DADADEL
Weird things are part of the pregnancy journey for each mom-to-be. Firstly, because they have not experienced any of that before. Secondly, pregnancy brings different changes to different women.
The journey itself is beautiful. However, plenty of weird things can happen during pregnancy, and we are not talking only about brain fog.
You might have never heard of these weird things, but hey, if you have been through that, you get it. Let us introduce the new moms-to-be to those.
FEET BECOME LONGER AND WIDER
Swollen feet are a common symptom during pregnancy. However, some women’s feet become longer and stay that way even after pregnancy. A study published in 2013 by the University of Iowa showed that 60-70% of 49 pregnant women had wider and longer feet after their pregnancies.
THE “LIGHTNING CROTCH” SENSATION
The sharp sensation women experience in their nether areas is called “lightning crotch” because it is often described as an electric shock. The pain is real. Some women do not experience it, but to all others who do, it usually happens toward the end of the pregnancy.
THE MOM PRODUCES BLOOD FOR TWO
The blood volume in your body increases significantly since the first weeks of pregnancy. That happens because you have another creature inside of you that needs growth and development. On the other hand, it also protects the mother from delivery risks.
The average total blood volume increase can be up to 50%.
PREGNANCY BRAIN IS REAL
Brain fog, baby brain, pregnancy brain, or momnesia; You might have heard them all. It happens and makes the moms forgetful and distracted. Studies have shown that the brain capacity is unaltered during pregnancy, but memory deficits can be present.
WEIRD FOOD COMBINATIONS LIKE PICKLES WITH GRAPE JELLY
Craving pickles during pregnancy is very common. However, anything can happen during pregnancy. Even the weirdest food combinations! A woman had her pickles cut in half and put grape jelly in the middle. Weird!
HEIGHTENED SENSE OF SMELL
Pregnant women develop a heightened sense of smell. It usually happens in the first trimester. Women can smell almost everything. Sometimes, it makes the morning sickness even worse.
VARICOSE VEINS IN PRIVATE PARTS
Varicose veins are enlarged veins that appear on the legs mostly. Pregnant women can get them in their private parts. 10% of pregnant women get them on their private parts and the inner part of their thighs. However, if they change positions often when lying down and keep active, they can avoid it.
THICKER HAIR
Pregnancy hormones affect the hair, as well. It grows faster, fuller, and thicker. However, it happens to all body hair! Beard, too. Yep. It goes away within 6 months after giving birth, though. With the new hair on the head, too.
NOSEBLEEDS ARE COMMON
Nosebleeds are common during pregnancy because of hormonal changes. The blood volume and circulatory system are expanded. So, nasal blood vessels burst more easily. 1 in 5 pregnant women have nosebleeds. However, it is nothing to worry about!
FEELING THE BABY’S HICCUPS IN THE WOMB
Another weird thing is to feel the baby’s hiccups inside the womb. It seems cute, yet surprising. Some babies don’t get them, but others get hiccups several times.
BLUE OR PURPLE PRIVATE PARTS
It sounds bizarre, but the private parts turn bluish or purplish during the 6-8 weeks after conception. It is called Chadwick’s sign and occurs because of the increased blood flow to the nether areas.
CRAVING PALMOLIVE DISH SOAP
Another weird craving, my friends! A woman shared online that she was craving Palmolive dish soap on her cheeseburger. Specifically, she craved the pink bottle only. However, she controlled herself!
FRECKLES AND “PREGNANCY MASK”
During pregnancy, hormonal changes stimulate melanin cells, too. That leads to hyperpigmentation, freckles, or even the “pregnancy mask” which are brown patches called melasma. Other women get the linea nigra, a black line from the belly button down.
PREGNANCY GLOW = CONSTANT SWEAT
The pregnancy glow might be overrated. It is indeed cute but not always what we think it is. Increased blood circulation gives a bright, flushed look. However, it makes them sweat a lot, too. Excessive perspiring is very common during pregnancy.
SORE AND BLOODY GUMS
Tooth decay and sore gums are common during pregnancy. Pregnancy gingivitis is more present because of the gums’ sensitivity to plaque. That is why pregnant women should take good care of their teeth.
CRAVING FOODS THAT YOU HATED BEFORE
Some pregnant women might crave foods that they hated before. A woman shared online that she started craving onions all of a sudden. Later she took a pregnancy test, which of course, was positive.
NO BLADDER CONTROL
Say goodbye to bladder control! The baby is developing above the bladder in the uterus. Hence, more pressure on the bladder. So, if a pregnant woman starts laughing or coughing, she might be leaking down there.
INCREASED BLOOD FLOW = BIGGER “O” IN THE BEDROOM
We mentioned above that the volume of blood goes up to 50%. It affects the private parts, too. Many women say they can feel it heavier down there. On the other hand, it helps get a bigger pleasure in the bedroom since the blood flow increases sensation.
CRAVING SAND
We have often heard about pregnant women craving sand. A woman shared that she wanted to eat sand straight from the beach. She didn’t, though. The woman also said that she wanted to grind salt between her teeth.
THE BODY REARRANGES ITSELF FOR DELIVERY
A woman’s body is a temple! Reaching the end of the pregnancy, it starts rearranging itself to deliver the baby. The body releases relaxin, a hormone that stimulates the separation of the public bone. It also relaxes the uterine muscle to open up the pelvis. However, it leads to back pain and joint pain.
VOICE CHANGES TOO
Hormones can affect the voice, too. The increased estrogen and progesterone make the vocal cords swollen. The actress Kristen Bell says that her voice became deeper during her pregnancy. She had the role of princess Anna in the movie Frozen and had to re-record the lines several times after she had the baby to match the character.
NIPPLES CHANGE SIZE AND COLOR
The breasts become heavier during pregnancy. On the other hand, nipples can change in size and color. The areola might become darker and increase in size. When a woman is done breastfeeding, the areola shrinks. However, the color might still be the same.
PREGNANCY RHINITIS
Pregnancy can lead to increased sneezing. 40% of pregnant women are affected by pregnancy rhinitis. The increased blood flow to the mucous membranes leads nasal passages to swell and congest. The blocked-up and itchy nose last for 6 weeks or longer.
CRAVING CANNED CORN
It’s corn! It has *the* juice… LOL. I hope you know the song. Craving canned corn during pregnancy is common, too. A woman said she ate two cans of uncooked corn a day during her pregnancy.
THE UTERUS EXPANDS 500 TIMES ITS SIZE
The uterus expands 500 times its normal size! Typically it is the size of an orange, but during the third trimester, it reaches the size of a watermelon. After giving birth, it needs around 6 weeks to return to the pre-pregnancy position.
PREGNANCY DIABETES MIGHT BE CONCERNING
Pregnancy diabetes is a condition that affects 10% of pregnant women in the US. Blood sugar levels become higher. Even though gestational diabetes goes away after birth, women should consult their doctors regularly.
MANGO COMBINES WITH ANYTHING
A woman shared her nontypical cravings. When they went out of the season, she switched to canned mangos. Mangos are healthy since they contain lots of vitamin C and folate. She only craved all mango-related food. She said: “I couldn’t get enough mango. I literally ate 2-4 mangos a day.”
SNORING AT NIGHT
Snoring during pregnancy is often present since nasal congestion increases when the woman is lying down. This might start in the second trimester and stop after giving birth or losing weight. Even if you are not a snorer, prepare to leave everyone in the house sleepless at night. LOL.
BAD BREATH
Pregnancy hormones can affect your breath, too. Bad breath becomes more common. Also, the increased number of tonsil stones covered in bacteria can cause bad breath.
FRAPPUCCINO WITH PICKLES
This woman likes her frappuccino with dill pickles! An unusual combination, I might say! She loved to dip the pickle in the frappuccino during her pregnancy.
BABY KICKS CAN BREAK THE RIBS
It sounds like poetry, but it is something that can happen. It is rare, of course, but the baby can break the mother’s ribs by kicking. People who shared their stories say that it happens more to petite women. Weird.
CRAVINGS FROM THE TV
A woman said she craved spaghetti with candy, marshmallows, maple syrup, etc. because she saw it on TV! Two days later, she tested positive and found out she was pregnant!
FEELING BLOATED
Pregnant women feel bloated and flatulent almost all of the time during their pregnancy. Relaxin and progesterone relax other things, too. Digestion slows down because of the growing baby in the womb. This leads to the build-up of gas. Moms-to-be can’t control when the gas wants to exit the body! LOL.
CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
Between 1/3 to 2/3 of pregnant women can be affected by carpal tunnel syndrome. This syndrome is usually associated with work that requires repetitive motions, such as typing. It feels like tingling, pain, burning, and numbness in the wrists, hands, and fingers. It slowly goes away after delivery.
PIZZA DIPPED IN ICING
Pizza, this miraculous invention! You can order it with whatever topping you like. Even with pineapple, yeah. However, do not let any Italian hear you! A woman shared that she craved pizza dipped in icing. One of the weirdest cravings!
THE PLACENTA IS A WHOLE NEW ORGAN
It might be surprising, but the placenta is an organ attached to the walls of the uterus. It provides all the living essentials to the baby, such as oxygen and nutrients. After the baby is delivered, it gets out of the body.
THE BABY’S CELLS REPAIR YOUR DAMAGED TISSUES
The baby’s cells can migrate to the mother’s organs and repair damaged tissues. Researchers found fetal cells in the mom’s brains, suggesting a deep link between mother-child.
SARDINES AND BLUEBERRIES COMBO
Many pregnant women can’t stand the smell of fish. However, a woman says she loved eating sardines on crackers with blueberries! She also loved strawberries with cantaloupe and country gravy on top!
THE EXPLANATION BEHIND WEIRD CRAVINGS
Hormonal changes are the main reason behind the weird cravings of women during their pregnancies. The hormones can disrupt the taste and smell receptors.
PREGNANCIES THAT LAST MORE THAN 9 MONTHS
Unusual long pregnancies are not that rare. We are talking about pregnancies that last longer than 9 months. The pregnancy usually lasts for 40 weeks. However, according to a Time Magazine entry in 1945, the longest pregnancy was 375 days. More than a year, fellas!
