4 Months Pregnant
– Visible bump and rapid fetal development!
When you are 4 months pregnant, it is the beginning of your second trimester. You may notice that you have more energy, but fatigue and nausea stop all your energy levels. You may also observe that the belly is becoming larger as the baby is growing rapidly inside.
Most pregnant women feel that this is the correct time to share the exciting news with their friends and relatives.
What happens with you when you are 4 months pregnant?
Most of the 4 months pregnant women notice that those annoying first trimester side effects, such as dizziness and morning sickness have almost subsided. This month you may feel more comfortable when compared to the previous months. But this month, you may experience some new symptoms, such as constipation, edema and some skin changes. Here is the brief overview of the symptoms experienced by a 4 months pregnant woman:
Constipation: All most all pregnant women experience constipation during pregnancy. Though it is quite uncomfortable during pregnancy, it can be relieved by drinking more and more fluids. Eating fiber rich diet and also fresh fruits and vegetables can help to reduce constipation.
Edema: Pregnancy edema is a common condition observed in most 4 months pregnant women. This condition causes swelling of the feet, ankle and face. To reduce this condition, avoid sitting or standing for larger periods. If you are a working mother-to-be, it is important to take frequent breaks from work and walk a little.
Skin changes: Every pregnant woman may experience some sort of skin changes during this period. Most of the skin changes are due to the increased hormone levels. To keep your skin in good condition, you can apply cleaner, toner and moisturizer. You may also observe that nipples and areola become even dark and the veins of the breast are more prominent during pregnancy month 4.
Nausea and vomiting: Most of the women may experience morning sickness during the first trimester, but some women may experience it for the whole pregnancy or even for few more months. Nausea and vomiting are most commonly caused by odors and smells for which you are more sensitive during your pregnancy.
Heartburn: From 4 th month of pregnancy, you may experience heartburn. Some pregnant women may experience until the 9 th month of pregnancy. The growing uterus puts great pressure on your digestive system and also makes you feel uncomfortable after eating. Though it is common during pregnancy, making some diet changes can help to reduce the discomfort.
Increased vaginal discharge: During pregnancy, woman’s cervix produces fluids to keep the vaginal area clean and infection free. The increased moisture and change in acidic levels of the vagina makes the area more susceptible to yeast infection. This increased moisture can also make the perineum skin delicate and also susceptible to tear as the baby is born.
If the vaginal discharge has foul odor and color other than white or clear, warts, vaginal itching, or in combination with some other symptoms such as fever or flu, you should immediately contact your doctor.
Nosebleeds: Nosebleeds are common from pregnancy 3 rd month. Because of the increased blood volume, the small and sensitive blood vessels in your nose may easily break during your pregnancy.
Bleeding gums: Due to the higher levels of pregnancy hormones when you are 4 months pregnancy can cause the gums become softer and sensitive. So, when you are brushing the teeth, the gums may be easily bruised and bleed. There is no need to worry about the condition, if you observe severe bleeding; make sure to consult your dentist.
Shortness of breath: It is most common in pregnant women because of the pressure of growing uterus on nearby organs such as lungs. As women take smaller breathes, it is quite normal to experience shortness of breath.
Frequent urination: Growing uterus puts pressure on the bladder thus increasing an urge to urinate more frequently. This pregnancy side effect will continue through the whole pregnancy period and severity increases with the increase in your belly size.
What happens with your baby when you are 4 months pregnant?
By the end of 4 th month of pregnancy, your baby will be around 5.5 inches length and 6 oz. weight. You can hear the baby’s heartbeat with a Doppler device.
Facial development: When you are 4 months pregnant, the facial features of the baby will become more pronounced. Bones in the ears begin to harden, but the baby may not be able to hear the sounds clearly until the 7 th month of pregnancy.
Organ development: The baby’s lung cavities begin to develop. In the uterus, the lungs don’t function as respiratory organs. The lungs remain collapsed until the baby’s first breath.
Skin development: Baby’s skin appears very transparent and inside veins are clearly visible. During pregnancy 4 th month, the formation of fat cells under the baby’s skin will begin and this process will continue until the birth of your baby. Fat deposition under the skin can help to stay warm after the birth.
Muscles and bones: Muscle development continues and the baby’s skeleton bones becoming stronger for each month until the birth.
Hair on the body: Baby’s eyelashes will begin to develop. Baby’s whole body is covered with a type of fluff called as lanugo, which disappears after the birth. This body hair protects the baby’s soft skin while it resides in the amniotic fluid.
What are the physical changes that occur in a 4 months pregnant woman?
If you haven’t started showing before now, you likely will this month. When you are 4 months pregnant, most of the physical changes are associated with your skin and weight. The nipples will become dark and the veins will be more prominent. Also, you may observe blemished skin on your face.
You may observe slight movements of the baby toward the end of this month, although it is most common not to feel much beyond a flutter until the fifth month.
What care should be taken by a 4 months pregnant woman?
Monthly prenatal checkup: During the second trimester, your doctor will regularly monitor the baby’s weight and know how your pregnancy is going. This month, your doctor will recommend you to undergo few tests, such as blood test and urine test to check the sugar, protein and antibody levels in your body. Most doctors recommend glucose screening test during pregnancy to determine the presence of gestational diabetes. In case you have gestational diabetes, you should be under doctor’s observation for the rest of the pregnancy period.
Regular workouts: During this period, it is very important to practice low impact workouts, such as swimming, walking, and some aerobic activities.
Eat healthy diet: Stop alcohol consumption and eat a healthy diet that is rich in fiber and also drink plenty of fluids.
3 Months Pregnant
– More interesting changes for the mother-to-be!
The good thing about being 3 months pregnant is that you are already past the most vulnerable period of your pregnancy.
This is because the risks of having a miscarriage have decreased by this time. A lot of women wait for this moment to share the big news with family and friends.
Although it is an exciting period, make sure that you don’t get too anxious about it because it could harm both, you and the baby. In this period you have to realize that your pregnancy is real, and it might be the time to think about finances as well.
What to Expect When you are Three Months Pregnant?
Most likely the past period has been quite hectic, but when you reach the 3 month pregnancy you will start feeling like your old self. It is to be expected for you to gain weight, and in some cases this could be up to 5 pounds. It is not a must to get the maternity clothes already, but most probably they are more comfortable than your old clothes.
You may think that the maternity clothes are frumpy, but if you look around you will find that there are numerous styles to choose from, and for sure you will find some that you like.
3rd Month of Pregnancy Symptoms
1. Your Skin
Some of the physical changes that you will see involve your skin. Most probably it will become a bit thickened and it is also common to experience the first signs of stretch marks . These appear because your belly is growing, and the skin isn’t elastic enough to allow this growth; so the tissue will become somewhat damaged. At the beginning these marks could be red or purple, but with time their color will become less noticeable.
2. Your Gums
It is common for women in their third month of pregnancy to see that their gums have softened. Although this isn’t a problem on its own, you have to be careful while brushing your teeth, because you could bruise the gums and they could bleed.
3. Swollen Neck
Because of the hormonal changes that your body is going through, the thyroidal glands could get swollen. As a result your neck will seem swollen. You shouldn’t be alarmed; this is a natural symptom and you don’t have mumps or any other condition.
4. Breast Growth
Most probably you experienced some breast tenderness before as well. The breasts will still feel soft and big, but usually women don’t experience pain anymore.
5. Sense of Smell
It is a well-known fact that three months pregnant women are sensitive when it comes to odors and smells. It is even possible that some of these odors will simply make you throw up. Make sure that you don’t go to places that have smells that bother you.
6. Nosebleeds
Although this is a symptom of the 3rd month of pregnancy that could be alarming, keep in mind that the nosebleeds appear because the blood volume of your body increases. Nonetheless, if you have excessive nosebleeds, make sure that you pay your health care provider a visit.
7. Frequent Urination
When you are 3 months pregnant, you will experience a shift in your pelvis. This is because the uterus is getting bigger to make more place for the fetus. The uterus will be pushing against your bladder, and this is why you will have to make more frequent visits to the toilet.
8. Food Cravings
Food cravings aren’t new when you get to this period because for sure you have experienced them before as well. This means that you may find yourself craving for kinds of foods that you never even liked before.
Although you could have a bit of those foods, make sure that you don’t eat too much. It’s not true that you have to eat for two, even more, during this period you shouldn’t have a bigger calorie intake than you did before you got pregnant.
9. Mood Swings
Your hormones do a lot to you when you are pregnant, and one of the most annoying 3 months pregnant symptoms that they cause include mood swings. Although it is quite bothersome, keep in mind that it is just a phase that you have to go through and soon you won’t experience them anymore.
10. Your Hormones
Besides the symptoms that have been mentioned before , you could also experience headaches, nausea and in some cases even dizziness.
3 Months Pregnant and Baby Evolution
There is a great deal of physical development that the fetus experiences during this period. He or she has the nose and mouth formed.
Also the legs and arms start to grow at a fast pace, and the fingers and toes develop too. He or she starts looking more like a real human, having the eyes formed as well.
The organs are shaping, and even more, some of them even start to function. An interesting thing to know is that at the end of 3 month pregnancy. the little one will be able to swallow.
Although during the first trimester the little one can move its limbs, it will be a while before you can actually feel the baby kick. The sex organs have also formed, but you have to wait a bit more to find out about the gender of the baby.
Mother’s Responsibilities in 3 Months Pregnancy
When you reach 3rd month of pregnancy. majority of women are aware of their condition, and this is why there are some responsibilities that they have to think about.
This is the time when the bones of the baby are hardening, and this is why it is important to consume foods that are rich in calcium.
It is normal for women to feel anxious about the new situation and wonder whether they are going to be good parents. Nonetheless you shouldn’t get stressed about it, because you could do harm to the little one.
Take a childbirth class to know what to expect and maybe this way you will be less stressed about giving birth and being a parent.
Want to know what happens next month? Here’s what to expect when you are 4 months pregnant !
No comments:
Post a Comment