As wonderful and exciting as pregnancy is, it comes with a lot of anxiety and curiosity due to changes your body undergoes on the journey to motherhood. Some of these changes aren’t the most comfortable or fun and some are totally unexpected. Here’s a list of three unexpected changes some women go through when expecting.
- Forgetfulness. Short-term memory loss caused by pregnancy , also called “pregnancy brain,” may cause you to forget appointments, what you just walked into the store for, where you left your purse, whether you turned off the stove — and, maybe, your phone number. A fun fact: for reasons unknown, some research has shown that women pregnant with girls are, on average, more forgetful than those carrying boys. Forgetfulness is completely normal, and thile it’sfrustrating it is only temporary.
- Snoring. Even if you’ve never done it before in your life snoring is fairly common during pregnancy, affecting about one in three pregnant women. The most likely culprits of your new sleep habit are nasal congestion caused by surging pregnancy hormones, that cause the mucous membranes in your nose to swell, and excess weight gain, which results in extra tissue around your head and neck – both of which are common pregnancy symptoms. Usually snoring is just an annoyance but sometimes can be the result of more serious issues like gestational diabetes, sleep apnea, or preeclampsia. It is very important to share your snoring concerns with your doctor if you have been snoring more than usual.
- Discolored Skin. Most women expect to start glowing in their second trimester but some women find that they get spotty or dry, itchy skin, that they get skin tags and also brown patches of skin. Some women also find they get a dark line down their belly – called the linea nigra. You can also get redness on the palms of your hand and the soles of your feet.
There are all sorts of changes that happen to your body during pregnancy. Pregnancy books and prenatal classes tell you about the obvious ones but there are also all sorts of weird changes that happen to your body that no one talks about. Keep in mind that all women don’t go through the same changes during pregnancy. If any of your symptoms are alarming and too uncomfortable make an appointment with your doctor immediately.
Jamaica Hospital now offers a new, group model for prenatal care called Centering Pregnancy, that offers expectant moms the opportunity to share experiences and learn from other women who are in the same stages of pregnancy as they are. For more information about our Centering Program, please call 718-206-6866.
All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.