Pregnancy may not make a woman look as beautiful and slender as before. So stop believing those advertisements that say they can.

The ugly truth is nine out of ten pregnant women suffer from some kind of physical discomfort, not to mention their fatigued and ungainly appearance - sluggish movement, flabby tummy, arms and legs, thicker waist, excess flab and more.

New mothers are already stressed by what they saw in mirrors. It could get worse if they are unable to regain pre-pregnancy looks and yet have to look after a crying baby. Coupled with lack of family support and exhaustion, new mothers could easily fall prey to post-natal depression.

Fortunately, many physicians agree that most mothers, once they understand the physiology behind these physical changes, are able to handle them very well and adapt very quickly.

Sometimes, medication and counseling are necessary if doctors detect symptoms of disturbances for some mothers. Neglect is never the solution as it may lead to or aggravate post-natal depression.

According to obstetricians and gynecologists, if you are pregnant, you would likely to experience the following physical changes. It definitely helps you to learn to accept these changes if you understand more about them.

"I'm tired all the time"

Giving birth saps a lot of your energy, so it is natural after childbirth you will feel weakness or dizziness. The recovery usually takes from two weeks to two months, depending on your physique. That's why in some countries like Singapore, mothers are allowed maternity leave up to 3 months, to recuperate.

The Chinese view this as loss of "qi", therefore you can replenish "qi" by consuming tonics and keeping warm with clothes and socks. Actually the preventive measure is to build up your blood store before and during pregnancy by consuming adequate iron, folic acid and multivitamins.

You may also feel aches in the back and lower pubic bone areas due to the strain on the ligaments and muscles. However, these are only temporary discomfort.

"My breasts become bigger"

If you find your breasts grow from B cup to C cup, don't be alarmed - your breasts are getting ready for breastfeeding. Furthermore, hormonal changes during the pregnancy cause more melanin to deposit into the skin cells at the nipples and areola, leading to darkening of nipple or areola skin tone.

Breastfeeding can cause your breasts to lose their sizes permanently, or become saggy and loose. If you are a heavy-breasted woman, you have to be mentally prepared for this.

"What are these marks on my body? "

They are called stretch marks which are formed as result of a split in your skin's supportive tissue to accommodate a growing baby. They are initially red and will turn darker. However, after pregnancy, they may turn silvery or blue.

The bad news is they are also permanent, though they may fade in intensity. So far, no medication or creams are effective in removing them, but some do help to speed up the fading effect.

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