A woman who has a confident image of herself is more likely to welcome the changes that her body undergoes during her pregnancy. She is also more likely to look forward to every aspect of giving birth. And she’ll willingly accept both the emotional and physical challenges of her postpartum period.

So let’s talk about these changes and how they might impact your body image. Because loving your body prior to the pregnancy will most likely help you get through both the emotional and physical changes you’ll experience during your pregnancy.

First, you should understand that the changes in your body are necessary to make sure your baby develops properly.  This alone should cause you to welcome the changes and smile through them.

Immediately when your egg is implanted into your uterus, your body will start to go through these necessary changes. The changes themselves result from your baby’s development and growth.

Your unborn child has a fetal life-support system consisting of the umbilical cord, placenta and amniotic sac. this placenta creates hormones that are required for supporting a healthy baby and pregnancy. The hormones prepare your breasts for your breastfeeding period.

You’ll also experience an increase in the circulation of your blood. This is required to supply the placenta, since it’s responsible for the lovely “pregnancy glow” that we all love.

During pregnancy, your metabolism will increase. As a result, you’ll likely have unusual food cravings as well as a desire to eat more than usual. This is because your body requires more nutrients for feeding the baby and you.

You can expect your uterus to enlarge; also the amniotic sac which is your child’s home will fill with amniotic fluid. This fluid protects your child from falls and bumps.

There are a few things you can do to take care of and pamper your body during your pregnancy. For instance, exercise.

Exercise will help you feel strong, fit and sexy.  The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reports that pregnant women should exercise at least 30 minutes a day throughout their pregnancy unless their doctor says otherwise.

Another idea:  treat yourself to a makeover or body massage. Or go shopping! You’ll have fun and be able to relax as you shop for some sophisticated or cute maternity clothes.

This is a special time to take care of yourself, so you might as well take advantage of it.

Treat yourself to a body massage or a makeover. Go shopping! What better excuse to go shopping. There are cute and even sophisticated maternity clothes to buy. This is your time to shine. Make the most of these wonderful 9 months.

Also, make sure you have a good support network in place. This means you should be surrounded by positive people such as friends and family who can counter your own negative self-talk.

Even after you deliver, you should continue to love your body. Remember that your body will need time to adjust and to return to its pre-pregnant form.  The uterus needs time to shrink, after all.

Your body has gone through quite an ordeal in the pregnancy and delivery process; it will take some time to recuperate. And yes, it’s okay to ask friends and family to help you during this time so that you can get some well-deserved rest.