Nausea is common but can vary in severity from a mild queasiness to a complete inability to keep any food in the stomach. In this situation, called hyperemesis, the mother may need to be admitted to the hospital. Thankfully, this is rare. Another change noted early in pregnancy is increased fullness and sensitivity of the breasts. Increasing levels of estrogen and progesterone stimulate the milk producing glands within the breasts.
Some women also notice small bumps appearing on the areola.
Weight gain during pregnancy is a common area of discussion, concern, and occasional anxiety. As a rough estimate, a mother should gain between 25 and 35 pounds during the course of the pregnancy. She should gain about one-half of a pound each week for the first 20 weeks and about one pound each week during the second 20 weeks. These are, of course, rough estimates and will differ between women. Each mother enters her pregnancy with a unique body size and nutritional needs.