The <strong>Pregnancy Cycle</strong> brings unexpected changes. While most women prepare themselves and look forward to becoming pregnant, there are some who are not ready for pregnancy. While for most expectant mothers the nine months of the pregnancy cycle is a joy that the she has been looking forward to, for some pregnant women, childbearing and child rearing mean too many changes to handle and feel overwhelmed.
Pregnancy entails nine months of cautious health care, frequent medical check up routines, a nourishing diet to avoid excessive weight gain and an overhaul of customary task which includes wearing loose and comfortable clothes. However, there are others who are confused with the process and the changes that go with the bodily and hormonal changes of childbearing. For one to properly manage expectations, it is best to know what to anticipate.
The nine months of pregnancy cycle are conventionally divided into three parts, roughly three months each called trimester and each <em>pregnancy trimester</em> has been observed to typically involve a few changes.
First trimester – fatigue, tender swollen breasts, upset stomach (morning sickness), cravings or distaste for certain foods, mood swings, constipation, headache, heartburn, weight gain or weight loss.
Second trimester – body aches, stretch marks on abdomen, breasts, thighs, or buttocks, darkening of the skin around nipples, a line on the skin running from belly button to pubic hairline, patches of darker skin, usually over the cheeks, forehead, nose, or upper lip, numb or tingling hands, itching on the abdomen, palms, and soles of the feet, swelling of the fingers and face.
Third trimester – Shortness of breath, heartburn, swelling of the ankles, fingers, and face, hemorrhoids, tender breasts, which may leak a watery pre-milk called colostrum , belly sticking out, trouble sleeping, and contractions, which can be a sign of real or false labor.
These conditions discourage some women to risk getting pregnant. However, by knowing what to expect, and being aware that this is but natural, certain steps can be used to minimize and alleviate the discomfort of the pregnancy cycle. The joy of childbearing and holding the sweet infant after child birth is simply beyond words and the discomfort of pregnancy will be insignificant.