Why do you want chalk during pregnancy? Is it possible to eat chalk during pregnancy?

Without physical intimacy between a man and a woman, it is impossible to achieve harmony in a relationship. This is an act of love, complete trust and tenderness between partners. With the onset of pregnancy, sexual intercourse is not only not contraindicated (except for special cases, which will be discussed below), but is also very necessary. It is at this time that many couples become liberated, free in their desires, because now there is no need to control themselves in order to avoid an unplanned conception. Sexual love during pregnancy also acquires a spiritual meaning: it is not only physical and mental contact between a man and a woman, it is something more; thanks to the act of love, a new life was born - their own child.

To the point
If we descend from the heavens of spiritual love to earth, then we want, between us girls, to discuss very real, I would say, vital issues. How and in what ways has your attitude towards the man from whom you are expecting a child changed? Because some women become closer to men, others want more privacy, they become isolated in their feelings of pregnancy and cannot or do not want to talk about the nuances of their psychological mood to their partner. For men, such behavior from the ladies of their hearts is not only discouraging, it’s simply stunning. There was one person, bam - and suddenly a completely different person, it was as if the wife had been replaced. The topic of sex becomes a sore point for many couples expecting a child. So, let's dot the i's.

Visit to the gynecologist to confirm pregnancy

In addition to two lines on the test, your pregnancy must be confirmed by a gynecologist. It is during such a ceremonial visit that you should discuss the possibility of continuing sexual activity during pregnancy. Since your doctor is quite familiar with your inner contents, which, of course, does not mean the spiritual world, you definitely need to overcome the timidity that many people have in such a delicate matter and simply ask: “Tell me, can I have sex?” Believe me, the doctor is by no means a puritan; he is well aware that it was thanks to sex that your conception occurred. So, the vast majority of gynecologists allow you to continue to be sexually active. They don’t want your lover to languish in anticipation of intimacy for 9 long months or, God forbid, to go outside. What to do if the doctor answered “no” to this question. This means that you definitely need to ask an additional question: “Why?” Here are the reasons why your gynecologist may tell you not to have sex for some time or even until you give birth.

When should pregnant women not have sex?

If you or your partner don't want to have sex.

• If you experience even slight bleeding (you must tell your doctor about this).

• If you had a miscarriage in a previous pregnancy, sexual activity is prohibited during the first four months of pregnancy.

• If there is a risk of premature birth.

• In case of multiple pregnancy, especially in the last trimester.

• If amniotic fluid leaks.

• If your partner has been diagnosed with a genitourinary tract infection.

• Gynecologists also do not recommend having sex on days when you previously had menstruation, as well as when you have had a miscarriage (if any).

Cunnilingus (oral sex with vaginal stimulation) and masturbation are also not advisable during pregnancy. They can cause very strong contractions, incomparable to.
If your doctor has given a convincing reason for refusing sexual intercourse, be sure to specify the end date of abstinence. Because confusion can happen: the doctor will forbid sex, you will strictly follow his advice month after month, and then it turns out that the doctor meant sexual “rest” for two weeks. And how will you look your own husband in the eyes after this?

Hormones not only make it possible to bear a long-awaited child, they present surprises in your sex life. Many women are on such a high that they sometimes cannot control themselves and literally attack the future fathers of the family. The power of lust is such that it gives women a chance to feel like a man who “wants” almost always. Some members of the stronger sex even feel that they have been used. But the vast majority of couples like this sexual revolution.
Many pregnant ladies read the lines written above and were indignant: what kind of sex is there if you are tormented by nausea from morning to evening, constantly want to sleep, are overcome by weakness, dizziness and other unpleasant companions (not everyone experiences them) of pregnancy. New sensations exhaust a woman so much that by the end of the day she just wants to get to bed as quickly as possible. And the husband dreams of the joys of sex alone. This state of drowsiness and weakness is especially pronounced in the first months of pregnancy.

Men, in the first trimester of pregnancy you should not strain your beloved with sexual fantasies. At this time, the woman’s desire fades away. The hormonal background, excuse the tautology, is so bad that all the vital forces of a woman are spent on restructuring the body in the name of the needs of your baby. At this time, you should be very sensitive to avoid misunderstandings in your relationship. In addition, women who have a tendency to miscarriage or there is a real threat of miscarriage should abstain from sexual intercourse for 12 weeks. By this time, the placenta will be fully formed, thanks to which the baby is supplied with oxygen and nutrients, and the baby’s waste is also removed. Many women find that they feel dizzy during sex: and not just from happiness. And sometimes nausea occurs. Strictly between us: to prevent your feelings from coming out in a very real way, just change your position. The position of a woman on her back, a man on top is cancelled, the dominant position on top is now in fashion, and approaching from the side or on all fours will not bring any trouble.
According to doctors, the most successful time for sexual relations is the second trimester of pregnancy. In most cases, the manifestations of toxicosis disappear, and the woman again begins to feel attracted to the man. Unprecedented passion can promise the birth of a boy: doctors explain this by the fact that more male hormones enter the woman’s body. A calm sex life without outbursts may be evidence that the expectant mother is expecting the birth of a daughter.

Rounded shapes, tense breasts - all these external signs of a normally progressing pregnancy sometimes cause a woman to feel anxious: what if the man she loves will lose interest in you? Your fears are unfounded; most representatives of the stronger sex find changes more erotic.
So, be confident in yourself, because you won’t be pregnant all your life: it’s not forever! Just take care of yourself even more thoroughly than usual: manicure, pedicure, makeup, if you wear it. Buy yourself not only a maternity suit, but also some exciting underwear (you'll have to look for it, lace is not often sewn onto busts for rounder shapes). Carrying a child directs your thoughts about the future care of the baby; in children's stores you want to buy literally all the rompers and toys. But don't forget about yourself. There is very little time left that you can devote only to yourself and your beloved man. I’ll tell you a secret: most representatives of the stronger sex consider only intimacy to be a manifestation of self-love. That is, if there is no sex, he doesn’t love, if there is sex, he loves. I won’t say that it’s already painfully primitive, but simply – yes. Therefore, there is no need to reject the future father of the child and, especially, relegate him to the background.

By the way, in the last months of pregnancy, sexual activity often decreases even in a man, let alone a woman: she is tired physically and psychologically. All the spouses’ thoughts are about the birth of their baby soon. The child is no longer something abstract in the belly, but here it is, very close, a small miracle, every now and then showing a leg or arm from the mother’s belly. Men become more gentle and are afraid of harming the little man. By the way, there are representatives of the stronger sex who are afraid of doing something wrong during sex and throughout pregnancy and do not want to hear about intimacy. This usually happens to those couples who, for some reason, are waiting for the birth of their child. And now they are afraid of inadvertently ruining a dream that has almost come true - to give birth to a healthy, beautiful baby.

In the third trimester of pregnancy, the sexual desire of both partners declines. Men are becoming more responsible and understand that premature birth, which sex can cause, is undesirable. The spouses' thoughts are increasingly occupied with the upcoming change in their status: they will soon become father and mother. However, many couples are sexually active until childbirth. Women note that the most favorable time for physical manifestations of love is early in the morning or after lunch. It’s okay if a man adapts to your mood: this will only strengthen your feelings. A big belly pushes couples to look for others other than the woman on the back and the man on top. The side position is very comfortable in the last trimester of pregnancy. Also, a woman is comfortable sitting on her husband’s hips and all poses are from behind.

Sex during pregnancy - Harm to the baby

Doctors forbade our parents to have sex during pregnancy. This was explained by the fact that microorganisms can enter the uterus during sexual intercourse. Today the taboo on sex has been lifted. It is now known that the child is securely hidden in the uterus and is protected from shocks during sex by amniotic fluid. If pregnancy proceeds normally, the entrance to the uterus is securely closed by a mucous plug, through which no microbe can penetrate.

Many are overcome by the thought that a child is spying on lustful parents and sooner or later will say: “And these people forbid me to pick my nose?” So, there is no evidence that the child remembers the sexual relations of the parents (how much, when and where) and can cause him psychological trauma. The child in the womb feels only the state of the mother: if a woman experiences pleasure from having sex, then it only benefits him. During sexual intercourse, blood supply to the placenta improves, which means the baby receives more nutrients. The powerful energy exchange that occurs between a man and a woman during lovemaking also has a beneficial effect on the child.

The benefits of sex during pregnancy

So, let’s summarize the information about why you SHOULD have sex:

• If a woman abstains from sex for a long time, she accumulates negative emotions. It has long been known that the baby in the womb is sensitive not only to the physical state of the mother, but also to the psychological one. A negative emotional background harms the fetus.

• Lack of sex can lead to toxicosis. Yes Yes. When sexual activity decreases, metabolism in the placenta (through which the child receives nutrition and eliminates waste substances) decreases. That is, the child’s waste is removed from the woman’s body more slowly, which can cause toxicosis.

• Sex perfectly trains the anal-genital muscles of the uterus for the upcoming birth. Unlike the muscles in your legs or arms, these muscles only work when you “use” them, as they say. There is no sex - the muscles are flabby, there is sex - they work and, most importantly, get stronger. The spasms of orgasm are a lot like childbirth. By the way, I know women who, during the birth of a child, experienced an orgasm incomparably brighter. Developed anal-genital muscles guarantee the normal position of the uterus in the abdominal cavity, and this is an important condition for successfully bearing a child. Just don’t overdo it with sex, my dears, in your condition it’s better to avoid long “races”. You will begin full-fledged training of the anal-genital muscles now after the birth of your baby.

• During orgasm, an explosion occurs in the body: this group of polypeptide chemical compounds called endorphins gives us blissful pleasure, joy and a feeling of happiness. Hormones during pregnancy make a woman just a geisha, sensual and sensitive. An enlarged clitoris, expansion of the uterus and vagina, and more powerful blood flow to the pelvis contribute to the fact that a woman begins to derive great pleasure from sex; many experience orgasm for the first time during pregnancy.

• Semen contains the hormone prostaglandin, which helps to relax the uterus, thus smoothly preparing it for childbirth. It is this property of prostaglandins at the end of pregnancy that can trigger the onset of contractions.

P.S. Sex is an important part of life, but not all of life. Therefore, if there is no sexual relationship in the family, you should simply and openly talk about it. You must be absolutely frank about your wants and dislikes. There is no need to drag a tail of unresolved problems with you into your post-pregnancy life. Surprises await you there, and not always pleasant ones. So, solve problems, including sexual ones, on the shore, not in the boat. Love can be shown not only through direct sexual contacts: there are also erotic massages and oral sex. The main thing is not to be afraid to experiment, because HOW TO LOVE is your personal business.

Common activities will help improve relationships, including in bed. Try to go to examinations together. A man who sees his baby in person on an ultrasound monitor will certainly become more attentive and gentle towards you - the woman he loves and the future mother of his child. On the other hand, it is not at all necessary to spend all your free time together. During pregnancy, it is important to find time just for yourself. But long separations should be postponed. Even very autonomous couples get nervous during long business trips. Women feel abandoned to the mercy of fate, and men twitch all the time, believing that without their presence next to their beloved, something will go wrong. So, love each other, be close, and be sure to DIRECTLY talk about all your desires: what is going on in your head is not transmitted by impulses to the subconscious to your loved one. Men love to fulfill the most delusional, but clearly stated desires, and not our vague expectations.

Features of a “pregnant” appetite: what do they really mean and should you indulge them?

The way pregnant women gobble up jars of pickles and sometimes want to eat something exotic in the middle of the night has long become the talk of the town. What do doctors think about these desires? Are such whims harmless and how to respond to them?

Unfortunately, there is no clear answer to the question of why pregnant women’s taste preferences change. Doctors believe that many factors are to blame for this: hormonal, medical, psychological and even ethnocultural!

There is an opinion that during pregnancy a woman does not correctly understand what her body wants at the moment. It requires some minerals or vitamins, and the expectant mother associates them with different products, and sometimes with objects.

Thus, the desire to consume cheese on an “industrial scale” signals a lack of sodium in the body. You want ice cream if you have a calcium deficiency. Seaweed is required by an organism that needs iodine.

Where's my chalk?

However, this rule does not always work: the brain can make mistakes. It has been noted, for example, that the desire to chew ice indicates a lack of iron, but frozen water does not contain this substance. It is obvious that the brain somehow intricately processes the body’s requests and does not always understand which product contains what a pregnant woman needs. Doctors see this as the reason why many expectant mothers have a desire to eat chalk, coals, and pencils.

There are also ethnocultural features of changing preferences. Russian women, for example, strongly associate pregnancy with pickled cucumbers - accordingly, they more often want something salty. But in Europe they note an increased craving for sweets and fatty foods. It’s interesting that both our and European women are often drawn to spicy foods, but in cultures where spicy food is the norm, this is not the case. This strengthens doctors’ opinion that it is not necessary to indulge all the strange whims of pregnant women.

The most common situation is the need to eat chalk. This is believed to be a sign of calcium deficiency. In fact, it is usually a sign of iron deficiency. It is also indicated by other food preferences that are unusual in quality (ice, coal, pencil leads, clay, raw minced meat and cereals) and quantity, as well as the need to inhale the smell of gasoline, paint, wet whitewash and other chemicals.

Iron deficiency is detected by a biochemical blood test called ferritin. It is important to remember here that, Firstly, Iron deficiency should be identified and treated in the early stages of pregnancy, but in the last three months it is unsafe to take iron supplements.

Secondly, Hemoglobin levels do not always correctly reflect the amount of iron in the body. Another situation is the need for sweets. The fact is that the body strives to maintain a constant level of sugar in the blood. Sweets cause a sharp rise and a rapid decline. Therefore, if you want something sweet, eat a portion of protein food (a piece of meat, an egg). And after that - sweet, but from slowly digestible carbohydrates (muesli bar, fruit). This will give the body a slow and constant source of energy.

The desire to eat salty foods may indicate a lack of protein foods. Check how much protein you eat. Your diet should contain at least 100 g per day. In addition, information about the dangers of table salt for pregnant women is outdated. Add it to taste, use natural salt, such as sea salt.

Wish time

For those who are haunted by strange desires, we can recommend the following.

• Check with your obstetrician for iron, zinc, and vitamin deficiencies.
• Establish a balanced diet in consultation with your obstetrician. Most likely, he will include vegetables, fruits, cereals, lean meat, and fish in your menu.
• Don't forget to eat regularly. Eating a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner will help you refuse to eat inappropriate quantities.
• Taste preferences can be tricked by offering the body a healthier substitute for junk food to avoid excess weight and gastrointestinal problems.

In addition, doctors and psychologists note that the desire to eat is often a substitute for emotional desires. The expectant mother needs peace and confidence. According to doctors, it can also help relieve cravings for unhealthy foods.

Pregnant woman's menu

If you want...	Try...
ice cream (may indicate a lack of iron and calcium)	frozen low-fat yogurt
soda	mineral water with fruit juice, homemade lemonade
cake	large grain bread with natural jam
cake	grain bread, strawberries with yogurt
chips, fried potatoes	popcorn without salt and sugar, toasted in the microwave; Armenian lavash with cheese, olive oil
canned fruit with sugar	fresh fruits, dried fruits
chocolate (may indicate a lack of iron and B vitamins!)	natural expensive chocolate with low fat content, eat 4-5 squares a day with nuts and raisins
cookies	crispbreads with fruit
herrings	lightly salted sea fatty fish
vegetable pickles	piece of meat, fish, fresh cucumber with sea salt
full fat dairy products	low-fat, low-sugar dairy products; add dried fruits

16.04.2019 15:56:00 6 ways to lose belly fat Many people dream of losing belly fat. Why there? Because extra pounds settle primarily on the stomach, spoiling the appearance of the body and creating a health hazard. But the following methods will help correct the situation!

16.04.2019 15:35:00 12 habits that shorten your life Many older people act like teenagers. They consider themselves invulnerable and make decisions that are harmful to their health. But what habits exactly shorten your life? Let's find out together!

15.04.2019 22:22:00 Losing weight quickly: the best tips and methods Of course, healthy weight loss requires patience and discipline, and crash diets don't produce long-term results. But sometimes there is no time for a long program. To lose weight as quickly as possible, but without starvation, you need to follow the tips and methods in our article!

13.04.2019 11:43:00 TOP 10 products against cellulite A complete absence of cellulite remains a pipe dream for many women. But this does not mean that we should give up. The following 10 foods tighten and strengthen connective tissue—eat them as often as possible!

Pregnancy is a time of new sensations and various complaints. Expectant mothers may notice drowsiness or irritability, pain in the head and lower back, changes in taste or nausea, and weight gain. Sometimes they notice that there is an increasing desire to drink a lot of liquid. Is extreme thirst associated with pregnancy?

Thirst

Moderate or severe thirst is not a sign of pregnancy, although it is quite common during this period. Typically, the desire to drink a lot arises in the early stages, in the first or second trimester, and is more often noted during the day. However, night thirst also occurs. In the third trimester, the appearance of such a symptom along with swelling is often noted.

The causes of this condition can be both physiological and pathological. However, the appearance of such a complaint should alert the expectant mother. It is best not to delay consulting your doctor in this situation.

If severe thirst develops suddenly, in the midst of complete health, and is almost impossible to quench, a trip to a specialist should be made immediately.

Physiological reasons

Bearing a child is impossible without complete hormonal changes in the female body. The volume of substances changes, blood flow increases, and the rate of chemical reactions increases.

The expectant mother must ensure not only the normal functioning of her body, but also the growth of the fetus. All this requires additional fluid intake into the body and is manifested by the desire to drink a lot.

Physiological causes of thirst during pregnancy include:

1. Changes in metabolism. Water is the basis of all chemical reactions. If their number or speed increases, then the need for fluid increases.
2. A change in blood flow, which entails an increase in fluid volume.
3. The appearance of amniotic fluid. This leads to additional fluid consumption and thirst, especially in the second and third trimesters. The desire to drink may become strong if the volume of amniotic fluid increases sharply or if there is polyhydramnios.
4. Intensive kidney work. Since a woman’s excretory system has to work for two, all processes in them occur faster. This explains the more frequent desire to drink.
5. Changing your diet. Expectant mothers often note the need for spicy, sweet or salty foods. After such dishes, thirst will increase, sometimes quite strongly.

If the desire to drink is due to physiological reasons, there is no need to be afraid of it. However, only the attending physician can determine the nature of thirst after conducting certain tests.

Pathological causes

Although most often thirst during pregnancy is a natural phenomenon and can be easily corrected by changing your diet or drinking regime, sometimes it can become a symptom of a dangerous disease.

The most common pathological causes of thirst during pregnancy are:

• Diabetes.
• Toxicosis.
• Preeclampsia.
• Concomitant diseases.

Pathological thirst cannot be ignored. It can be suspected when you constantly want to drink and cannot satisfy this desire with any drinks. This condition requires a full examination and quality treatment, as its outcomes can be too serious.

Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus, or diabetes, can develop before conception or only during pregnancy. In the second case, it is called gestational and, with appropriate treatment after childbirth, disappears safely.

If a woman has not previously had any changes in blood sugar levels, then a sudden feeling of extreme thirst may be a sign of the onset of gestational diabetes. In addition to the desire to drink, the expectant mother may also notice other symptoms:

• Very frequent urination, or polyuria. Sometimes this symptom is called diabetes, so often you have to go to the toilet.
• Increased appetite, or, conversely, lack thereof.
• Weight loss.
• Dry skin.
• Nausea and vomiting.

The combination of such signs with the first appearance of severe thirst indicates the development of gestational diabetes and requires immediate determination of blood glucose.

If a woman had diabetes before pregnancy, then a pronounced desire to drink is associated with decompensation of this disease. This can happen during pregnancy, as sugar levels and stress on the body change significantly. But as a rule, people with a long history of diabetes know the warning signs, and if they are constantly thirsty, they consult a doctor promptly.

Toxicosis

Toxicosis in the early stages is often accompanied by vomiting. It can be one-time or, which happens more often, multiple times throughout the day. This condition can easily lead to dehydration, especially during the hot season.

With severe vomiting, the expectant mother will experience constant strong thirst. If you cannot cope with toxicosis and dehydration on your own, the woman will need hospital treatment - intravenous drip administration of fluid.

Increasing thirst against the background of vomiting is a dangerous sign.

Preeclampsia

In the second half of pregnancy, the expectant mother may experience gestosis. More often it is observed in the later stages, in the third trimester. Like toxicosis, it is a specific complication during pregnancy.

In this case, first of all, women begin to complain about the appearance of edema. However, they in no way indicate excess fluid intake. On the contrary, it is a symptom of impaired kidney function, due to which water is not retained in the vascular bed, but accumulates in the surrounding tissues. She practically does not participate in the exchange. That is why, despite the growing swelling, the expectant mother will constantly want to drink. And it is impossible to limit the flow of fluid in such a situation.

Concomitant diseases

During pregnancy, defenses decrease, and various diseases begin to attack the female body. Most often these are ARVI, colds, pathologies of the respiratory system - pharyngitis, tonsillitis and bronchitis.

These diseases are often accompanied by an increase in body temperature, which causes thirst. Also, the desire to drink arises due to the emerging dryness of the mucous membranes.

The more fluid that comes in during an illness, the faster the expectant mother will cope with it. Therefore, a wise organism reacts to the pathological process with increasing thirst.

To distinguish a pathological desire to drink from a physiological one, a doctor’s consultation and a certain examination are necessary.

Diagnostics

The doctor is able to suspect the true cause of thirst already during the interview and examination. However, there are a number of tests that are required when this symptom appears. First of all this:

1. Blood glucose to exclude or confirm diabetes mellitus.
2. General urine analysis. It allows you to identify a protein that appears there only during gestosis.
3. General blood analysis. Its changes indicate an inflammatory process.
4. Biochemical blood test. These are many indicators that help assess the functioning of the liver and kidneys, markers of inflammation, and the protein composition of the blood.

If necessary, other examinations may be prescribed - for example, ultrasound.

Treatment

It is impossible to get rid of pathological thirst without treating the underlying disease. And the therapy will be different in each case:

• Insulin for diabetes.
• Saline solutions for dehydration.
• Protein preparations for gestosis.
• Anti-inflammatory or antibacterial medications in case of concomitant diseases.

However, it is equally important to maintain the correct drinking regime. And in the case of physiological thirst, this is the only treatment option.

Drinking regime

While pregnant, not all drinks are healthy. Some are categorically not recommended for quenching thirst. Pregnant women can drink:

• table water.
• weak green tea.
• compotes.
• fruit drinks.
• fresh juices.
• herbal teas (allowed during pregnancy).

Sweet carbonated water of all flavors and varieties, energy drinks, tonics, strong black tea, and coffee are prohibited.

Thirst may be common during pregnancy. But in order not to miss a dangerous disease, you must inform your doctor about it.

Most people can “boast” of periods of apathy and drowsiness. An abundance of incoming information, changing weather, an erratic sleep schedule - many factors can put a completely healthy person into a “zombie” state. The sensations at the same time are indescribable: the eyelids become heavy, the heart barely beats, reality “blurs”, and the jaw cramps from constant yawning. All day long you want to lie down somewhere, but the “harmful” employer is not ready to provide a sleeping place for his employees. If you are a woman, daytime sleepiness may indicate that you are pregnant. Often, frequent fatigue is the only sign of the first days of conception.

If suspicions about successful fertilization are confirmed, it’s time to prepare for the fact that the desire to fall asleep will become a faithful companion for a long time. After all, during pregnancy you constantly want to sleep. For a pregnant woman, the extra opportunity to rest is a “gift from heaven.”

It's no secret that in the process of viewing dreams, a person replenishes the resources wasted during the day. By switching off, the head gets rid of unnecessary information and the nervous system is regulated. During pregnancy, psychophysical costs exceed all previous records. After all, a separate organism is constantly being formed inside the expectant mother. These are colossal loads, and adequate sleep helps to cope with them.

Increased sleepiness during pregnancy

Why do you want to sleep a lot during pregnancy? Experts identify three main factors that influence a woman’s well-being.

• Intensive restructuring of the body. At the same time, the central nervous system works in enhanced mode. Accordingly, more time is required to regulate processes.
• Increased progesterone production relaxes and causes a decrease in blood pressure.
• Increased emotional and psychological stress.

The combination of these reasons causes increased drowsiness. In this case, all efforts are aimed at the benefit of the unborn child, so there is no need to worry about emerging fatigue.

Constantly makes you sleepy: a sign of conception

Nausea, weakness, and increased fatigue are known signs of pregnancy. The appearance of these symptoms before a missed period is significant for any woman. Sometimes a sudden onset of drowsiness serves as the only “marker” of embryo conception.

It is important to know! This is due to the hormone progesterone, which protects the fetus from rejection, strengthens the uterine walls, and helps the fertilized egg to finally “settle.” The costs of these processes are expressed in the “sluggish” state of the expectant mother.

Typical manifestations of drowsiness in expectant mothers

Typical complaints of pregnant women are sudden changes in mood, loss of strength, and unreasonable anxiety. Every woman experiences the effects of hormonal fluctuations to varying degrees.
Some are constantly full of strength and energy, others literally “fell off their feet” already in the first days of conception. How we feel always changes chaotically: today we “move mountains,” and tomorrow we mobilize the last crumbs of strength to brush our teeth. One should approach such unpredictability philosophically: everything cannot be changed. To save creative energy, there is a simple exercise:

• firstly, make a list of upcoming tasks;
• secondly, divide it into three parts:
  • required responsibilities;
  • matters that can be entrusted to the husband;
  • what can be missed;
• the third stage is sorting the list.

As a result of the work done, people felt great relief. By getting rid of unnecessary actions, a pregnant woman learns to evenly distribute her own strength, avoiding overload.

Causes of the condition in different periods

Drowsiness has different causes at different times. If at the initial stage you really want to sleep due to a hormonal “surge,” then in the second trimester increased fatigue is a consequence of the growth and development of the fetus. When the process of bearing a child proceeds normally, drowsiness disappears in the middle and last stages.

Attention! In cases where the apathetic state persists in later periods, you should be wary. Often the causes of these manifestations can be various complications.

Beginning of pregnancy

In the early stages of fertilization, the hypertrophied need for rest does not pose a danger. It’s just that all the forces of the expectant mother’s body are working to create a new life. Large expenditures of resources require appropriate compensation. The sleep phase restores lost strength and directs it in the right direction.

As the fetus develops in the abdomen, the toxicosis characteristic of the early stages decreases. After the first trimester, the symptoms of drowsiness gradually disappear.

Second trimester

The 14th week is the start of the second trimester of pregnancy. During this period, the placenta completes its formation, unpleasant symptoms such as nausea, odor intolerance, and permanent fatigue disappear. But it happens that hopes for eliminating drowsiness do not justify themselves. The reason for the manifestation of daytime weakness in the fourth month of gestation is the intensive development of the embryo. As a result of the formation of the biorhythms of the fetus, the mother’s body is forced to “adapt” to the sleep pattern of the unborn child. However, gynecologists do not recommend long morning sleep. If you sleep a lot during this stage of pregnancy, blood circulation is impaired and a depressed state appears.

Period before childbirth

In late pregnancy, “chronic sleep deprivation” can occur due to the increase in the size of the baby. Pressure on internal organs and intrauterine restlessness at night often cause disturbances in a pregnant woman’s night rest. If persistent fatigue does not improve or worsens, you should consult a doctor. Third trimester drowsiness can be associated with various pathologies.

Cause for serious concern

In the last stages of pregnancy, it is important to promptly identify possible diseases that affect fatigue. Some of them can be eliminated quite easily, with the help of vitamin therapy, while others are serious and cannot be delayed.

So, the pathological causes of drowsiness in expectant mothers:

It is important to know! In any case, the presence of suspicious anomalies is a reason to undergo a medical examination. Timely treatment can eliminate the possibility of fatal consequences.

Ways to combat sleep at work and at home

If the presence of serious diseases has not been confirmed, then the desire to sleep a lot is a consequence of natural processes. The expectant mother is able to independently correct unpleasant symptoms. Particularly active women continue to work literally until they go to the maternity hospital. In this case, the question arises of getting rid of daytime sleepiness in a work environment.

Here is a list of measures that will help you stay alert throughout the day:

• take frequent breaks (more than 10 minutes);
• ventilate the work area: lack of oxygen can increase drowsiness;
• green tea is a useful tonic;
• change body position more often, go out into fresh air if possible;

Here is an approximate list of actions to maintain vitality outside the home. It’s easier to fight drowsiness in your own apartment:

• We monitor the quality of sleep: at least 10 hours a day, “lights out” at 22.00;
• getting up and going to bed strictly at the same time every day;
• regular morning exercises, moderate physical activity in the evening;
• a varied diet, frequent meals in small portions, the last meal - no later than 20.00;
• a contrast shower is an old proven remedy; the water temperature should be comfortable, “without extremes.”

Frequent walks and breathing exercises will not only help relieve drowsiness, but will also have a general healing effect on the body.

Drawing conclusions

It's normal to want to sleep longer during pregnancy. Thus, the body accumulates strength in preparation for the upcoming birth. After the birth of a girl or a boy, a young mother will remember with trepidation about a good rest. Taking care of the baby will fill all possible space, displacing unscheduled sleep for a long time. Women joke: “During pregnancy, it’s difficult to sleep on your side; with the birth of your child, you’ll learn to sleep even while standing.”

During the prenatal period, you should not deny yourself additional rest. Increased drowsiness in the later stages is considered an alarm bell. A doctor’s examination and comprehensive treatment will help identify and prevent a serious illness.

Any woman can relieve the symptoms of regular weakness. Following the principles of a healthy lifestyle is a good habit that will come in handy in the future.

Really! Science has proven that the hormone progesterone, which is especially active in the first trimester of pregnancy, is to blame for the emergence and changes in taste preferences and habits in the body of pregnant women as a result of hormonal changes. It should be noted that during pregnancy, food preferences not only change and there is a desire to eat what, so to speak, “adequate” people consider inedible, but also completely new needs and desires appear.

As is already known, progesterone is a pregnancy hormone that is responsible for its preservation and development of the fetus. Progesterone is produced in three places: the ovaries, the adrenal cortex and the placenta, which forms at 16 weeks of pregnancy. From the moment of implantation, increased synthesis of progesterone begins, that is, the attachment of the embryo to the uterine mucosa. In addition to such effects as relaxing the tone of smooth muscles, including the uterus, the “pregnancy hormone” also takes part in stimulating the growth of the mammary glands and prevents the body from rejecting the fetus directly.

Influencing the central nervous system, this hormone forms a focus of excitation in the brain - the dominant feature of pregnancy. Due to the increased levels of the hormone in the body, a number of biochemical changes occur, which turn on the “search engine” in order to identify and use the substances necessary for pregnancy from the woman’s body.

It follows from this that it is progesterone that determines the norm or deficiency of nutrients, and in case of deficiency of the latter, it launches a special team to meet the necessary needs (microelements, vitamins, proteins, and so on). Thus, a woman’s desire to eat chalk with a calcium deficiency or drink a glass of beer with a lack of B vitamins becomes understandable.

But one should not discount psychological factors that play a role, and a significant one, in changes in taste sensations in women. In many cases, a pregnant woman unconsciously, and often consciously, wants to attract the attention of her husband or loved ones with her whim, being confident that what she wants will be brought to her on a plate.

One of the main culprits for changes in eating habits in pregnant women, even to the point of perversion of taste, is anemia of pregnant women. Most often, iron deficiency anemia develops, caused by a lack of iron, folic acid and vitamin B12.

Taste preferences manifest themselves in the form of a desire to eat ice or clay. Treatment of anemia consists of prescribing iron supplements and vitamins (group B, folic acid, vitamin C). A pregnant woman's diet should be dominated by foods with a high iron content (liver, eggs, cottage cheese, beef, fish, buckwheat).

As scientists explain, a categorical refusal to consume some previously consumed foods is associated with a protective reaction of the body. The mother's body tries to prevent toxins from affecting the fetus. As already mentioned, aversion to certain foods occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy, when the formation of the main organs and systems of the child occurs.

This can also explain the reluctance to eat bitter foods (pepper, spices). Like all mammals, already at the level of instincts the body regards all bitter substances as poisons (which is indeed true, attractive in appearance, for example, wolf berries are not only dangerous, but also have a pronounced bitterness).

What should a pregnant woman do if there is a complete or partial loss of taste? The most important thing: you need to seek help from a doctor. Even the slightest change in the ability to perceive the taste of foods, which occurs suddenly, or a rapidly developing perversion of taste is the first sign that you need to seek help from your obstetrician-gynecologist and receive qualified medical care, possibly with the participation of other specialists. Only after the exact cause of this phenomenon is established, a course of treatment is prescribed.

Remember that self-medication can be dangerous to your health! Consult your experts! Be healthy!