02/22/2026
Mama's & our bodies are absolutely incredible 🤯🤰🏼💪🏼👏🏻🫶🏻
Do you know how much a woman’s body changes during pregnancy? Here are the key internal organ changes. Did you notice any of these?
Uterus: Undergoes massive growth and shifts from the pelvis into the abdominal cavity by week 12, rising to the ribcage (xiphoid process) by full term.
Stomach & Intestines: Compressed and pushed upward and backward, leading to heartburn, indigestion, and decreased capacity for food.
Bladder: Compressed by the uterus, causing increased frequency of urination.
Lungs & Diaphragm: The diaphragm rises by about 4 cm, reducing total lung capacity by ~5%, often causing a sensation of shortness of breath.
Heart & Blood Vessels: The heart shifts position, blood volume increases by 45–55%, and cardiac output rises by 30–60% to support the fetus.
Liver & Gallbladder: Pushed upward and toward the back, which can affect gallbladder function.
Kidneys: Increase in size (1–1.5 cm) and functional capacity.
Organs Post-Partum: The uterus begins a 6-week process of returning to its original size (involution), allowing abdominal organs to shift back into their pre-pregnancy positions.
