A pregnant woman will undergo extraordinary physical changes during each stage of pregnancy. While these changes can be nerve-wracking to a pregnant woman if she is not sure what to expect, knowing about these changes in advance can help her feel less overwhelmed and better able to enjoy the pregnancy.
First Trimester
Although it may not appear that there are many physical changes going on during the first trimester to an outside observer, the body undergoes numerous physical changes during this time. With the influx of new pregnancy hormones, a pregnant woman may experience a wide range of physical symptoms of pregnancy. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services body changes include breasts becoming tender and swollen, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, heartburn, weight gain or loss, constipation, headaches and frequent urination.
Second Trimester
Although many pregnant women find that the the physical discomforts that plagued them during the first trimester seem to ease during the second trimester, they may discover new discomforts arising. Muscle aches or pains throughout the body may start to occur as the baby grows larger. These aches may be particularly prominent in the back, groin and thighs. This is also the trimester that many women outgrow their regular clothes and begin wearing maternity clothes. The breasts also undergo many changes, becoming less swollen and tender but the nipples becoming more erect and prominent and the areolas surrounding the nipples become larger and darker.
Third Trimester
The size of the baby during the third trimester can bring about new changes. The abdomen area at this time is much larger than normal, and the pregnancy is usually evident to strangers. Simple things like moving around and breathing properly seem increasingly difficult as this trimester progresses. Many women have heartburn and difficulty sleeping, and some women may experience "practice" contractions called Braxton Hicks contractions as their uterus prepares for childbirth, says the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Swelling, particularly in the feet, hands and ankles, typically occurs as well.
Childbirth
At the end of the pregnancy, the woman goes into labor, and there are bodily changes that facilitate the process. In the first stage the cervix softens to the point that it is thinned out and opened 10 cm. The second stage of labor begins when the pregnant woman begins pushing the baby out of the birth canal. The second stage ends when the baby is born. The pregnant woman pushes out the placenta in the third stage of labor. During this time, a woman will have contractions and may also feel shaky or experience chills. The third stage of labor is the shortest, usually lasting less than 30 minutes.
