Pregnancy is a pretty complicated period. There is never really any getting used to the things that your body goes through during this time. Something or the other will always surprise you. No matter how much you think you know about your body, pregnancy never ceases to amaze. You discover yourself in ways that you never thought possible. Here is a compilation of the most interesting and surprising things that you realize when you are pregnant:
#1 The Baby Brain is Real
You will have trouble concentrating on things and remembering important things. Rather, things that seemed important before do not seem to be of much value right now. It could be because your brain automatically places the pregnancy and your baby above everything else. Or it is probably due to the parade of hormones marching around your body.
Earlier in your pregnancy, lack of sleep and continuous morning sickness contributes to you not being able to think as well as you used to. Eventually, you realize that even if you are well-rested and happy, concentrating on things is slightly more difficult than it was earlier. This feeling that you get of being kind of ditzy is exactly what people referred to as the baby brain. It is a great excuse to get out of things because you are expected to forget appointments anyway.
#2 Your Bra Size Keeps Changing!
In the first trimester, this is amusing at best. It can even be quite flattering. You will need to buy your first set of new bras and you have nothing to complain about. However, you realize that this is not going to stop over here. Your bre asts continue to expand in size throughout the pregnancy. The rib cage expands and thus your bra size goes up as well.
Your body is constantly evolving throughout the pregnancy. It becomes quite annoying to change your bras every few months. But there is nothing that you can do about it either. Just save those in case you plan to get pregnant again!
#3 Your Nesting Instincts Kick In
Just like birds preparing their nest for the egg to hatch, you begin prepping your house subconsciously. This urge is like nothing else. You constantly worry about the décor in the house. There is a possibility you check and double-check safety features obsessively. You will begin doing random things like cleaning the walls. This gets more intense as you near the end of the pregnancy.
You cannot explain to yourself why it is so important to clean every nook and corner. If someone asks you, you snap at them. They just don’t get it. Everything has to be right for the baby to come home.
#4 Your Shoe Size Changes!
Surprised? We surely were. During pregnancy, there is a large possibility of retention of fluid which leads your feet to swell up. This will get automatically resolved once the pregnancy is done. However, during this time, it is going to be difficult to squeeze into your pumps or sneakers that you love so much. They will be quite tight and uncomfortable.
It is best to invest in some comfortable floaters or slip-on shoes that help you walk for long without hurting your feet. Just get them in one size larger than you normally would.
#5 Your Hair is Thicker
First, the good news. You will notice that you suddenly have amazing hair that is so much thicker. It doesn’t seem to be falling off as much as it used to. You are in love with your head right now. Sadly, this is a result of the hormones in your body. It is not long-lasting. after giving birth, or once you are done breastfeeding, you are very likely to experience hair fall. Your hair could become dryer, oilier or even change color. Some women experience strengthening of nails during pregnancy while others find them to be more brittle.
#6 Your Skin Does Not Have That ‘Pregnancy Glow!’
The skin, on the other hand, does not have much going for it during pregnancy. You don’t seem to glow like people generally say you would. Instead, you find yourself having random pigmentation, acne and other skin problems that you never faced before. Also, you will find yourself to be a lot itchier than you generally are. Use plenty of sunscreens and protective clothing when you go out. Consult your physician before you take any oral or topical medication for your skin problems.
Pregnancy can be full of little surprises. It is OK not to be completely prepared for the changes that your body goes through. Relax, and take it easy. Know that you are never alone and millions of women are going through all these wonderful and quirky little changes around the world at the same time that you are. The biggest surprise is the one to come at the end of it. Nothing else will matter.