I learned something new today, Tokophobia; a pathological fear of pregnancy that can lead to the avoidance of childbirth. The best part is that most women with tokophobia love children but they're just scared of the process.

Don't get me wrong, this is a real medical condition that requires therapy and the fear may be associated with the changes the body goes through during pregnancy.

A woman's body generally goes through two major changes; internal and external changes. So we'll discuss both today.

Internal

• Cardiovascular System Changes: During pregnancy, your body adjusts to meet the demands of your baby by producing high volumes of blood, which increases your cardiac output and causes more blood vessels to grow. The uterus puts pressure on large blood vessels as your baby grows and that slows down your blood pressure.
• Respiratory System Changes: To compensate for the increased high oxygen demand during pregnancy, your respiratory system works more than usual to get oxygen to the placenta and uterus. This increases your respiratory rate and you may sometimes feel out of breath.
• Changes to the breast: To prepare the expecting mother for breastfeeding, there's an increased production of estrogen and progesterone. These hormones cause the breast to become larger and tender. The nipples also stick out more and by the third trimester, a yellow watery liquid (pre-milk) starts leaking from the breast.
• Abdominal changes: From the beginning to the end of the second trimester, the uterus expands and pushes against the rib cage. The abdominal wall and ligaments stretch to adjust to the growth of the baby. This may cause abdominal aches or cramps.

• Skeletal System Changes: To maintain balance, the spinal curvature goes through a realignment process. This may cause back pain and Pubic Symphysis Dysfunction (PSD). The pelvic bones also loosen gradually to prepare mothers for labor and childbirth.
• Gastrointestinal System Changes: As the fetus grows out of the pelvic cavity, it displaces the stomach, intestines, and other organs. This causes constipation, acid reflux, and heartburn.

External

• Skin changes: Hormonal changes causes a woman's skin to change during pregnancy. Visible dark patches are often very common. Some women also develop dark lines in the middle of their bellies. This is called linea nigra
• Enhanced sense of smell: High production of hormones can cause the nose to become more sensitive. Increased estrogen levels also cause most things to smell bad to expecting mothers.
• Thicker hair and nails: High levels of estrogen cause hair and nails to grow thicker and faster by prolonging the growth process. Unfortunately, most women may experience hair loss after childbirth when the body is going back to normal.
• Weight gain: Pregnant women gain an average of 11kg during pregnancy, part of it being fetal weight and added body weight due to dietary changes. It's important to eat healthily and stay active during this period to avoid health complications.
• Swelling: Pregnancy causes water retention in women, leading to swelling in the face, feet, arm, and eyes. Swelling in the leg accompanied by pain and redness may be a high cause for concern as this can be a sign of a blood clot. You should visit your doctor immediately to avoid further complications.

The bottom line is, most of these pregnancy changes are adjustments the body makes to accommodate the growth of your baby.

So there's nothing to be feared as long as you work closely with your doctor during this period.