Understanding
Your Pregnant Body
by Samantha Thurlby-Brooks
 Now
you are pregnant, your body will be making many
changes to accomodate your growing guest. Some
changes you will notice such as the growth of
your breasts and belly, but other changes are
more subtle.
The cocktail of hormones that
are being released especially for your pregnancy
will make emotional as well as physical changes.
The hormone Relaxin allows your joints to become
looser and more flexible for the birth of your
baby. This hormone also opens you up emotionally
and so you may experience feelings of vulnerability,
and hypersensitivity; a great way to allow you
to sympathise more deeply with your fellow humans
and give you the openess for motherhood.
It is very common at the beginning
of your pregnancy to come down with a 'cold'.
This is a really healthy sign that indicates your
immune system has lowered itself enough for your
baby to be accepted by your body. If your immune
system were kept too strong, it may think your
baby is a foreign body to be dealt with like a
virus.
The placenta is your baby's connection
to you and is a functioning organ responding to
its every need. If your baby needs more nutrients,
oxygen or to release any waste products it will
do so via the placenta. Many women experience
a rise in blood pressure during the final few
weeks of pregnancy. According to Dr Michel Odent,
this is actually a very healthy sign that the
placenta is working and responding to your baby's
needs. High blood pressure if often frowned upon
during pregnancy because of it being a symptom
of pre-eclampsia (a very serious pregnancy illness).
However, if your body needs to give your baby
more nutrients it will have to pump blood faster
and with more force since your blood is 40% thicker
than usual, thus raising the pressure. So long
as there is no protein in your urine, your body
is responding very well to your baby's needs.
And likewise with Glucose levels.
According to Dr Odent, having glucose in your
urine is also a healthy sign that your placenta
is responding to your baby's need for more sugar.
Your insulin levels will decrease to allow the
sugar to stay in your blood for your baby and
if your own body does not need the excess glucose
and your baby has had enough, then it will be
released through your urine. Often women who have
glucose in their urine during pregnancy have no
negative symptoms that come with ordinary forms
of diabetes, their insulin levels are functioning
and the state is resolved after the baby is born.
Your body has been producing
approximately 40% more blood volume to allow your
blood to be thicker and clot easily in the event
that you may bleed during childbirth. A fantastic
protection mechanism for you and your baby to
be safe, which may make you feel heavier and more
solid in your whole body and not just your belly.
Your whole body is changing and accomodating your
little guest and getting itself ready for labour
and motherhood.
Being pregnant is an act of love;
you are giving unconditionally to another human
being. This process can come with its up's and
downs, but ultimately you are a gorgeous woman
of creation allowing a new person into the world
to experience the love and joy you have to offer.
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