When you’re pregnant and are expecting a bundle of joy, there are a number of common signs and symptoms that come with carrying a baby. Unfortunately, there are also many surprises that are related to pregnancy for many moms-to-be. To understand pregnancy more and what you can’t fully expect, there are a few facts to learn.
Accurate Gender
Although ultrasounds have become more advanced with the technology that is used over the years, determining a baby’s gender is still not 100 percent accurate. The ultrasound technician can make a mistake or the baby may move a certain way that allows them to look like the opposite sex. 3D ultrasounds can increase the accuracy of predicting the gender and will make it easier to prepare for the baby’s arrival due to the visibility that is offered.
The Health of the Baby
Various tests and exams are often performed during the pregnancy to determine the baby’s level of health and if any conditions are present. Your OBGYN will also monitor the heart rate and schedule multiple ultrasounds throughout the pregnancy. Unfortunately, the health of the baby is unknown until the child is born.
Your Level of Comfort
Your mother may have suffered from nausea with her pregnancies or your last pregnancy may have been extremely easy, but your level of comfort is unknown each trimester with each pregnancy. No one can predict the symptoms that they’ll experience as they carry a child or if a headache or decreased vision is related to the pregnancy.
Weight Gain
The amount of weight that you gain doesn’t always depend on your diet or the amount of exercise that you perform each week. Although the recommended weight that women should gain is 25 pounds, there are a number of factors that can influence how you feel and look. Your current weight will influence how much you end up gaining. The body also retains a significant amount of water during the pregnancy, which can cause you to look heavier and plump.
Other women who suffer from indigestion or heartburn may gain less weight due to a tendency to eat less. Women who suffer from nausea during the first trimester and even in the second trimester are also known to lose weight or not gain any weight at all.
Food Adversions
You may be a fan of burgers before you get pregnant, but carrying a baby can cause you to become sick at the sight of meat. According to whattoexpect.com, you may also have the urge to eat an unusual dish that you never craved before due to the surge of hormones in your body.
Each woman is different when it comes to what she experiences after becoming pregnant. From the way she feels physically to her different moods, there are a variety of factors that are often impossible to fully expect. By going with the flow and embracing change, it can be easier to enjoy pregnancy before it’s time to deliver.