Women expecting a child have to deal with many ailments - nausea, stretch marks, frequent visits to the toilet. There are also more unpleasant pregnancy surprises, such as depression, hemorrhoids and brain shrinkage.
Nausea, strange culinary cravings, extra weight and frequent visits to the toilet are not the only ailments that pregnant women have to face. These 9 months are a huge challenge for the body. Actually, 10 lunar months, i.e. 28 days each (pregnancy is longer than 9 months). Not every woman will describe this time as "blessed". Unless you consider swollen, tender breasts, heartburn, constant pressure on the bladder, gas, nausea and a number of other ailments to be a blessing.
A hormonal revolution occurs during pregnancy. Crazy levels of progesterone , necessary for maintaining pregnancy and the safe development of the fetus, are responsible for unpleasant pregnancy symptoms. This causes breast tenderness, increased activity of sweat and sebaceous glands, and discoloration on the face and body (yes, dark brown nipples and nipples and a vertical line on the belly are caused by progesterone). Swelling may also occur, and slow blood flow may cause varicose veins, nosebleeds, and mood swings . After giving birth, the decrease in the level of this hormone is one of the causes of postpartum depression.
Although the media - fortunately - talks more and more about the difficult sides of pregnancy and motherhood, the candy-colored image of these 9 (well, 10) months as a wonderful state of waiting still dominates. When we discuss what may surprise women, we mainly talk about the obvious: nausea, swelling, weight gain. However, there are many more unpleasant things, because life is just turning upside down, and these changes start in the body. There is little information about common hemorrhoids, decline in intellectual abilities or depression during pregnancy . It's time to change that.
One of the first books in the world that broke the existing taboo about pregnancy and motherhood was "Motherhood, a job for life". The book became a bestseller. Its author, Rachel Cusk, wrote about pregnancy and the first months of being a mother as an experience that resembled an examination by aliens . American expert and author of another bestseller "Waiting for a child", Heidi Murkoff, says that the mythical maternal instinct does not exist . He also claims: " It's not like you're receiving divine bliss because you're pregnant. You learn to love your child when you get to know them. Let's stop believing in this stupid myth that the whole experience will be magical and instantaneous .
Many pregnant women complain of bad mood, tearfulness, sleep disorders and anxiety. Gynecologists often tell patients that "it will go away after they give birth" and that "it's normal during pregnancy." However, in some cases, such symptoms may indicate depression, which occurs in approximately 10-15% of all pregnant women . The new standards of perinatal care introduced in 2019 include guidelines for screening pregnant women for depression. A pregnant woman should undergo such an examination twice . First between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy and again between 33 and 37 weeks. The next examination should take place within a month after giving birth 2 . “Baby blues” that don't go away are a disturbing sign. Women who are most at risk of developing depression during pregnancy are in their first or late pregnancy, as well as those who have previously struggled with such disorders.
"Intensified, chronic anxiety has many consequences for both the pregnant woman and the child. Untreated depression during pregnancy results in an increase in cortisol in the mother's blood, umbilical cord blood and amniotic fluid. The concentration of pro-inflammatory interleukins increases, which may cause premature birth and later period of cognitive disorders in a child . There are studies that prove that such infants develop psychomotor slower and start talking later," said Prof. in one of the interviews. Ph.D. n. med. Piotr Gałecki, national consultant in the field of psychiatry 3 .
Depression during pregnancy can and should be treated - also pharmacologically. There is a group of medications that are considered safe to use during this time. Some dietary supplements (e.g. Omega-3 acids) may also support the prevention of depression or support its treatment . You will learn from this article what is worth supplementing during pregnancy.
Problems with memory and concentration are something that we found difficult to admit for many years. No one wants to be the one who doesn't get a joke, has to read the same paragraph of a book three times, or can't keep up with the pace of a conversation. Many women describe that during pregnancy they felt "in a fog" , sluggish, and were constantly tired. This led to weakened cognitive abilities and problems with memory and concentration. Well – that's normal. And research confirms this. The state of "pregnancy brain" nicely called by Americans results not only from the fact that nothing is more important than the fetus in the womb, and the entire body is geared to the safe delivery of the child into the world. It is caused by changes in the brain . The brain shrinks during pregnancy 4 and the changes that occur persist to some extent after pregnancy. In one study, women underwent magnetic resonance imaging before their first pregnancy and were repeated after delivery. The brain image was significantly different. The area of gray matter in the brain decreased and the area responsible for, among others, for memory hippocampus. The changes persisted 2 years after delivery 5 . When you're pregnant, you literally lose your mind. And there's nothing strange about it.
Pregnancy hormones make the veins especially delicate. This sensitivity can lead to the formation of varicose veins - which often disappear after pregnancy - and hemorrhoids , which are simply varicose veins that occur in the anus. They cause great discomfort and pain, which is particularly troublesome, especially during pregnancy, when there are so many other unpleasant ailments. The uterus presses on the pelvis, blood pressure increases, and this affects the veins in the anus. Hemorrhoids are common during pregnancy. There is no golden mean. You should avoid long periods of standing and sitting, eat foods rich in fiber and wear airy cotton underwear. If this condition occurs, be sure to tell your doctor who will help you choose treatment.
Reading the above text, you may get the impression that pregnancy is a real torture. It certainly puts a lot of strain on the body, both mentally and physically . However, not all of these ailments occur at once and they do not happen to every woman. However, it is important to realize that the waiting period for your baby may not always feel "magical and blessed" . And this is normal. It's better to know what to expect and prepare for it.
And if you want to find out what positive effects pregnancy can bring to your body, check out here .
Bibliography: Dudek A., “Heidi Murkoff: Maternal love does not run on autopilot. "It's not like divine bliss is coming to you because you're pregnant." Wysokie Obcasy, December 12, 2019 “Regulation of the Minister of Health of August 16, 2018 on the organizational standard of perinatal care”, Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland, September 11, 2018. Kurzyńska E., “Even 15% of people may suffer from depression. "pregnant". Puls Medycyny, January 24, 2019 Oatridge A., Holdcroft A., Saeed N. et al., “Change in brain size during and after pregnancy: study in healthy women and women with preeclampsia.” AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2002 Wnuk A., “How Pregnancy Changes the Brain”. BrainFacts.org, February 28, 2018
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Napisała: Anna Stachowiak
Journalist, editor. Mainly interested in social and health issues. Publishes in the weekly " Przegląd ". A lover of active recreation, a healthy lifestyle, testing theories in practice and delving deeper into the topic. Privately, she is the mother of a rebellious 3-year-old and a yoga adept.
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