Your Body Changes during Pregnancy

You will see yourself change-your abdomen will grow, your breasts will enlarge, your hands and feet may swell, among other changes.

If you are aware of these changes before they occur, you may be more comfortable with them.
During the 1st  trimester, you may notice little change in yourself, although your baby is growing and changing quite rapidly. You may not even realize you are pregnant until the middle or close to the end of this trimester. You gain little weight-probably no more than 5 pounds for the entire 13 weeks. Your abdomen grows a little; you may be able to feel your uterus about 3 inches below your belly button. You won't feel the fetus move during this time.

In the 2nd trimester, others begin to notice you are pregnant. At the beginning of the 2nd trimester, you will be able to feel your uterus about 3 inches below your belly button. By the end of the 2nd trimester, you'll feel your uterus about 3 inches above your belly button. Average total pregnancy weight gain at the end of this trimester is 17 to 24 pounds (including weight gained in the 1 st trimester). During this time you will begin to feel your baby movel

The greatest change during the 3rd trimester is the growth of your baby. By delivery, you'll be able to feel the uterus 6  to 8 inches above your belly button. Your baby gains a great deal of weight during this time, although you may not. The average total weight gain for a normal-weight woman by delivery is between 25 and 35 pounds.

Your abdominal muscles are stretched and pushed apart as your baby grows. Muscles attached to the lower portion of your ribs may separate in the midline, called a diastasis recti. The condition isn't painful and does not harm the baby. Diastasis recti may still be present after the birth of your baby, but the separation won't be as noticeable. Exercising can strengthen the muscles, but a small bulge or gap may remain.