The Huffington Post
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By Catherine Pearson
Posted: 08/23/2013 12:04 pm EDT | Updated: 08/23/2013 3:06 pm EDT
But women's bodies do incredibly mind-blowing things in service of their growing babies, and we think that deserves a bit of celebration. Of course, no two pregnancies are the same. One woman's glow is another mom's acne. But here, nonetheless, are seven of the amazing things that can happen to women's bodies during pregnancy.
Well done, moms-to-be!
1. Your Blood Volume Doubles
During pregnancy, the volume of blood in a woman's body increases by a whopping 50 percent in order to help support the uterus. Accordingly, the amount of blood pumped by the heart increases as well. As the Merck Manual explains, by the end of pregnancy, a woman's uterus receives one-fifth of her pre-pregnancy blood supply.
2. You Actually Glow
If you find yourself looking all dewey and glow-y during your pregnancy, it's not just because you're brimming with I'm-about-to-become-a-mom sentiment; there's also a physiological basis for it. The aforementioned increase in circulation that occurs during pregnancy causes many women's faces to appear brighter, or flushed. And, as the American Pregnancy Association reports, as women's bodies produce more hormones, their oil glands can go into overdrive, resulting in that famed pregnancy glow.
3. You Grow An Entire Organ
During pregnancy, women's bodies grow a whole new organ, i.e., the placenta -- a structure that develops in the uterus and provides oxygen and nutrients to your growing baby (while also playing a key role in waste removal). The organ typically grows onto the upper part of the uterus and is linked to your baby via the umbilical cord. After your baby's born and the placenta's job is done, it is simply expelled through the birth canal (although some women, including a growing number of celebs, then ingest it for its reputed health benefits -- a practice known as "placentophagia").
4. You Loosen Up
More specifically, as you move through your pregnancy, hormones (especially the aptly named "relaxin") help soften the ligaments that hold your bones together and the pelvic bones themselves begin moving to accommodate your baby's birth. Sometimes, this can cause a bit of pain and discomfort (if it's severe enough, you should see your doctor), although as What To Expect reports, once your baby is born, your joints will firm up again.
5. You Stop Shedding
Do you have the thickest, most amazing head of hair, like, ever? During pregnancy you stop shedding hair at it's normal rate. As Baby Center explains, most of the time between 85 and 95 percent of the hair on your head is growing, while the rest is in a "resting" stage, before it falls out. But during pregnancy, higher estrogen levels extend that growth phase, meaning you lose less hair and may suddenly find yourself with a gloriously thick ponytail. (Although, as we previously reported, after your baby's born, that "extra" hair will fall out.)
6. You Breathe Differently
It's not uncommon for pregnant women to feel short of breath, particularly later in their pregnancy when the uterus grows and begins to press on the diaphragm. But breathing also changes because of the high levels of the hormone progesterone in your body signal your brain to lower the levels of carbon dioxide in the blood, Merck explains -- yet another amazing example of all the things your body does to support and accommodate a growing baby.
7. You Become Particularly Orgasmic
As Babble explains, the increased blood flow to a woman's genitals -- plus the general surge in any number of hormones that influence desire -- can make many pregnant women feel libidinous. And those changes can also increase sensitivity, allowing many women to orgasm more easily. But as with all things related to sexuality, this is totally individual -- some women want nothing to do with sex while they're pregnant.
BBA: Who wins USD300,000 prize money?
After
91 days of unstoppable fun and drama, the stage is set again to crown a
winner as the grand finale of the Big Brother Africa-The Chase reality
TV show holds this Sunday, in South Africa.
Two Nigeria’s representatives, Beverley and Melvin are among the five Housemates who will be contending for the USD300,000 prize money.
Beverley and Melvin made it to the final after Ethiopia’s Bimp and South Africa’s Angelo were evicted during last Sunday’s live eviction show. Their departure leaves Beverley, Melvin, Cleo, Dillish and Elikem in contention for the USD300 000 prize. This year’s edition has been punctuated with lots of intrigues, drama and sex. Nonetheless, it has been fun all the way.
Some
viewers have opined that the battle is between Melvin and Cleo, while
many others tipped Melvin or Beverly. However, as it stands, it could be
anyone’s money.
South Africa’s Angelo became the 22nd housemate to be evicted, bringing an end to the final couple in the House – Bengelo. It has been an unpredictable season with some of the promising characters and entertaining personalities crashing out of the game before they could say BBA.
Meanwhile, with the intrigues that pervade the show this year, whoever wins tomorrow will evoke no reaction. Africa seems to be rooting for Melvin or Elikem . The end will definitely justify the means!
Two Nigeria’s representatives, Beverley and Melvin are among the five Housemates who will be contending for the USD300,000 prize money.
Beverley and Melvin made it to the final after Ethiopia’s Bimp and South Africa’s Angelo were evicted during last Sunday’s live eviction show. Their departure leaves Beverley, Melvin, Cleo, Dillish and Elikem in contention for the USD300 000 prize. This year’s edition has been punctuated with lots of intrigues, drama and sex. Nonetheless, it has been fun all the way.
*BBA finalists
South Africa’s Angelo became the 22nd housemate to be evicted, bringing an end to the final couple in the House – Bengelo. It has been an unpredictable season with some of the promising characters and entertaining personalities crashing out of the game before they could say BBA.
Meanwhile, with the intrigues that pervade the show this year, whoever wins tomorrow will evoke no reaction. Africa seems to be rooting for Melvin or Elikem . The end will definitely justify the means!
BBA: Who wins USD300,000 prize money?
After
91 days of unstoppable fun and drama, the stage is set again to crown a
winner as the grand finale of the Big Brother Africa-The Chase reality
TV show holds this Sunday, in South Africa.
Two Nigeria’s representatives, Beverley and Melvin are among the five Housemates who will be contending for the USD300,000 prize money.
Beverley and Melvin made it to the final after Ethiopia’s Bimp and South Africa’s Angelo were evicted during last Sunday’s live eviction show. Their departure leaves Beverley, Melvin, Cleo, Dillish and Elikem in contention for the USD300 000 prize. This year’s edition has been punctuated with lots of intrigues, drama and sex. Nonetheless, it has been fun all the way.
Some
viewers have opined that the battle is between Melvin and Cleo, while
many others tipped Melvin or Beverly. However, as it stands, it could be
anyone’s money.
South Africa’s Angelo became the 22nd housemate to be evicted, bringing an end to the final couple in the House – Bengelo. It has been an unpredictable season with some of the promising characters and entertaining personalities crashing out of the game before they could say BBA.
Meanwhile, with the intrigues that pervade the show this year, whoever wins tomorrow will evoke no reaction. Africa seems to be rooting for Melvin or Elikem . The end will definitely justify the means!
Two Nigeria’s representatives, Beverley and Melvin are among the five Housemates who will be contending for the USD300,000 prize money.
Beverley and Melvin made it to the final after Ethiopia’s Bimp and South Africa’s Angelo were evicted during last Sunday’s live eviction show. Their departure leaves Beverley, Melvin, Cleo, Dillish and Elikem in contention for the USD300 000 prize. This year’s edition has been punctuated with lots of intrigues, drama and sex. Nonetheless, it has been fun all the way.
*BBA finalists
South Africa’s Angelo became the 22nd housemate to be evicted, bringing an end to the final couple in the House – Bengelo. It has been an unpredictable season with some of the promising characters and entertaining personalities crashing out of the game before they could say BBA.
Meanwhile, with the intrigues that pervade the show this year, whoever wins tomorrow will evoke no reaction. Africa seems to be rooting for Melvin or Elikem . The end will definitely justify the means!
