HealthPartners - Your guide to pregnancy

RAPID HEARTBEAT During pregnancy, your blood volume increases by almost 50%. Your heart works harder to pump more blood to your uterus. You may feel that your heart is beating more rapidly because it is. This is common, and you might even feel a little lightheaded if you’ve been active. Sometimes, a heart irregularity can appear during pregnancy. Call your health care provider if you feel your heart is racing and you’re lightheaded when you’re resting or feeling faint.

SHORTNESS OF BREATH You may feel like it’s hard to breathe during the last month or two of pregnancy. This happens because your uterus starts to become large enough to

press on your breathing muscles. Try moving more slowly, sitting up straight, and taking deep breaths from the chest. If you have trouble sleeping due to shortness of breath, prop yourself up with pillows.

SALIVA You may notice more saliva than usual in your mouth. It’s normal for your salivary glands to make more fluid than

usual during pregnancy. This seems to be connected to morning sickness and usually goes away later in pregnancy. Helpful tip: Simply spit out the extra fluid if you need to. Mints, chewing gum, eating frequent small meals, and snacking on crackers may help.

SKIN CHANGES Rising hormone levels during pregnancy can cause some changes to your skin color. These changes usually go away

completely or mostly fade after the baby is born and your hormone levels go back to normal. Your skin may just look flushed, like you’re blushing. Other common skin changes include blotchy brown markings on your face, a dark line down the middle of your belly, or acne. Staying out of the sun may help.

SEXUAL CHANGES Your desire for sex may be higher or lower during pregnancy. Many

people feel less interested in sex when they are having morning sickness. Others lose interest late in pregnancy when they’re physically more uncomfortable. Explain to your spouse or partner how you’re feeling and why. If you have a history of miscarriages, pregnancy related vaginal bleeding, or other complications, ask your health provider if it is safe for you to have sex during your pregnancy. Orgasm can cause mild cramping, but that should stop quickly. Some positions may be clumsy late in pregnancy, so you may want to experiment. Having sex does not bother babies since they are protected by fluid, muscle, and bone.

STRETCH MARKS As your skin stretches, the elastic tissue below it may break down and cause zigzag lines of stretch marks. You may

notice stretch marks on your breasts, buttocks, lower abdomen, hips, or thighs. Stretch marks can be pink, red, brown, or lighter in color. Moisturizers and lotions can help stop any itching, but they don’t prevent stretch marks from happening. The good news is that they will slowly fade after pregnancy.

22 Your Guide to A Healthy Pregnancy