Becoming a mother is one of the most exciting times in a woman's life.

Pregnant women have special health and nutrition needs. They are eating for two people, for themselves and for the new baby that is growing inside their womb. So they need to be sure they are eating healthy foods. It is important for pregnant women to watch what they eat and drink.

The mother and her baby will need more calories during the pregnancy stages. Some doctors estimate that women will consume round 300 additional calories each day. They need to make sure the added calories come from healthy foods, not junk food. It is normal to have some cravings, because they need extra nutrients, but these cravings can be lessened by taking prenatal vitamins. Their bodies will want and need added nutrition, to help the baby grow, so it is suggested to eat plenty of health foods such as yogurt, fruit, bran muffins, veggies, etc.

During this stage women’s body undergoes many changes such as blood pressure and hormone changes. However, these changes are not the same for everyone. Hormonal changes affect almost every organ system in the body. These changes can trigger symptoms even in the very first weeks of pregnancy. Fortunately, most of these discomforts will go away as the pregnancy progresses. And some women might not feel any discomfort at all!

No one knows why, but some women who have eczema pre-pregnancy find that their eczema flare-ups seem to be worse; while other women find that their eczema goes away entirely for the duration of the pregnancy. If you find that you have a bout of eczema while pregnant, then this article is written just for you!

Women’s body goes through a lot of stressful work to create a human life. They are doing something totally amazing. And they deserve a rest, don’t you think? Of course you do. So they need to take plenty of breaks, sit down, and even take a nap every day.

As we have said women’s body experiences amazing changes and there are still 10 things that might surprise you about been pregnant:

1.- The Nesting Instinct

Many pregnant women experience the nesting instinct, a powerful urge to prepare their home for the baby by cleaning and decorating. Or perhaps you'll want to tackle projects you haven't had time to do, like organizing your garage or closets. As your due date draws closer, you may find yourself cleaning cupboards or washing walls — things you never would have imagined doing in your ninth month of pregnancy! This desire to prepare your home can be useful because it will give you more time to recover and nurture your baby after the birth. But be careful not to overdo it.

2.- Inability to Concentrate

In the first trimester, fatigue and morning sickness can make many women feel worn out and mentally fuzzy. But even well-rested pregnant women may experience an inability to concentrate and periods of forgetfulness. A preoccupation with the baby is partially the cause, as are hormonal changes. Everything (including work, bills, and doctor appointments) may seem less important than the baby and the impending birth. You can combat this forgetfulness by making lists to help you remember dates and appointments.

3.- Mood Swings

Premenstrual syndrome and pregnancy are alike in many ways. Your breasts swell and become tender, your hormones fluctuate, and you may feel moody. If you suffer from premenstrual syndrome, you're likely to have more severe mood swings during pregnancy. They can make you go from feeling happy one minute to feeling like crying the next. You may be irrationally angry with your partner one day, then a co-worker may inexplicably irritate you the next.

Mood swings are incredibly common during pregnancy, although they tend to occur more frequently in the first trimester and toward the end of the third trimester.
About 10% of pregnant women experience depression during pregnancy. If you have symptoms such as sleep disturbances, changes in eating habits (a complete lack of appetite or an inability to stop eating), and exaggerated mood swings for longer than 2 weeks, maybe you should talk to your doctor.

4.- Breast Size

An increase in breast size is one of the first signs of pregnancy. Breasts usually become swollen and enlarged in the first trimester because of increased levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. That growth in the first trimester isn't necessarily the end, either — your breasts can continue to grow throughout your pregnancy!

In addition to the size of your breasts, your bra size may be affected by your rib cage. When you're pregnant, your lung capacity increases so you can take in extra oxygen for yourself and the baby, which may result in a bigger chest size. You may need to replace your bras several times over the course of your pregnancy.

5.- Skin

Are your friends saying you have that pregnancy glow? It's only one of many skin changes you may experience during pregnancy due to hormonal changes and the stretching of your skin to accommodate a larger body. Pregnant women experience an increase in blood volume to provide extra blood flow to the uterus and to meet the metabolic needs of the fetus. They also have increased blood flow to their other organs, especially the kidneys. The greater volume brings more blood to the vessels and increases oil gland secretion.

Some women develop brownish or yellowish patches called chloasma, or the "mask of pregnancy," on their faces. And some will notice a dark line on the midline of the lower abdomen, known as the linea nigra (or linea negra), as well as hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin) of the nipples, external genitalia, and anal region. These are the result of pregnancy hormones, which cause the body to produce more pigment. The body may not produce this increased pigment evenly, however, so the darkened skin may appear as splotches of color. Unfortunately, chloasma can't be prevented, but wearing sunscreen and avoiding UV light can minimize its effects.

Acne is common during pregnancy because the skin's sebaceous glands increase their oil production. And newly formed pimples might not be the only evolving spots on your face or body — moles or freckles that you had prior to pregnancy may become bigger and darker. Even the areola, the area around the nipples, becomes darker. Except for the darkening of the areola, which is usually permanent, these skin changes will likely disappear after you give birth. Many women also experience heat rash, caused by dampness and perspiration, during pregnancy.

In general, pregnancy can be an itchy time for a woman. Skin stretching over the abdomen may cause itchiness and flaking. Your doctor can recommend creams to soothe dry or itchy skin.

The majority of stretch marks appear on a woman's abdomen from about 6 months onward when her belly is rapidly expanding to accommodate her growing baby and her skin is stretched to its limit. Some women also get them on their buttocks, thighs, hips, upper arms, lower back or breasts. They tend to be concentrated around the areas that store the most fat and do the most stretching.

Keeping the skin well-moisturized beginning in the first trimester may help prevent stretch marks. A nourishing lotion, oil or cream applied on a daily and nightly basis will moisturize the skin -and also reduce itching!

There are many products especially for stretch mark prevention that contain ingredients such as vitamin E, vitamin A, emu oil, cocoa butter, wheat germ oil and lanolin. Certainly moisturizing helps to improve the skin's elasticity, however, the effectiveness of these products in preventing stretch marks have been shown to be rather limited.

6.- Hair and Nails

Many women experience changes in hair texture and growth during pregnancy. The hormones secreted by your body will cause your hair to grow faster and fall out less. But these hair changes usually aren't permanent; most women lose a significant amount of hair in the postpartum period or after they stop breastfeeding.

Nails, like hair, can change noticeably during pregnancy. Extra hormones can make them grow faster and become stronger. Some women, however, find that their nails tend to split and break more easily during pregnancy. Like the changes in hair, nail changes aren't permanent. If your nails split and tear more easily when you're pregnant, keep them trimmed and avoid the chemicals in nail polish and nail polish remover.

7.- Shoe Size

Sometimes they cannot use their shoes anymore; just because they don’t fit! This is caused by the extra fluid in their pregnant bodies, many women experience swelling in their feet and may even have to start wearing a larger shoe size. Wearing slip-on shoes in a larger size will be more comfortable for many pregnant women, especially in the summer months.

8.- Joint Mobility

During pregnancy, the body produces a hormone known as relaxin, which is believed to help prepare the pubic area and the cervix for the birth. The relaxin loosens the ligaments in your body, making you less stable and more prone to injury. It's easy to overstretch or strain yourself, especially the joints in your pelvis, lower back, and knees. When exercising or lifting objects, go slowly and avoid sudden, jerky movements.

9.- Varicose Veins, Hemorrhoids, and Constipation

Varicose veins, which are usually found in the legs and genital area, occur when blood pools in veins enlarged by the hormones of pregnancy. Varicose veins often disappear after pregnancy, but you can lessen them by:

• Avoiding standing or sitting for long periods of time
• Wearing loose-fitting clothing
• Wearing support hose
• Elevating your feet when you sit
• Hemorrhoids — varicose veins in the rectum — frequently occur during pregnancy as well

Because your blood volume has increased and your uterus puts pressure on your pelvis, the veins in your rectum may enlarge into grape-like clusters. Hemorrhoids can be extremely painful, and they may bleed, itch, or sting, especially during or after a bowel movement. Coupled with constipation, another common pregnancy woe, hemorrhoids can make going to the bathroom downright unpleasant.

Constipation is common throughout pregnancy because pregnancy hormones slow the rate of food passing through the gastrointestinal tract. During the later stages of pregnancy, your uterus may push against your large intestine, making it difficult for waste to be eliminated. Constipation can contribute to hemorrhoids because straining may enlarge the veins of the rectum.

The best way to combat constipation and hemorrhoids is to prevent them. Eating a fiber-rich diet, drinking plenty of fluids daily and exercising regularly can help keep bowel movements regular. Stool softeners (not laxatives) may also help. If you do have hemorrhoids, see your doctor for a cream or ointment that can shrink them.

10.- Things That Will Come Out of Your Body

So you've survived the mood swings and the hemorrhoids, and you think your surprises are over. Guess again — the day you give birth will probably hold the biggest surprises of all.
Only 1 in 10 mothers' water breaks before labor contractions begin. Some women never experience it — a doctor may need to rupture the amniotic sac (if the cervix is already dilated) when they arrive at the hospital. How much water can you expect? For a full-term baby, there are normally about 2.1 to 5.9 cups of amniotic fluid. Some women may feel an intense urge to urinate that leads to a gush of fluid when their waters break. Others may have only a trickling sensation down their leg because the baby's head acts like a stopper to prevent most of the fluid from leaking out. In any case, amniotic fluid is generally sweet-smelling and pale or colorless and is replaced by your body every 3 hours, so don't be surprised if you continue to leak fluid, about a cup an hour, until delivery.

Other unexpected things may come out of your body during labor in addition to your baby, blood, and amniotic fluid. Some women experience nausea and vomiting. Others have diarrhea before or during labor, and flatulence (passing gas) is also common. During the pushing phase of labor, you may lose control of your bladder or bowels. A birth plan can be especially helpful in communicating your wishes to your health care providers about how to handle these and other discomforts of labor and delivery.

Lots of surprises are in store for you once you become pregnant — but none sweeter than the way you'll feel once your newborn is in your arms!