Kaya Drive: What women go through during pregnancy

The rare case of the Thembisa mom who gave birth to 10 babies earlier this week, inspired the team talk on Wednesday afternoon on Kaya Drive.

Sizwe wanted to know what women go through during pregnancy, having read about some symptoms including losing hair and teeth and extreme nausea.

Tyroline Franks from Kaya Traffic touched on pregnant women getting hit on more because some men find pregnant women to be a real turn-on.

Also read: Parents of Tembisa 10 receive R1 million

Listen to a caller sharing details concurring with Tyroline:

Kaya Drive: What women go through during pregnancy Natasha

Pregnancy symptoms vary as every woman has a unique experience and whilst some will go through all the pregnancy symptoms there are women who don’t even realise they’re pregnant.

The most common pregnancy symptoms include:

Nausea with or without vomitting
Fatigue
Swelling of the feet and ankles
Cravings
Tender and swollen breasts
Increased urination
Bloating
Temperature changes
Mood Swings
Weight gain and/or loss

First trimester

The first trimester is usually the hardest as a woman’s body adjusts to the many changes. Weeks 1 to 12 is when the fertilized egg nestles itself in the womb. During this time a woman’s sense of smell is heightened and anything can set of the nausea which is commonly referred to as morning sickness.

Although it’s called morning sickness, it can occur at any time of the day or night and 7 out of 10 women experience morning sickness. The onset of morning sickness is usually from the 6-week mark and it can get progressively worse from week 9.

Second trimester

This is usually when most of the symptoms ease and a woman’s abdomen expands and a bump is finally visible. Weeks 13 to 28 are very exciting as it is during this time when a mom will being to feel baby move. At first, it will feel like air bubbles or butterflies which eventually become stronger kicks and punches as the baby grows and starts moving about.

Months 4 to 6 bring on the following changes for pregnant women:

Body aches, such as back, abdomen, groin, or thigh pain
Stretch marks on your abdomen, breasts, thighs, or buttocks
Darkening of the skin around your nipples
A line on the skin running from belly button to pubic hairline
Patches of darker skin, usually over the cheeks, forehead, nose, or upper lip. Patches often match on both sides of the face. This is sometimes called the mask of pregnancy.
Numb or tingling hands, called carpal tunnel syndrome
Nose gets bigger
Swelling of the ankles, fingers, and face. (If you notice any sudden or extreme swelling or if you gain a lot of weight really quickly, call your doctor right away. This could be a sign of preeclampsia.)

Third trimester

Most women find this the longest three months, with feelings that they’ve been pregnant forever. The discomforts aren’t over yet and weeks 29 to 40 are often when most moms-to-be report finding it difficult to fall asleep. Needing to get up to urinate more frequently and heartburn are the most common struggles in the third trimester.

Then there’s the actual labour or delivery process which is not only painful but takes a toll on a woman’s body. What were some of the symptoms you experienced during pregnancy? Share with us by tweeting @Kayaon959 using the hashtag #KayaDrive