$Unique_ID{PAR00417}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Pregnancy:  The Fourth Month:  Your Changing Body}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Ellis, Jeffrey W
Ellis, Maria}
$Subject{Fourth Month Changing Body discomfort discomforts kick kicks kicking
see seeing feel feeling enlarging uterus abdominal shape backache arching back
arched backs hormone hormones progesterone craving cravings food foods skin
changes Palmar erythema reddening palms red palm hands Spider nevi broken
blood vessels abdomen chest perspiration increase oiliness acne}
$Log{
Your Changing Body (Fourth Month)*0041701.tif
16-Week Fetus*0060209.tif
20-21 Week Fetus*0060210.tif}

Miracle of Birth


The Fourth Month:  Your Changing Body


     Now that you have reached the fourth month of pregnancy, most of the
discomforts that you felt during the first trimester have probably subsided.
Morning sickness is less severe, urination is practically back to normal, and
you have a renewed feeling of energy.  The baby will soon be giving you little
kicks to remind you that he is there, and chances are, you will generally feel
good all over.
     This month, something new and exciting occurs--you can actually begin to
see and feel your enlarging uterus.  Lie down perfectly flat, relax your
abdominal muscles, and feel the firm, smooth bulge above the bone that lies
beneath your pubic hair.  You are now beginning to "show."
     Even though you are probably very happy about being pregnant, you may
also become somewhat self-conscious or even embarrassed about your change in
shape.  Don't worry; proper exercise can help you return to your prepregnancy
appearance within a few months after delivery.
     At about this time in pregnancy, you will probably begin to develop
backache.  This rather annoying problem is experienced by nearly every
pregnant woman and tends to be worse with a second pregnancy compared to the
first.
     Backache occurs because your body is attempting to adapt to your new
shape and to the extra weight that you are now carrying in your abdomen.  If
you notice other pregnant women, especially those very near delivery, you will
see that they tend to walk and stand with their backs arched backward.  This
is the body's way of compensating for a protruding abdomen.  This arching,
however, puts a constant strain on the back muscles and causes them to ache.
The hormone progesterone also relaxes some of the supporting tissues in your
back and adds to the development of backache.
     By now, you may also have noticed that you have developed cravings for
certain foods or other substances.  Some women have cravings that are quite
unusual and may include laundry starch, clay, and even the frosty ice that
forms inside of freezers.  No one knows exactly why cravings develop, but in
some cases it is believed to occur when there is a lack of certain nutrients
in the diet.
     Cravings are extremely common and normally will harm neither you nor your
baby.  If you have questions about foods or other substances that you might
crave, it is always best to ask your doctor.
     There are several skin changes that commonly occur at this point in
pregnancy, and they are all caused by your increasing levels of hormones.
Palmar erythema is a term that refers to the reddening of the palms of the
hands that commonly begins in the second trimester.  This reddening is not
abnormal; rather, it is caused by an increase in the amount of blood flowing
through the hands.  Spider nevi are another common skin change.  These appear
as tiny broken blood vessels, usually on the skin over the abdomen and chest.
These skin changes will disappear after delivery of the baby.
     You may also notice an increase in perspiration and in the oiliness of
your skin.  In some cases, you may actually develop a mild case of acne
because of this excess oil.  These changes also disappear after delivery.