**1.2 How the body adapts to pregnancy**

In pregnancy, a woman's body goes through significant anatomic and physiological changes to provide the support needed to nurture the growing foetus, while still maintaining normal body functions required for survival [9]. Some of these changes are due to hormonal production before conception. These changes then consolidate throughout the period of pregnancy, affecting every system and organ in the woman's body. For the majority of women who experience uncomplicated pregnancy, these changes are reversed following delivery. It is important to understand the normal physiologic adaptations of the body to pregnancy, so we can recognise when an abnormal occurrence comes into the picture. Although the major system affected by GDM is the endocrine system, it is still important to explore some of the changes in the other systems of the body. This is because hyperglycaemia can affect multiple body systems.
