Pregnancy Facts for First-Time Mothers

Pregnancy is an amazing, exhausting, stressful, and inspiring experience.

And there are many aspects to fertility and pregnancy that modern science
has only recently begun to catalog. Indeed, the process of human
reproduction is so complex and so intricate that it’s easy to confuse
pregnancy fact with fiction. Perhaps because of this, some misconceptions
and misinformation regarding pregnancy still exist to this day. First-time
moms-to-be shouldn’t have to deal with misnomers and falsehoods related
to their pregnancy, though. Fortunately, these pregnancy facts will keep
expecting moms informed of some of the challenges –– and delights ––
they’re about to encounter over the next nine months:

Getting Pregnant

It’s notoriously difficult to predict if, or when, a woman will become

pregnant. Though certain times of the month are more conducive to
conception, women may become pregnant at virtually any time –– including
while on their period. On the other hand, many couples do experience
difficulty getting pregnant. In fact, between 10-12% of people (both men
and women) struggle with infertility issues at some point in their life.
Doctors typically recommend for couples to try and conceive for at least a
year before they seek infertility treatment. Because many different factors
contribute to whether or not conception occurs, it can be difficult to “plan” a
pregnancy with any accuracy.

Your Body & Pregnancy

It’s an understatement to say that when a woman becomes pregnant, she’ll

experience hormonal changes. That’s true, but it’s really just the tip of the
iceberg. During pregnancy, it’s common for a woman’s heart to “work
overtime” to accommodate the need for more blood and oxygen. And in
addition to the well-known fetal girth, women’s feet and breasts are also
likely to enlarge during pregnancy. Hormonal changes can even lead to
fluctuations in a woman’s voice –– though those changes are not
permanent and tend to abate after pregnancy has ended.
Pregnancy & Your Baby

Expecting mothers and their babies share an intimate connection that is

even stronger than some people realize. Amazingly, infants in the womb
are able to recognize their mother’s voice after around 30 weeks. That
strong connection between mother and child does come with some risks
though. Some are well-documented –– like how smoking or drinking can
negatively affect prenatal development. Others are less well-known. For
instance, there’s a connection between STDs and pregnancy. Women with
certain sexually transmitted diseases can pass infections to their baby
either before or during birth. That’s particularly scary given the fact that
many STDs are asymptomatic. The good news is that doctors screen
pregnant women for STDs –– among many other things –– during regular
prenatal visits.

The relationship between a mother and infant in the womb is a strong one,
but it’s also one that all mothers-to-be should understand well.

Pregnancy FAQs

It’s natural for first-time moms to have a few questions they may feel
uncomfortable asking. But it’s still important to ask them! A few pregnancy
questions moms often ask include:

● Can I still have sex during pregnancy? Yes. Most of the time
pregnant women can have sex safely without disturbing their baby. At
a certain point late in the pregnancy, however, sex may no longer be
possible.
● Can I work out during pregnancy? Somewhat. Light workouts like
non-strenuous yoga or walks are great activities for pregnant women
to explore.
● How long is a pregnancy really going to last? On average 280
days –– which is actually a little longer than nine months. But no two
pregnancies are the same!

Is it Normal if . . .?
Many women feel worried if a pregnancy deviates from the norm in any
way. Or they may feel concerned about continuing certain healthful
activities while pregnant. The good news is that there is no such thing as a
“normal” pregnancy. Some babies are delivered early. Others late. Others
via cesarean section. Some women experience intense food cravings or
morning sickness. Others have much milder symptoms. Some babies are
even born with teeth. At the end of the day, normal is such a relative term
that moms-to-be don’t need to concern themselves too much over trivial
issues. The only things that really matter are the health and happiness of
mother and child.