During the adaptation of the body to pregnancy, anatomical changes, changes in blood values and physiological changes occur. These changes, which start with the appearance of the gestational sac and develop according to the week of gestation, return to normal after birth, puerperium and lactation.
WHAT CHANGES OCCUR IN BODY ANATOMY DURING PREGNANCY?
Changes in the uterus (womb) during pregnancy
The uterus is normally a bulb-shaped structure. By the 12th week of pregnancy, it takes on a circular shape. As the pregnancy progresses, it will rise almost to the liver.
During pregnancy, contractions (contractions) of the uterus can occur. These contractions, called Braxton-Hicks contractions, can occur unexpectedly and spontaneously. They may occur at irregular intervals. Braxton-Hicks are rare until the last few weeks of pregnancy, but increase in the last 1-2 weeks. Contractions in late pregnancy are more regular and more severe than those in early pregnancy. Late Braxton-Hicks contractions can sometimes be confused with preterm labor.
Changes in breasts during pregnancy
Breast tenderness occurs in the early weeks of pregnancy. After the 2nd month of pregnancy, breast size increases and the veins in the breasts become visible from the outside. The nipples enlarge and become darker. The areola, the dark structure around the nipple, becomes darker and protrusions called Montgomery’s glands are observed on it.
The size of the breasts is not proportional to the amount of milk produced.
Changes in the abdominal wall during pregnancy
As pregnancy progresses, the abdominal wall may develop red linear stretch marks (stria gravidarum). Risk factors for the development of striae include weight gain during pregnancy, young maternal age and family history. Unfortunately, there is no definitive treatment for striae. To prevent it, creams developed for this purpose can be used before it occurs (before the 20th week), but there is no guarantee that it can be 100% prevented. Striae gravidarum can develop not only on the abdomen, but also on the thighs and breasts. After birth, the red striae remain as a bright flesh-colored scar.
A brown line appears on the skin of the abdomen, extending from the midline to the pubis (linea nigra). Sometimes brown spots of varying sizes may develop on the face and neck, called a pregnancy mask. Darkening also occurs around the nipple (areola) and on the skin of the genital area. These discolorations disappear or decrease significantly after pregnancy. However, sunscreen can be used 30 minutes before going out in the sun every day to prevent spots on the face, because spots on the face can be permanent after they occur.
WEIGHT GAIN DURING PREGNANCY
One of the most curious issues for an expectant mother is how much weight she should gain by weeks. One of the most determining factors in terms of how much weight should be gained is how much the mother weighed before pregnancy. The weight to be gained by an expectant mother who starts pregnancy as overweight and an expectant mother who starts pregnancy as underweight will of course be different.
First of all, it is necessary to calculate the body mass index. Body mass index is calculated by dividing body weight (in kg) by the square of height (in meters). Of course, direct results can also be obtained by entering only weight and height information on the internet.
Thin women with a BMI below 18.5 can gain between 12.5-18 kg. This means gaining 0.5-0.6 kg per week in the 2nd and 3rd trimester.
Normal women with a BMI between 18.5-24.9 can gain between 11.5-16 kg during pregnancy. In the 2nd and 3rd trimester, it means gaining 0.4-0.5 kg per week.
Overweight women with a BMI between 25-29.9 can gain between 7-11 kg during pregnancy. In the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, it means gaining 0.2-0.3 kilograms per week.
Women with a BMI of 30 or more should gain between 5-9 kilograms during pregnancy. This means a weight gain of 0.1-0.2 kg in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters.
In twin pregnancies, women with a normal body mass index can gain 17-24 kg, overweight women 14-22 kg and obese women 5-9 kg.
Studies have shown that preeclampsia (pregnancy poisoning), macrosomia (the baby being heavier than a normal newborn) and cesarean delivery rates are lower in women who gain weight at least below the lower limit during pregnancy.
Weight Loss After Childbirth
When you leave the hospital during the birth, you will have lost about 5.5 kg and in the following 2 weeks you can lose about 4 kg. If you eat an adequate and balanced diet at home, you will lose about 2.5 kg over the next 6 months. In this calculation, 12 kg can be lost 6 months after the birth. One of the biggest reasons for not being able to lose weight after going home is attempts to increase milk, which are actually useless. Eating uncontrollably to increase milk is not only useless but also disrupts the body’s metabolism.