Your Changing Body

Definitions of terms related to the anatomy of a fetus in utero.

Many hormone levels are affected in the body during pregnancy, with several hormones playing major roles.

Average weight gain for women is between 25 and 35 pounds, although slight deviations from this may also be considered normal.

Nausea and vomiting are common in the first trimester, as is fatigue. Other common discomforts are hemorrhoids and heartburn.

Much back pain in pregnancy is related to the strain on your back from the weight of your growing baby. Using correct posture can help prevent and even relieve some of the pain.

Hemorrhoids and varicose veins might seem to be two different, unrelated problems, but they are actually quite similar. And, many women, especially those in the third trimester of pregnancy, have them.

Chances are good that you're one of many pregnant people who experience the churning and burning of heartburn or acid indigestion. It typically hits somewhere in the second or third trimester, and it can be miserable.