FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What kinds of changes might happen to my body during pregnancy ?
A . Slightly blurred vision . Contact lenses may become uncomfortable .
• Corneas of the eyes get about 3 % thicker .
B . Stuffy nose and nosebleeds are more frequent .
• Nasal cavities swell and production of mucus increases as a result of increased blood flow throughout your body .
C . Faster heart rate
• Heart pumps 30-50 % more blood . Heart rate speeds up by 20 %.
D . Enlarged blood vessels
• Causes varicose veins , hemorrhoids , and headaches
E . Backache .
• Spine curvature changes , and ligaments supporting your abdomen stretch .
F . Morning sickness , heartburn , and constipation
• Digestion slows down because of an increase in the hormone progesterone . The expanding uterus crowds other organs in the abdomen .
G . Frequent urination . More prone to bladder infections .
• Bladder is crowded by growing uterus . Progesterone relaxes muscles of the bladder , a change that slows down the urine flow from kidneys to bladder . uabmedicine . org 41