psychological changes occur pregnancy

Mood swings, grief, changes in sexual desires, and stress are only some of
the psychological changes that a pregnant woman experiences.
 Grief may arise from the realization that one’s roles would be changed
permanently.
 Mood swings Also known as emotional lability, this psychological reaction can
be caused by two factors, hormonal changes or narcissism.
 Crying is a common manifestation of mood swings, during and even after the
pregnancy.
 Changes in sexual desire Women who are on the first trimester of pregnancy
experience a decrease in libido mainly because of breast tenderness, nausea,
and fatigue.
 On the second trimester, sexual libido may rise because of increased blood
flow to the pelvic area that supplies the placenta.
 The third trimester might bring an increase or decrease in sexual libido due to
an increase in the abdominal size or difficulty in finding a comfortable position.
 Estrogen increase may also affect sexual libido as it may bring a loss of desire.
 Pregnancy is a major change in roles that could cause stress.
 The stress that a pregnant woman feels might affect her ability to decide.
 The discomforts that she may feel could also add up to the stress she is
experiencing.
 Introversion refers to someone who focuses entirely on her own body and a
common manifestation during pregnancy.
 Some pregnant women also manifest extroversion, or acting more active,
healthier and more outgoing than before their pregnancy.
 Social changes in the past, a pregnant woman is isolated from her family
starting from visiting for prenatal consultation until the day of birth.
 Cultural changes A pregnant woman’s culture and beliefs may also greatly
affect the course of her pregnancy.
 Family changes The environment where the woman grew influences the way
she would perceive her pregnancy.
 Individual changes Becoming a new mother is never an easy transition. The
woman must first be able to cope with stress effectively, as this is a major
concern during pregnancy.
Physiology changes occur pregnancy
Reproductive system changes
The system that will greatly feel the changes is the reproductive system. It
includes the ovaries, uterus, and vagina.
 The uterus increases in growth starting from the first trimester. On the
second trimester, the placenta is forming estrogen and progesterone.
 The vagina undergoes changes during the first trimester wherein a
whitish discharge is present. From the second until the third trimester,
the whitish discharge increases in amount.
 Amenorrhea also occurs, or the absence of menstruation.
Breast changes
 Breast changes start from the first trimester as the woman feels
tenderness and fullness of her breasts.
 As the pregnancy progresses, the breast size increases a size or two, as
the mammary alveoli and fat deposits increase in size.
 The areola of the nipples become darker and its diameter increases.
After the changes that occurred mainly in the reproductive system of a
pregnant woman, systemic changes will also start to occur in different
body systems.
 The stretching of the abdomen causes rupture of the small segments of
the connective layer of the skin.
 Striae gravidarum or pinkish to reddish marks on the sides of the
abdominal wall are the result of the rupture.
 Melasma or chloasma (mask of pregnancy) refers to the darkened areas
on the cheeks or the nose that may appear during pregnancy.
 Telangiectasis is red, branching spots that can be seen on the thighs. It is
also called as vascular spiders.
 A pregnant woman usually experiences stuffiness or marked congestion
because of the increasing estrogen levels.
 Shortness of breath is also a common discomfort of pregnancy as the
pregnant uterus pushes the diaphragm upward.