How Does The Body Change During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy is one of the moments in a woman’s life most characterized by changes. These happen on both a physical and psychological level and are all oriented towards hosting the growth of a new life. Of all the bodily variations, the hormonal ones are, perhaps, the most extraordinary. Let’s find out in this article what they are and what they entail. 

What Happens At Conception?

Perhaps not everyone knows that conception can occur even 48 or 72 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse. This happens because it is known that spermatozoa can survive in the female genital system all that time, and it is not known when they meet the female egg cell to fertilize it. Seven days after conception, however, the maternal organism receives a sort of alert that prepares the embryo.  Several changes occur immediately, the main ones being: 

1. changes in hormone levels;
2. Change in blood sugar levels;
3. lowering blood pressure;
4. Increase in the total volume of circulating blood.

How Does The Body Transform?

As many factors as those indicated vary, there are just as many bodily transformations throughout pregnancy. The most obvious transformation is, without a doubt, the growth of the belly. This occurs due to the progressive enlargement of the uterus, which accommodates and subsequently allows the development of the fetus. As the pregnancy progresses, however, other changes occur: 

1. The breasts enlarge in preparation for breastfeeding and can often become more sensitive. Additionally, changes in the pigmentation of the areola may also occur, and the veins may become more noticeable;
2. increases body weight due to an increase in adipose tissue;
3. The skin often undergoes a process of hyperpigmentation, so much so that many women see dark spots appear on the skin or the linea nigra, that is, a dark line that appears vertically on the abdomen, or small dark spots on the face;
4. Sometimes stretch marks may appear ;
5. Water retention, which can cause swelling, especially in the lower limbs (to be considered physiological as long as blood pressure is not altered);
6. Postural changes due to increased weight can lead women to increase lumbar lordosis.

Of course, these are just some changes that can occur, which can be added to specific transformations for each future mother. 

How Do Hormone Levels Change After Fertilization?

We have said that hormonal variations guide the entire gestation process, and nothing is more accurate than this statement.  Once the egg is fertilized (after about seven days), human chorionic gonadotropin, known as beta-HCG or pregnancy hormone, begins to inform each cell about the new life present.  At that point, the body’s first reaction will be to prevent menstruation. At the same time, however, beta-HCG ensures that estrogen and progesterone levels regulate themselves accordingly. This self-regulation process will be constant throughout the nine months of gestation to ensure the baby’s growth and birth. 

The Pregnancy Hormone

There is no doubt that the pregnancy hormone, or, more technically, Beta hCG, is the best known among those who intervene to support pregnancy. It is measured in the urine by standard tests and in the blood by hospital analyses. It is a chemical substance produced by the trophoblast, the tissue we find in the initial stages of embryo formation, which will subsequently give rise to the placenta. 

Its presence is essential so the corpus luteum can produce progesterone, an important hormone that keeps the uterus inactivity to preserve the pregnancy. This quiescence prevents the uterus from contracting and triggering menstruation when the embryo is nestled inside.  Then, starting in the twelfth week, the placenta will produce progesterone.

This is why, as a rule, Beta hCG concentrations in the blood and urine increase exponentially during the first trimester of pregnancy, doubling approximately every 24/48 hours during the first eight weeks; the peak is reached around the tenth week of gestation, after which the levels decrease until around the sixteenth week and from here they remain relatively constant until the end of the pregnancy. This decrease coincides with the regression of the most frequent symptoms of pregnancy, such as nausea and fatigue, precisely because Beta hCG seems to be the leading cause of these symptoms.

Conclusions

Pregnancy is a period of profound physical and psychological changes for every woman. Hormonal changes play a vital role in the entire process. From the moment of conception, the maternal body actively prepares to welcome the embryo, with a series of changes that include hormonal, glycemic, and blood pressure variations and an expansion in the volume of flowing blood. During pregnancy, the body goes through apparent changes, for example, the development of the stomach and the extension of the bosoms in anticipation of breastfeeding. 

At the same time, changes such as increased body weight, hyperpigmentation of the skin, and the appearance of stretch marks may occur. One crucial aspect underlying these changes is the action of the pregnancy hormone Beta hCG, which regulates estrogen and progesterone levels to support pregnancy growth and maintenance. Measured in urine or blood, the hormone is a reliable indicator of pregnancy’s state and development.

In the first months of gestation, Beta hCG levels increase rapidly, reaching a peak around the tenth week and remaining relatively constant until the end of pregnancy. This process of hormonal regulation also contributes to the regression of typical pregnancy symptoms, such as nausea and fatigue, making pregnancy a unique and dynamic experience for every woman.

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