Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy, called PUPPP in short, is a very itchy rash that happens later in pregnancy. Although it is not a dangerous condition, it may cause awful itching and make you uncomfortable.&nbsp;<hr>PUPPP rash during pregnancy<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1938/74d01a67-9406-444d-ac92-9d8d203ba7c1.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">😩What is PUPPP?PUPPP stands for pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy. It&#39;s also called polymorphic eruption of pregnancy (PEP) or other names too. It is a very itchy rash appearing on your belly and then spreading to other extremities over time.😩😩What PUPPP looks like?PUPPP first appears as small and pimple-like spots🔴 on the abdomen and around the stretch marks. Then they gradually resemble and develop into hive-like rash. You can also see blisters around them.&nbsp;After a few days, the rash spread from the stomach to the thighs, buttocks, back, arms💪 and legs.🦵 Usually it doesn&#39;t show up areas above your breasts. The rash tends to be extremely itchy and disappear after you give birth.🤰😩Causes of PUPPPThe exact causes of PUPPP are unknown.🤔 Rapid stretching of the skin to accommodate the growth of the uterus👶 may cause some damage to connective tissues and skin inflammation.&nbsp;PUPPP probably can be considered as an allergic reaction to male DNA♂️ of the fetal cell circulating in maternal blood. Your immune system recognizes these DNA as foreign and attacks them, causing inflammation.👦&nbsp;<hr>Treatments for PUPPP rash<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1938/6e42271f-b391-41b0-9851-99786065f303.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">Treatments can only relieve the intense itching but not cure it. You can try a bath with oatmeal or baking soda.🛀 Putting some aloe vera gel can also soothe your skin. Wearing soft, cotton clothing may help too.👚&nbsp;Don&#39;t scratch the rash or it may get worse and spread further.🙅&zwj;♀️ If you have a severe case, you should consult with your doctors for special ointment or antihistamine to make your skin less inflamed.👩&zwj;⚕️🏥

PUPPP rash in the third trimester

It&#39;s time! True labor is coming!!&nbsp;<hr>Signs of labor<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1971/6715af31-41f5-4cf1-b2e6-7e6bec51d540.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">👶 ContractionsLabor contractions grow stronger over time and more frequent as they cause your cervix to dilate. You will feel an excruciating pain that may crush you from the inside and bring tears to your eyes.😖 It&#39;s going to be too painful for you to talk through once they&#39;ve progressed.☹️Assessing the pain frequency by timing your contractions, knowing the intensity and location of the pain help you indicate true labor and prepare yourself.😃 Call your doctor immediately to make sure all the signs are true.👩&zwj;⚕️&nbsp;👶 Back pain &nbsp;If you&#39;re having lower back pain that radiates down into the legs🦵 along with contractions, it can be a sign that you&#39;re having back labor. The pain doesn&#39;t go away even if you change your positions. It intensifies during contractions, inferring your baby&#39;s head👶 is pressing against your lower back and wishing to come out.👶 Water breakingWhen the amniotic fluid sac that surrounds your baby ruptures, fluid leaks from your vagina💦. This is one of the final signs of labor and labor usually follows soon. Call your doctor to discuss the symptoms to make sure whether you&#39;re actually in labor.👩&zwj;⚕️If your water breaks and you&#39;re in full term but you haven&#39;t had contractions yet, you might have premature rupture of membranes (PROM).⚠️<hr>Preterm labor<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1971/168c151d-f4af-4b53-b938-ef77e8121063.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">👶 Preterm laborLabor often starts between week 37 and week 42 of pregnancy. If you notice you have contractions before you reach week 37, you&#39;re in preterm labor.😶👶 Symptoms of preterm laborIt&#39;s difficult to determine whether you&#39;re in preterm labor due to some similarities between Braxton Hick contractions and labor contractions. If you&#39;re really in preterm labor, your doctor👩&zwj;⚕️ will give you medications to prolong your pregnancy days to allow the baby&#39;s lungs to fully mature and protect their brain.If you have more vaginal discharge than usual, fluid leaks, abdominal pain like menstrual cramps, six or more contractions in one hour even if they don&#39;t hurt😩, you should contact your doctor. Signs such as unprecedented low back pain, irritation in the pelvic area can also be harbingers that you might be in preterm labor.⚠️ &nbsp;

Signs of labor

It&#39;s time for your body to prepare for breastfeeding. Your breast starts producing colostrum and you might notice some drops in your bra. No worries, you should thank your body for doing its job.😃<hr>Colostrum during pregnancy<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1946/c24b510a-4e8a-4185-befd-4268629f86c2.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">🤱What is colostrum?Colostrum is your baby&#39;s first meal which is rich in protein and mom&#39;s antibodies.👩 It&#39;s also called foremilk because it comes in before mature breast milk.&nbsp;Colostrum looks like a clear and creamy white, or yellow orange liquid.🍼 More mature milk looks more creamy, white-ish and sticky looking.&nbsp;🤱The vital role of colostrumColostrum provides nutritions, vitamins, proteins and is loaded with white blood cells⚪🩸 that produce antibodies used to combat with bacteria and viruses🦠. Not only does it contribute to building the baby&#39;s innate immune system, it also establishes a healthy gut microbiome and has a laxative effect that helps remove meconium from the gastrointestinal tract.🚽&nbsp;<hr>Causes of breasts leaking<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1946/ad983813-9036-45f4-b3b3-dc3e8826f7ea.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">When you&#39;re in the third trimester, prolactin hormone starts gearing up and producing a small amount of milk.🍼 After you give birth for three to four days, the hormone is at its full speed, producing milk for your baby.👶&nbsp;High levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones keep the quantity of milk in check so you don&#39;t see a large volume of milk leaking. Your hormones are trying to keep themselves balanced and only activate when it&#39;s the right time.😃 If prolactin level is slightly higher than other hormones, you will see colostrum leak out a bit.🤰&nbsp;<hr>How to cope with breasts leaking<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1946/491c6185-ce01-41fc-85cf-eca95e429429.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">Breast leaks are a minor problem during pregnancy and easy to handle. You can use nursing pads inside your bra and avoid nipple stimulation.🙆&zwj;♀️ If you see unstoppable leaking or blood in colostrum, you should tell your doctor immediately because there could be signs of a clogged milk duct.👩&zwj;⚕️

Breasts leaking colostrum during pregnancy

Do you look at yourself in the mirror recently and notice how your skin is glowing? Pregnancy glow is most evident during the second trimester so don&#39;t miss the opportunity to check out yourself.<hr>Pregnancy glow<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1922/230f4017-b155-462a-9047-8eb686f468e4.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">👩Pregnancy glowYour radiant, glowing appearance👩 these days is called pregnancy glow. Becoming a mom is not just about acne and pains, but it also gives you a flushed face and glowing skin. You&#39;re glowing!🤰&nbsp;👩When does it start and end?There is no specific timeline for your beauty to glow.🤗 You may notice the radiance and flushed face more easily in the second trimester when all dull symptoms such as morning sickness has been alleviated.😃&nbsp;The end of pregnancy is also the end of the pregnancy glow. After your baby is born👶, your hormones and blood flow go back to normal.&nbsp;<hr>Causes of pregnancy glow<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1922/3681b10b-eb03-4c68-9bf6-fb27a5daf7b1.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">👩Surging hormonesExtra estrogen, progesterone, hCG hormones contribute to the glow. The increased amount might have made your face look glowy and shiny.☺️👩Increased blood flowYour blood volume🩸 increases by up to 50% to support your baby and other organs. More blood in circulation accentuates your beauty features and makes your skin look glowy and lively. A higher body temperature during pregnancy leads to flushing.🌡️👩Oil productionThe sebum glands produce more oil on your face, making it look shinier. However, sebum also contributes to acne on your skin.😉Don&#39;t worry if you don&#39;t encounter this pregnancy glow since every pregnant body is different.😃 Pregnancy glow doesn&#39;t indicate anything about your pregnancy.🤰 &nbsp;

Pregnancy glow

A good quality sleep seems like a distant memory when you enter the third trimester&hellip;&nbsp;<hr>How does sleep change in the third trimester?<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/2055/02c7f62e-786f-47c3-b3b5-bb9a58a89ce2.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">😴Can&#39;t get comfortableBack pain and sore muscles just keep reverberating even when you try to distract yourself🙁. Your belly is too big to allow you to lie down comfortably. Restless legs syndrome occurs more when your body is trying to rest and urges you to stay active, making it virtually impossible for you to get to sleep.💤&nbsp;As your digestive system slows down in late pregnancy, acid rising back up causes heartburn in the chest, making it hard for you to fall asleep. Not to mention that your baby👶 is kicking and moving around in your belly keeps you awake at night too.&nbsp;😴Bathroom visitsYour baby👶 is growing and putting more pressure on your bladder. You will find yourself visiting bathrooms🚻 more often as your need to pee increases. You can reduce the number of nighttime bathroom visits by cutting down fluids in the evening and emptying your bladder completely before you go to bed.🚽&nbsp;😴WorryPregnancy is a long journey that has all ups and downs. It&#39;s normal to be worried at this point since the baby is coming out in no time.😃 Anxiety is not sleep inducing!😢&nbsp;Talk about your concerns and worries with your partner and friends.👨&zwj;👧 Make sure to gain all information about labor and delivery, postpartum period to prepare yourself for the last phase and stay assured that everything is going to be just fine!🤗<hr>Irregular pregnancy sleep patterns are linked to mental problems<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/2055/4e233497-0639-4c29-95fc-93340b809043.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">Poor sleep😴 during this time is normal due to hormonal and physical changes. Pregnancy takes a toll on your body, making you feel physically drained but don&#39;t worry too much! Most symptoms won&#39;t develop postpartum depression.😃That said, late pregnancy depression can still progress into postpartum depression. Since it&#39;s difficult to tell exactly when depression actually hits you, it&#39;s important to express your worries and concerns with your healthcare provider and your partner and be heard.🤗 Don&#39;t be scared if you have difficulty sleeping with other symptoms of moodiness. You know that everyone is right here for you!🥰&nbsp;

Third trimester sleep

Your belly is getting tight and heavy to prepare for labor. You&#39;re almost there so buckle up and get ready for the rest of the journey.<hr>Why does your belly start feeling hard during pregnancy?<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1936/75e7641f-9073-416c-ad4f-2a44e1d6578a.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">🤰Growing uterusAs you&#39;re stepping into the third trimester, your uterus pushes against your abdominal wall and makes your belly feel hard.🤰 Your growing uterus also crowds your internal organs such as lung and bladder. Stretch marks on your belly become more visible and itchy.🙁🤰Gas and bloatingGas and bloating can also contribute to belly hardness. You get gassy because hormone changes slow the rate of digestion, leaving the food longer in the intestine🍲 and giving time to bacteria to produce gas.🦨&nbsp;🤰Braxton Hicks contractionsIf you feel sensations of stomach tightening, it could be Braxton Hicks contractions. They appear more frequently in the third trimester as they prepare your body for labor.😃&nbsp;🤰Preterm laborSharp pains on one or both sides of your belly might be caused by round ligament pain. However, if you feel excruciating pain accompanied with your belly feeling hard, this belly cramping can signal a more serious problem such as preterm labor.🙁 &nbsp;<hr>When to call doctor<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1936/c85647e6-fa6e-4ceb-b4e1-5efa4a7214cd.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">If your contractions are so painful that you can&#39;t endure it, you should consider calling your doctor.👩&zwj;⚕️ Any signs like vaginal bleeding, less fetal movement, amniotic fluid leaking can be dangerous so you should call your doctor immediately.🏥&nbsp;

Why your pregnant belly feels tight and heavy?

Growing a new person in your body takes a toll on your body. You should expect some body aches and pains along the way.&nbsp;<hr>Causes of body aches during pregnancy<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1935/e4b9c864-49e2-41de-a5fb-14ae9579e561.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">😩Hormonal changesSurges of relaxin and progesterone hormones relax your ligaments and joints to prepare your body for labor.🤰 Your body then feels all the aching and pain😫 as these unstable ligaments slightly move.😩Weight gainYou&#39;re gaining weight and putting extra pressure on your joints. Your growing uterus👶 also shifts your center of gravity and stretches abdominal muscles, causing inevitable pain to your back and spine.<hr>Relieving body aches in pregnancy<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1935/ac9252df-0a4d-4f9f-9e94-bd8d0881ae45.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">😩HeatYou can apply heating pads, a hot water bottle on your abdomen. However, don&#39;t apply heat to your body for longer than ten minutes because you don&#39;t want to heat up your baby.👶😩ExercisesOne of the best remedies to reduce pain is to stay physically active.🚶 Pregnancy safe exercises help keep weight gain in check, strengthen muscles, support your blood circulation🩸 and reduce swelling.&nbsp;<hr>Common body aches in pregnancy<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1935/184ef5c8-d8f7-46a2-996a-553954aab526.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">😩HeadachesFeeling a squeezing pain on both sides of your head is a sign of tension headache.🤕 It&#39;s usually a harmless symptom due to hormonal changes and increased blood flow.😩HemorrhoidsHemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels🩸 in the rectal area due to straining during bowel movements. The growth of the uterus puts pressure on your rectal veins, making you feel downright painful.😩&nbsp;😩Heartburn &nbsp;Burning sensation in your chest strikes you after you eat. During pregnancy, progesterone hormone relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing the stomach acid🍲 to travel up your throat. Your baby👶 also contributes to pushing on the stomach and adding to the burn.😩Leg crampsLeg cramps🦵 can be rooted from vitamin deficiency, electrolyte shortage or other reasons. Changes in your body🤰 during pregnancy can cause unprecedented pains in your body.😩Carpal tunnel syndromeDuring pregnancy🤰, you experience tingling pain in your hands✋, wrists and arms. Extra fluid and swelling are the main culprits causing these symptoms.&nbsp;

Common pregnancy aches and pains

Your pregnant belly&#39;s growth keeps pushing your belly button out. It looks weird and makes you feel a bit uncomfortable but it will return to its normal shape after delivery.&nbsp;<hr>During pregnancy<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1924/e417077f-0a28-48be-b8e3-c29212adeb4c.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">🔘Belly button changesYour belly button🔘 doesn&#39;t connect to the uterus. It&#39;s just the remnant of your attachment to your mother in the womb from years ago.👩&nbsp;As your belly grows, it puts pressure on your belly button and causes some inconvenience. The belly button is out in the open making you feel weird😕 when it rubs against your clothes.👚&nbsp;🔘Belly button painsUmbilical hernia happens when a piece of your intestines protrudes through the small hole in abdominal tissue into your belly button and gets stranded.🙁 Umbilical hernia is usually harmless, but you&#39;ll experience intense pain😣 when this piece of intestines gets stuck and squeezed in a small space of your belly button.<hr>After pregnancy<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1924/589c6da4-c82a-4691-82e1-889c3cfecf6b.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">The belly button is likely to return to its normal size and shape after delivery.😃 However, sometimes your belly button may stay permanently outside, making you uncomfortable and diffident.You can choose umbilicoplasty, a surgery that makes the stretched belly button more vertical and less wide.👩&zwj;⚕️🏥 The surgery is only recommended for moms who have no intention of getting pregnant again because another pregnancy will give you the same result.🤰&nbsp;

Pregnant belly button

You must feel anxious and excited at the same time when it&#39;s closer to the due date. Packing all necessities in your hospital bag👜 in advance will save you lots of time and energy when that moment comes.<hr>Hospital bag checklist for moms<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1953/ce9a2f61-f629-47b6-a1a4-86570ebebdf8.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">👜Essential items and documentsLet&#39;s pack all your necessary stuff first! Your driver license or any other identification card is fine.💳 You should check with the hospital or birth center🏥 regarding any hospital paperwork that you should bring. You need to bring your doctor&#39;s contact and birth plan if you have one.Medical records can be helpful to show your current status of health. Chargers and cell phones📱 are two things you can&#39;t live without. You might bring a cord blood kit if you&#39;re planning to donate your baby&#39;s cord blood.🩸&nbsp;👜Personal itemsPack your favorite toothbrush and toothpaste, lip balm, deodorant, makeup, hair ties, shampoo and lotion🧴 if you prefer using yours.🧼🧺 The hospital will provide sanitary pads to absorb your blood after delivery, but if you prefer using your favorite brand, feel free to bring them with you.If you wear contacts, remember to bring lens solution and a lens case. Glasses are also an essential if you need them.👓&nbsp;👜ClothingThe hospital provides gowns but you can bring your daily nightgowns or pajamas. Backless slippers🥿 and a lightweight robe may come in handy if you want to take a walk after delivery.🚶&nbsp;Bring a comfortable and loose outfit or two to change.👚 You also need several pairs of postpartum underwears that are suitable for wearing with maxi pads. Your breasts are likely to be tender and swollen especially when they leak some colostrum so you might need nursing bras to help absorb leaks and provide comfort.😃&nbsp;👜Miscellaneous itemsBring your favorite snacks because you will feel hungry after labor and probably are bored of hospital food.🥨 Eye masks can help you sleep safe and sound at night after a long day. Also you might need a camera📷 to record these historical moments of you and your baby!&nbsp;<hr>Hospital bag checklist for baby<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1953/931a43a7-e126-4acc-b865-ca3dee57024a.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">👜Baby nail file and nail clippersAfter birth, your baby👶 often has sharp nails that can hurt and scratch the baby&#39;s face. You may want to trim tiny nails and make them softer a little bit.👜Coming home outfitLet&#39;s dress your baby up with comfortable clothes, socks and booties.👗 Welcome home, little angel!👜Baby blanketYou need a blanket to tuck around your baby around the car seat on the way home to make sure the little one is warm and cozy. The hospital will likely provide you blankets but you can bring one by yourself.🤗 &nbsp;

Hospital bag checklist for parents

Braxton Hicks contractions are also called false alarms of labor. You can feel them early on in your pregnancy, but usually most moms won&#39;t feel them until mid to late pregnancy.😃 &nbsp;<hr>Braxton Hicks contractions<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1989/9bfd4c16-e699-42a4-af01-386b7d5a5937.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">🤰What are Braxton Hicks contractions?Braxton Hicks contractions are mild and sporadic contractions that you probably won&#39;t notice until mid to late pregnancy.🤰 They feel like tightness in your abdomen, typically last less than 30 seconds, then go away. They are uncomfortable but rarely painful.😃&nbsp;Since Braxton Hicks contractions are often mistaken for early signals of preterm labor, you should not make any diagnosis yourself just to be safe.🙅&zwj;♀️ You should consult with your doctor👩&zwj;⚕️ if you experience abdominal pain that doesn&#39;t get better even after you rest. More regular and stronger contractions accompanied with vaginal bleeding as you approach your due date are also warning signs of possible preterm labor.⚠️&nbsp;🤰What causes Braxton Hicks contractions?The exact cause of Braxton Hicks contractions is unknown but you can think of them as a practice before your true labor.🤔 You will notice them more clearly when you&#39;re dehydrated or have a full bladder, or after having sex or doing physical activities.&nbsp;<hr>The difference between Braxton Hicks contractions and true labor<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1989/e619422a-bb0f-4441-ac51-d97098548628.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">🤰PatternBraxton Hicks contractions often appear sporadically and don&#39;t get closer together. True labor signals come at regular intervals and get closer together over time.🧐&nbsp;🤰DurationBraxton Hicks contractions are weak, rarely causing any pains and lasting shortly. True contractions last 30 to 90 seconds.⏱️&nbsp;🤰PositionBraxton Hicks contractions occur in the front of your abdomen. However, real contractions feel like they start in the back and gradually progress to the front.🤰 &nbsp;🤰ChangeBraxton Hicks contractions stop when you change your position.🚶 True labor contractions continue despite position changes and intensify over time.&nbsp;

Why your pregnant belly feels tight and heavy?

Common pregnancy aches and pains

Pregnant belly button

Hospital bag checklist for parents

Braxton Hicks contractions

Varicose veins during pregnancy

Castor oil for labor induction

Labor positions for active labor

The Lamaze method of childbirth

Lower back pain during pregnancy

Braxton Hicks contractions

Pregnant belly button

Does your water break?

Common pregnancy skin problems

Posterior position