What’s Happening With Mom?
Your baby is growing so fast that your heart is beating twenty percent faster that it did before you got pregnant to pump enough blood to your uterus and baby.
While getting plenty of nourishment to your baby, the extra circulation has the positive effect of maintaining your pregnant glow. But the extra blood flowing in your body can have the adverse effect of giving you larger, more visible veins; including pesky varicose veins, bothersome spider veins, and annoying hemorrhoids. You’ll also probably be looking a little puffy about your face and eyes.
If you had any of these symptoms before you were pregnant, they will probably get worse, especially during the last trimester. Resting with your feet up helps some, especially when combined with dessert and your favorite TV show. And, while the hemorrhoids and varicose veins might not go away completely after pregnancy, they’ll most likely improve when the pressure on your body eases after baby is born.
Another annoying pregnancy symptom is leg cramps. Muscle cramps can be brought on by hormone changes, dehydration, or mineral deficiencies in your diet. Hormone changes are unavoidable but if you are being suffering from muscle cramps, make sure you are drinking enough water and eating potassium-rich food, like raisins, potatoes, and bananas.
What’s Happening With Baby?
Doesn’t it seem like your baby is having a lot of fun in there? Baby is super active, kicking, poking, twirling, hiccuping, and head butting you. Taking a moment to lie down with your hands on your bump, feeling baby bounce about, is such a special feeling.
Other people will be able to feel baby’s movements too which is a fun way for others to connect with the baby – to the point where you might feel your personal space is over-invaded and you might have to fend off eager friends (and even strangers) who want to feel baby’s kicks.
And of course, people will start speculating on whether your baby will be a boxer or a football player, based on their movements. You baby might become a sporting star, or they might become a lawyer, gardener, electrician or nurse, but it’s one of those cute must-make pregnancy jokes.
Tags: blood flow, heart beat, hemorrhoids, kicking, leg cramps, potassium, spider veins, third trimester, varicose veins
