Let's face it: sometimes pregnancy just makes a woman insecure.

One huge factor that plays into this are the pregnancy hormones estrogen and progesterone, which rise abruptly at the start of the pregnancy. This can make the mom-to-be a bit touchy during the course of the pregnancy. Because of this, she might feel plenty insecure about many things.

Most often, her insecurity becomes directed to the abrupt changes in her body during pregnancy. After all, growing a human being inside of you is no joke. The body has to cope with the needs of the baby through many things that are physically noticeable.

Hormones, plus rapid, sometimes unflattering, body changes may not exactly be great for mom's well-being. In many cases, this is inevitable. Insecurities are a natural part of being human, and pregnancy just makes mom extra vulnerable to them. It's therefore important that she takes care, not only of her body, but of her mind and heart as well.

Those around the mom-to-be can help. Listening to her, giving her reassurance, and helping her feel good about herself can do wonders in keeping her spirits up, just when it's tough to do so.

To help out the mom and her family, we've laid out this list of 15 things that pregnant women are insecure about. You might notice that practically all of these are normal pregnancy changes. And so the mom-to-be can be assured that she's not alone in dealing with these pregnancy insecurities.

15 Gaining Too Much 

Not all women gain the pounds during pregnancy, but most do. This is partially because the body is storing extra energy, just in case it's needed by the baby. And then there are those voracious pregnancy cravings and appetite on top of that! But even moms who gain only the baby weight might notice changes in their body as well. This is because the elevated levels of estrogen and progesterone change the distribution of fat in the body, moving it primarily towards the hips.

Because these changes occur over the span of only a few months, they'll feel abrupt to the mom-to-be. She'll be wondering where her old body went, that's for sure! And even though this is an expected body change, she might feel terrible in a bikini. Often, however, the horridness of her body is just in her mind. It'll take a lot of love and support to assure her that she's just as sexy as ever!

14 Acne

Some lucky moms experience a reduction of acne during pregnancy. Others, however, might see an increase in those pesky bumps. This may be because the hormonal changes result in the hyperactivity of the skin's oil-producing glands. This makes them more prone to getting clogged up and infected, which is pretty much what acne is. What can make things worse is that some of the common acne meds are harmful for the baby. Depending on the mom's skin-type, pregnancy safe meds may not be as effective. And, all things considered, it's best to keep the baby safe than to have clear skin.

The mom-to-be can minimize outbreaks through daily skin care. For a start, keeping her skin clean and well-moisturized can help tame any existing zits, as well as prevent the formation of new ones. Eating healthy and drinking lots of water, always good things during pregnancy, may help clear outbreaks as well!

13 The Belly Bump

Many expect that the belly bump is the mom-to-be's pride and joy. And it is, in a way. But there are days when it's just so darn unsightly and cumbersome. Seldom will the average woman see her tummy as big as it is during pregnancy. Tummy shape and size can also depend on a lot of factors. Some tummies may be bigger or smaller than others. Others might look round or pointed or even lopsided. Mom might feel that her tummy ought to look a certain way (hint: no, it shouldn't!) and may therefore get insecure about this thing sticking out of her body.

The pregnant belly can also get in the way at times. It is, after all, big and heavy, making mom prone to falling or bumping into things. Finally, belly bumps just demand to be seen, especially during the last trimester when mom is heavily pregnant. This can result in plenty of "eyes up here" moments, as well as insecurities!

12 Stretch Marks

Because the skin is stretched so abruptly during pregnancy, there may be spiderweb-like "cracks" in the integrity of the skin. These stringy lesions are stretch marks, which can be angry red or pink during pregnancy, but may fade to faint, silvery lines over time. These stretch marks often occur around the tummy, breasts, arms and thighs, but basically anywhere that is stretched out during pregnancy. Because smooth, flawless skin is such a societal ideal, mom may feel extra bad about her body. This is, again, another reason she might be reluctant to put on that bikini.

Feeding off this insecurity, there are numerous products available in the market that can supposedly reduce stretch marks. None of them, however, have been proven to work. The best thing to do is to keep the area well-moisturized to keep the stretch marks from itching or getting irritated. And to accept that these marks may stick around for some time.

11 Skin Color Changes

Women with darker skin are prone to getting skin color changes known as melasma or chloasma. This usually presents as dark-colored patches around the face and other parts of the body that are frequently exposed to sunlight. Mom may also experience darkening of her underarms, groin, nipples and that line that connects her bellybutton and pubic region, known as the linea nigra. Because they are so far removed from her normal skin tone, mom might find these patches unsightly.

Fortunately, she can reduce the appearance of melasma by avoiding sun exposure. Using wide-brimmed hats and parasols can help her do this, as can putting on pregnancy-safe sunscreen. But if, despite all her best efforts, those dark patches still show up on mom's skin, fear not! The discoloration should disappear gradually in the months following childbirth. However, they'll tend to reappear when mom experiences hormonal changes, as with future pregnancies and use of contraceptive pills.

10 Cankles, Other Swelling

If mom didn't have cankles (especially large ankles) before, she's likely to have them during pregnancy! This is more the result of retained fluid rather than fat deposits, however. To sustain the baby in the womb, after all, blood supply must increase. This means that fluid in the body must also increase. However, some of this fluid may have trouble getting back into circulation, particularly around the legs, due to the pull of gravity. As a result, mom's legs will be swollen, resulting in those brand new cankles!

One way to help reduce the appearance of cankles is to rest frequently, elevating the legs at intervals. This helps the blood go back into the circulation via gravity. Regular exercise may also help. And while it may sound counterintuitive, drink plenty of water. Dehydration can actually make the swelling worse. If mom's face begins to swell or if the swelling is abrupt, however, make sure to tell the doctor right away! This may be a sign of preeclampsia.

9 Dry Hair

Like so many other things, mom's hair quality during pregnancy depends a lot on genes and luck. Some moms might feel that their hair is fuller and shinier during pregnancy. Others, however, might end up with dry, limp hair that breaks easily. So if mom's locks were her crowning glory, she might end up disappointed at their now sad state.

Eating a proper diet may help reduce hair dryness. Sometimes dryness is a symptom of nutrient deficiencies, especially if the hair begins to lighten in color as well. If that doesn't work, scalp massages and regular conditioning with oils might help mom's hair regain some of its previous luster. And if all else fails, cheer up! Mom's locks are likely to return to their pre-pregnancy state soon after she gives birth! In the meantime, it may be time to experiment with new hairstyles that don't draw much attention to the dryness.

8 Waddling

Prior to pregnancy, mom may have strutted across the mall as if it were her own private catwalk. In the last few months of pregnancy, however, she might be lucky to get a bit of a waddle. After all, carrying all that extra weight, not to mention the swollen feet, can do that! Because of this, mom may feel uncomfortable walking around.

Some moms are blessed with the ability to walk in high heels throughout the duration of their pregnancy. Most of us aren't as lucky. For us mere mortals, pregnancy is a time to ditch the heels in favor of soft, flat, comfortable shoes. And, most importantly, try not to overthink the waddle too much. Most people understand because while runway models are adept at walking in shoes two sizes too small, most of them probably can't manage to strut if a large, heavy watermelon were attached to their belly!

7 Falling Off the Wagon

Pregnancy is a period of regimens. There is the uber healthy pregnancy diet, so that baby's body and brain grows just right. And then there is the series of pregnancy exercises that can help ease delivery and make mom's hooha heal faster after childbirth. Then there are regimens for rest (eight hours a night), for sunlight exposure (only early in the morning, because she needs vitamin D) and for water (drink as much as you can, don't get dehydrated). All this can be a pain to remember and a pain to maintain when mom is just completely exhausted all the time.

Because of this, many moms don't follow the recommended regimens perfectly, especially during their moments of weakness. And considering all the other moms out there who like to brag about their picture-perfect lifestyles, some women may feel insecure about not sticking to the regimen. But it's important to remember that we're all human, and a few lapses here and there shouldn't harm the baby!

6 Work Performance

Despite laws discouraging pregnancy discrimination, it's still quite rampant, especially in male-dominated workplaces. In fact, psychological studies have shown that people often rate pregnant women as performing worse than their non-pregnant colleagues, even when they have the same output. This can put extra pressure on the mom-to-be to excel at work, even if her performance is pretty much the same.

This is especially if there are some tasks that she can no longer do, such as carrying heavy weights, due to the pregnancy. Sometimes, this pressure can put much strain on the mom-to-be, especially when she sees her peers gaining recognition. But mom has to remember that she doesn't have to become a workaholic all of a sudden just because she's pregnant! She also has to remember that she's got to take care of herself and her baby. If she feels like there's pregnancy discrimination in the workplace, she'd best talk to her boss or HR!

5 The Baby Dad

Surprisingly, one of the people that can make the mom-to-be most insecure is the baby dad! After all, he's one half of the reason she's pregnant, but he's experiencing none of the abrupt body changes of pregnancy! This can make her feel extra bad. After all, she thinks she's slowly transforming into a shapeless marshmallow, while he's probably looking as great as ever. It can make her extra insecure thinking that he's not going to find her attractive anymore or, worse, he's going to go look for another younger, hotter woman to replace her with.

So baby dads, pay attention: pregnancy is a time to pour out as much love as you can for the baby mom. Take her out on dates. Assure her that she's still attractive. Touch her. Make love to her. Leave her little pleasant surprises. Do errands for her. Little gestures of love can go a long way in helping her feel less insecure about her pregnancy.

4 Looking Haggard

For some lucky women, the pregnancy glow is real. For others, however, it's more of a pregnancy black hole that sucks up all the energy in the room. After all, lugging around all that extra weight all day can be tiring. Studies also suggest that those pesky hormones may also be at work, making mom need frequent naps throughout the day to stay functional. So, whether mom still has energy for her daily morning beauty routine or not, she might look a little bit less put together, especially during the last few months of pregnancy.

And, considering just how much attention women these days put on their physical appearance, looking like she just got out of bed can make her feel extra insecure. Even if she doesn't have the energy to make the effort to look as put together, it's important to remember that this feeling, too, shall pass. Just take each day as it comes and, perhaps, take fewer selfies during this time!

3 Not Being Happy Enough

Pregnancy is perceived as a joyful event. So much so that women who don't feel great during their pregnancies are often told that they should "lighten up" because "this is a blessing." However, these feel-good mantras don't exactly help the miserable mom-to-be. It only reinforces the idea that they should be happy and if they don't feel happy, something must be terribly wrong with them and they'll probably make a horrible mother.

But pregnancy, just like any period of time, comes with its emotional ups and downs, and the extra hormones can make them seem more frequent. As with everyday life, mom will sometimes feel great, sometimes neutral and, yes, sometimes sad. It is, after all, important to recognize the entire range of human emotion. Such is the consequence of being alive. However, moms who find themselves persistently sad (for more than two weeks) or have recurrent thoughts of harming themselves may be experiencing depression. In this case, it's best to seek medical help right away.

2 Magazine Covers

Pro-tip for the pregnant mom who wants to stay happy: avoid celebrity magazines and gossip sites like the plague. Chances are that they're chock full of photoshopped images of pregnant celebrities who look fabulous and flawlessly stretch mark-free. They'll also be full of articles about "How So-and-so Got Her Body Back in a Week!" or "How to Maintain a Fit Body During Pregnancy." Pro-tip: if you're not a celebrity or just ridiculously lucky, this is just not possible. We ‘normal’ folks don’t have chefs to cook for us and personal trainers.

This kind of media only reinforces the idea that the normal pregnant body is undesirable, and that if you're still not stereotypically hot during the pregnancy, you're automatically unattractive. The best thing to do is to learn to love the pregnant body as it is. Sure, it's not perfect, but nothing has to be perfect to be beautiful. And if that doesn't make the mom-to-be feel entirely better, it's best to make her feel loved nevertheless.

1 Health

Sadly, not all moms will be in perfect health during pregnancy. Some conditions may unexpectedly pop up, despite all her best efforts. It seems inevitable that many well-meaning friends and relatives will bombard the mom-to-be with all sorts of advice. "You should be eating this," or "you should exercise more," or "you're probably not trying hard enough!" All this can make the pregnant mom feel that it's somehow her fault that her pregnancy isn't going as well as hoped. But it's important to remember that, while there is a portion of health that is under the mom's control, a lot of it is due to genes or bad luck or a combination of both.

The best thing to do is to keep up with the things she can control, rather than believe she's inadequate because of the things she can't. As for concerned friends and relatives, know that shaming the mom into wellness is hardly effective. Encouragement and support, positive reinforcement what she is doing right will make a big difference. Build her self-esteem with love.

Sources: WhattoExpect.com, Parenting.com, AAD.org, BabyCenter.com, TheBump