The surprising effects of pregnancy

Over the course of a pregnancy, a woman goes through many changes externally. Internally, from conception to birth, chemicals will cause every organ in a woman’s body to change and accommodate the baby growing inside her womb. Let’s explore how hormones impact a woman’s body during fetal development.

Pregnancy is a special time in many womens’ lives. It is also a mysterious time for women, because much of the baby’s development through each stage of pregnancy is not able to be seen. Here is a month-by month overview of what happens during pregnancy. There are many nuances to the development of a baby that involve many complex processes working together in tandem to assist in fetal development. A lot of those processes also involve hormones that help direct the changes that need to occur at the different stages of pregnancy. Progesterone and estrogen are the most important hormones in pregnancy. Did you know that women produce more estrogen in pregnancy than in their entire lives not pregnant? Hormones a very important for pregnancy, but can also cause women to injure themselves. Women are more likely to injure their knees and ankles due to the ligaments being looser. Here is a great infographic on six key hormones in pregnancy.

However, on several occasions during pregnancy, expecting mothers are able to see their growing babies during an ultrasound (sonogram) which uses sound waves to form an image of the baby in the womb. This allows healthcare providers to check on the baby’s health and development. An ultrasound can show the babies hands, feet, and even if it's a boy or girl (though some parents choose to keep the gender a surprise)! Most women get an ultrasound in their second trimester, some get one in the first. The frequency of ultrasounds depends a lot on the age and health of the expecting mother. Here is an in depth health and pregnancy guide, take a look!