It is common for many women to feel very tired in the first few months of pregnancy. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep and take naps if needed.

As breasts change to prepare for breastfeeding, they often become tender within the first eight weeks of pregnancy. Throughout the pregnancy, the tenderness may come and go, especially as breasts get bigger. Colostrum, an early form of breast milk, may even leak out in the second and/or third trimesters.

Many women have feelings of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. It usually occurs between 6-16 weeks of pregnancy. Although it is often called “morning sickness,” women may have these symptoms at any time of the day.

Hormones cause the gut to slow down its normal movement, which can cause bloating and constipation. Iron supplements, which are often needed, may make constipation worse.

Hormones are to blame for frequent urination in the first trimester. As the pregnancy progresses, a growing uterus puts pressure on the bladder. Therefore, frequent urination is often a discomfort for many women throughout the pregnancy.

As pregnancy progresses, a large uterus puts pressure on the diaphragm, making it less able to move freely during breathing. This causes some women to feel short of breath.

Pregnancy hormones cause changes that lead to more rapid, shallow breaths. Many women also experience this as a feeling of shortness of breath. This can feel strange but usually will not endanger your health. However, if you are feeling like you are not getting enough air when you breathe, call your doctor.

Blood volume increases by nearly 45% during pregnancy, which causes membranes in the nose to swell and sometimes bleed.

Gums become sensitive and often bleed during pregnancy due to estrogen. Use a soft toothbrush and gentle toothpaste and floss daily. Continue to receive routine dental care. If you need more extensive dental work, such as a cavity filling or root canal, it may be best to do them during the second trimester. During the third trimester, it may be difficult to lay on your back for an extended period of time. Consider delaying optional dental procedures (eg, teeth whitening) until after pregnancy.

Weight carried in the abdomen in the later months of pregnancy affects balance and posture, putting strain on the lower back. Hormones also loosen joints and ligaments of the body, which can cause minor pains.

The skin of the abdomen may itch as it expands and forms stretch marks, especially if weight is gained quickly. Skin discolorations, such as dark areas on the face or a dark line below the naval, can also appear. This is because hormone levels increase the amount of skin pigment, melatonin. Stretch marks are not preventable. Other skin color changes usually go away soon after the baby is delivered.

More than 50% of pregnant women have heartburn in the third trimester. Pregnancy hormones loosen the muscle that closes off the esophagus from the stomach. When this happens, stomach contents can back up into the esophagus, causing the burning sensation known as heartburn. A growing uterus also squeezes the stomach, which contributes to heartburn.

Leg cramps usually occur in the calf muscles during the night and are thought to be related to inadequate calcium or magnesium intake. Talk to your doctor about whether you need increased amounts of these nutrients.

Most pregnant women have some leg swelling due to the extra volume of blood providing circulation to the placenta and baby. The uterus puts pressure on the large blood vessels providing blood to the lower half of the body, which can cause fluid to pool in the legs.

Varicose veins on the legs and hemorrhoids, which like varicose veins that occur on the rectum, often occur during pregnancy due to increased blood volume.

Some women have trouble getting comfortable when sleeping in the last few months of pregnancy. In addition, it may be hard to relax when you are worried about the baby, childbirth, and being a mother.