Pregnant women experience sudden and dramatic increases in estrogen and progesterone. They also experience changes in the quantity and function of a number of other hormones. These changes not only affect the mood. They can also:
Create the "glow" of pregnancy.
It helps significantly in the development of the fetus.
Alter the physical impact of exercise and physical activity in the body.



Changes of estrogen and progesterone.

Estrogen and progesterone are the main hormones of pregnancy. A woman will produce more estrogen during a pregnancy that throughout her life when she is not pregnant. The increase in estrogen during pregnancy allows the uterus and placenta to be:

improve vascularization (the formation of blood vessels)
Transfer nutrients
Support the baby in development
In addition, it is believed that estrogen plays an important role to help the fetus develop and mature.

Estrogen levels increase constantly during pregnancy and reach its peak in the third quarter. The rapid increase in estrogen levels during the first trimester can cause some of the nausea associated with pregnancy. During the second quarter, it plays an important role in the development of the milk conduit that expands the breasts.

Progesterone levels are also extraordinarily high during pregnancy. Changes in progesterone cause a laxity or loosening of ligaments and joints throughout the body. In addition, high levels of progesterone cause internal structures to increase in size, such as ureters. The ureters connect the kidneys with the maternal bladder. Progesterone is also important to transform the uterus of the size of a small pear, in its non-pregnant state, to an uterus that can accommodate a term baby.

Pregnancy hormones and exercise injuries


While these hormones are absolutely critical for a successful pregnancy, they also can make exercise more difficult. Because the ligaments are looser, pregnant women may be at greater risk forsprains and strains of the ankle or knee. However, no studies have documented an increased rate in injury during pregnancy.

A pregnant woman’s entire posture changes. Her breasts are larger. Her abdomen transforms from flat or concave to very convex, increasing the curvature of her back. The combined effect shifts the center of gravity forward and may lead to changes in her sense of balance.


Weight gain, fluid retention and physical activity.

The weight gain in pregnant women increases the workload in the body of any physical activity. This additional weight and severity decrease the speed of blood circulation and body fluids, particularly at the lower extremities. As a result, pregnant women preserve liquids and experience swelling of the face and extremities. This water weight adds another limitation in the exercise. Learn about natural treatments for swollen hands.


Many women begin to notice a slight swelling during the second trimester. It often continues in the third trimester. This increase in fluid retention is responsible for a significant amount of weight gain experience during pregnancy. Tips for facilitating swelling include:


to rest

avoid long periods of foot

Avoid caffeine and sodium.

increase dietary potassium

Weight gain is usually the main reason why the body can not tolerate the levels of exercise of prepreg. This even applies to the seasoned, elite or professional athlete. The voltage of the round ligament, the largest size of the uterus, and the pelvic instability of the laxity of the ligaments can lead to greater discomfort during exercise.

Tip: For fun, take a picture of yourself from the lateral profile early in your pregnancy, using your best posture. Take another photo close to your expiration date and compare these lateral profiles. The changes are notable, are not they?


Vision changes

Some women experience changes in vision during pregnancy, characterized by increasing the least amount. Researchers do not know the accurate biological mechanisms behind changes in vision. Most women return to preschool vision after giving birth.

Common changes during pregnancy include blur and discomfort with contact lenses. Pregnant women often experience an increase in intraocular pressure. Women with preeclampsia or gestational diabetes can have a high risk of rare eye problems, such as retina detachment or loss of vision.


Changes of taste and smell.

Most women experience changes in their sense of taste during pregnancy. In general, they prefer salted foods and sweeter food than non-pregnant women. They also have a higher threshold for the sour, savory and sweet flavors. Dyseusia, a decrease in taste capacity, is more commonly experienced during the first trimester of pregnancy.


Certain flavor preferences may vary depending on the quarter. Although many women experience a sense of taste off for a short period of postpartum time, they generally recover the total taste capacity after pregnancy. Some women also experience a metallic flavor in the mouth during pregnancy. This can aggravate nausea and can indicate an ingibrium of nutrients. Get more information about deteriorated taste.


Sometimes, pregnant women also report changes in their sense of smell. Many describe greater awareness and sensitivity to a variety of odors. There are few consistent and reliable data that indicate that pregnant women really notice and identify certain odors and intensity of odors more than their non-pregnant counterparts. However, the vast majority of pregnant women report a perceived increase in their own sensitivity to odors.


Breast and cervical changes

Hormonal changes, which begin in the first trimester, will lead to many physiological changes throughout the body. These changes help prepare the mother's body for pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.


Levels of breathing and oxygen in the blood.

During pregnancy, the amount of air that moved inside and out of the lungs increases by 30 to 50 consecutive source percentage due to two factors. Each breath has a greater volume of air, and the respiration rate increases slightly. As the uterus expands, the room for the movement of the diaphragm can be limited. Therefore, some women report the feeling of greater difficulty breathing deeply. Even without exercise, these changes can cause difficulty breathing or the feeling of being "hungry". Exercise programs can increase these symptoms.


The cervix, or the entrance to the uterus, suffers physical changes during pregnancy and work. In many women, the tissue of the cervix thickens and becomes firm and glandular. Up to a few weeks before giving birth, the cervix can be softened and dilated slightly from the growing baby pressure.

In early pregnancy, the cervix produces a coarse mucus plug to seal the uterus. The plug is often expelled in late pregnancy or during delivery. This is also called bloody show. Striped mucous with a small amount of blood is common as the uterus is prepared for delivery. Before delivery, the cervix dilates significantly, softens and sustages, which allows the baby to pass through the birth canal. Get more information about the stages of work and how they affect the cervical neck.


Changes in hair, skin and nails.

Many women will experience changes in the physical appearance of their skin during pregnancy. Although most are temporary, some, such as stretch marks, can result in permanent changes. In addition, women who experience some of these skin changes during pregnancy are more likely to experience them again in future pregnancies or even taking hormonal contraceptives.

Many women experience changes in hair growth and nails during pregnancy. Hormonal changes can sometimes cause excessive hair spill or hair loss. This is especially true in women with a family history of female alopecia.

But many women experience hair growth and thickening during pregnancy and can even notice hair growth in unwanted places. Hair growth on the face, arms, legs or back can occur. Most changes in hair growth return to normal after the baby is born. However, it is common that hair loss or increased spills wi

Changes of hair and nails.
ll occur up to a postpartum year, since hair follicles and hormonal levels are regulated without the influence of pregnancy hormones.

Many women also experience faster growth of nails during pregnancy. Eating well and taking prenatal vitamins joins the growth hormones of pregnancy. Although some may find the desirable change, many may notice an increase in the fragility of nails, breakage, slots or keratosis. Healthy dietary changes to increase the resistance of the nail can help prevent breakage without the use of chemical nail products.

"Mask" of pregnancy and hyperpigmentation.
The vast majority of pregnant women experience some kind of hyperpigmentation during pregnancy. It consists of a darkening in the tone of the skin in the parts of the body, such as areolas, genitals, scars and the alba line (a dark line) in the middle of the abdomen. Hyperpigmentation can occur in women of any skin tone, although it is more common in women with darker brewers.

In addition, up to 70 percent of pregnant women experience darkening of the skin on their face. This condition is known as melasma, or the "mask" of pregnancy. It can be worse by exposure to sun and radiation, so a wide-spectrum UVA / UVB sunscreen should be used daily during pregnancy. In most cases, melasma is resolved after pregnancy.

Stretch marks

Stretch marks (Striae Gravidorum) are perhaps the best-known pregnancy change of the skin. They are caused by a combination of physical stretching of the skin and the effects of hormonal changes in the elasticity of the skin. Up to 90 percent of women develop stretch marks for the third trimester of pregnancy, often in breasts and abdomen. Although the pink purple stretch marks can never disappear completely, they often fade to the color of the surrounding skin and shrink in postpartum size. Stretch marks can chop, so apply creams to soften and reduce the need to scratch and possibly damage the skin.

Mole and freckle changes

Hyperpigmentation caused by changes in hormones during pregnancy can cause changes in the color of polka dots and freckles. A little dot of polka dots, freckles and birthmarks can be harmless. But it is always a good idea to see a dermatologist or doctor about changes in size, color or shape.

Pregnancy hormones can also cause the appearance of dark skin patches that are often unprepared. Although most skin pigmentation changes will vanish or disappear after pregnancy, some changes in the color of mole or freckles can be permanent. It is a good idea to have a skin verification for potential skin cancer or pregnancy-specific skin conditions if you notice any change.


Enrolled and specific beads of pregnancy.

The small percentages of women may experience skin conditions that are specific to pregnancy, such as PUPPP (urticarial papules and pregnancy pruritic plates) and folliculitis. Most conditions include pustules and red blows along the abdomen, legs, arms or back. Although most eruptions are harmless and are quickly resolved after delivery, some skin conditions may be associated with premature delivery or problems for the baby. These include intrahepatic cholestasis and pemphigoid gestation.


Blood pressure and exercise.
There are two types of circulatory changes that can have an impact on exercise during pregnancy. Pregnancy hormones can suddenly affect the tone in the blood vessels. A sudden loss of tone can result in the feeling of dizziness and perhaps even a brief loss of consciousness. This is because pressure loss sends less blood to the brain and the central nervous system.

In addition, vigorous exercise can cause a blood flow decrease to the uterus while diverting the blood to the muscles. However, this has not been shown to have a long-term impact on the baby. In addition, there is an evidential source to suggest that people who exercise have a better source of blood supply to the placenta at rest. This can be beneficial for placental and fetal growth and weight gain.

Dizziness and fainting
Another way of dizziness can result from lying on the back. This dizziness is more common after 24 weeks. However, it can happen earlier during multi-fetal pregnancies or with conditions that increase amniotic fluid.

The lying on the back compresses the great blood container that leads from the bottom of the body to the heart, also known as vena cava. This decreases the flow of blood to and from the heart, which leads to a sudden and dramatic decrease in blood pressure. This can cause dizziness or loss of consciousness.

After the first trimester, it is not recommended to do exercises that involve in the back due to the impact of the compression of the blood vessels. Lying on the left side can help relieve dizziness and is a healthy sleeping position.

Women who experience any of these conditions, particularly during exercise, should consult their doctor.

Respiratory and metabolic changes.
Pregnant women experience increases in the amount of oxygen-carrying in their blood. This is due to a greater demand for blood and dilatation of blood vessels. These growth forces increase in metabolic rates during pregnancy, which requires women to increase energy intake and be careful during periods of physical effort.

Levels of breathing and oxygen in the blood.
During pregnancy, the amount of air that moved inside and out of the lungs increases by 30 to 50 consecutive source percentage due to two factors. Each breath has a greater volume of air, and the respiration rate increases slightly. As the uterus expands, the room for the movement of the diaphragm can be limited. Therefore, some women report the feeling of greater difficulty breathing deeply. Even without exercise, these changes can cause difficulty breathing or the feeling of being "hungry". Exercise programs can increase these symptoms.

In general, pregnant women have higher levels of oxygen in the blood. Studies have shown that pregnant women consume more oxygen at rest. This does not seem to have an impact on the amount of oxygen available for exercise or other physical work during pregnancy.

Metabolic rate
Basal or resting metabolic rate (RMR), the amount of energy that the body spends while the rest, increases significantly during pregnancy. This is measured by the amount of oxygen used during the total rest periods. It helps to estimate the amount of energy intake required to maintain or gain weight. Changes in metabolic rates explain the need to increase calorie consumption during pregnancy. The body of a pregnant woman slowly increases her energy requirements to help feed the changes and growth that take place in both mother and baby.

Metabolic rates increase substantially in only 15 weeks of gestation and peak in the third quarter during the largest growth phase. This increase in the metabolic rate can put pregnant women with an increased risk of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Although the metabolic rate can decrease slightly as pregnancy reaches the deadline, it remains high on the levels of prepregnancy for several weeks after delivery. It will remain elevated during the duration of breastfeeding in women who produce milk.

Body temperature changes
An increase in basal body temperature is one of the first signs of pregnancy. A slightly higher basic temperature will be maintained throughout the duration of pregnancy. Women also have a greater need for water during pregnancy. They may have an increased risk of hyperthermia and dehydration without caution to exercise safely and remain hydrated.

Levels of breathing and oxygen in the blood.
During pregnancy, the amount of air that moved inside and out of the lungs increases by 30 to 50 consecutive source percentages due to two factors. Each breath has a greater volume of air, and the respiration rate increases slightly. As the uterus expands, the room for the movement of the diaphragm can be limited. Therefore, some women report the feeling of greater difficulty breathing deeply. Even without exercise, these changes can cause difficulty breathing or the feeling of being "hungry". Exercise programs can increase these symptoms.

In general, pregnant women have higher levels of oxygen in the blood. Studies have shown that pregnant women consume more oxygen at rest. This does not seem to have an impact on the amount of oxygen available for exercise or other physical work during pregnancy.