.
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[mighty_toggle title=”4. You Loosen Up” state=”closed”]
During your pregnancy, hormones help soften the ligaments that hold your bones together and the pelvic bones themselves begin moving to accommodate your baby’s birth.
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[mighty_toggle title=”5. You Stop Shedding” state=”closed”]
But during pregnancy, higher estrogen levels extend that growth phase, meaning you lose less hair and may suddenly find yourself with a gloriously thick ponytail. (Although, after your baby’s born, that “extra” hair will fall out.)
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[mighty_toggle title=”6. You Breathe Differently” state=”closed”]
“It’s not uncommon for pregnant women to feel short of breath, particularly later in their pregnancy when the uterus grows and begins to press on the diaphragm. But breathing also changes because of the high levels of the hormone progesterone in your body signal your brain to lower the levels of carbon dioxide in the blood.”
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[mighty_toggle title=”7. You Become Particularly Orgasmic” state=”closed”]
During pregnancy there is an increased blood flow to a woman’s genitals creating a surge in any number of hormones that influence desire. These changes can increase sensitivity, allowing many women to orgasm more easily.
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Interested in learning more about pregnancy? Read our blog on Your Pregnancy Week by Week