How Your Body Changes During Pregnancy

Here's why and how your body changes when you get pregnant.Odds are, you're not pregnant or even thinking about getting pregnant, but we know you're curious-especially after reading about all the celebs who are prego right now. No doubt it's an amazing experience, but there's some weird stuff that happens to your bod, too. Cosmo Radio women's health expert Jennifer Wider, M.D., author of The New Mom's Survival Guide, filled us in.

By Korin Miller

You Feel Like You Have the Flu
...Or at least a low-level one. What's up with that? Early in a pregnancy, some women feel nauseous all the time, have a higher body temp, and feel wiped out all the time-just like you do when you have the flu.

Your Boobs Change
Early on in a pregnancy, your boobs grow rapidly-they can increase by a full cup size or more-because they're storing fat and the milk glands are increasing in size. They also feel tender.

You Can't Go No. 2
Pregnancy hormones relax the bowel muscles, which allow food to stay around longer so you can absorb the max amount of nutrients for the baby. As a result, you don't poo as often-and some women get constipated.

Related: 8 Ways to Get Rid of Cellulite

You Hate Foods You Used to Love
Hormonal changes can really throw your body out of whack and make you feel nauseous. As a result, pregnant women can suddenly be turned off by foods they used to love. They also have a heightened sense of smell, which can throw you off certain foods.

Your Feet Grow
When you're pregnant, your bod retains water which can make your feet swell. Pregnancy hormones can also relax the ligaments in your feet, making them wider. The ligament changes are permanent in most women, so your feet could go up a shoe size-and stay that way.

You Feel Like You Have Gas
When the baby first starts moving in there, it feels weird. Some women describe it as feeling like butterfly flutters-others think it feels like gas.

Related: Sneaky Ways to Eat Healthy

You Get Heartburn
Pregnancy hormones cause the muscles at the top of your stomach that prevent stomach acid from going up the esophagus to relax. As a result, the acid can go up your throat and cause heartburn.

Your Va-jay-jay Hurts
As the baby grows, it puts a lot of pressure on your pelvic muscles which can make you feel sore all the time. Once it drops during the third trimester, you might feel sharp pains from time to time as it moves.

Your Skin Changes Color
A condition called melanoma can develop which causes your skin on your face to change color due to the overproduction of melanin. This usually affects your cheeks, nose, and forehead.


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