7 Facts About Pregnancy That Might Surprise You

Every pregnancy is different, but they all have one thing in common. Despite being a normal part of life, pregnancy is fascinating and mysterious. This period is surrounded by a huge number of myths, and it can be difficult to separate facts about pregnancy from fiction.

Though many people might think they know everything, a lot of what we commonly believe about pregnancy is wrong. Many facts about pregnancy might surprise us. Some are better known than others, and there is always something new to learn.

The information we have on the process of gestation is varied. Some of it comes from popular belief, and some from scientific studies. What you believe, of course, is up to you.

You may have already been through a pregnancy without anything strange happening. But that doesn’t mean that the issue doesn’t exist. Some women, for instance,  may be capable of producing and expressing milk long before she gives birth. There are some things that, although rare, are absolutely possible and backed by science.

Some of these surprising facts about pregnancy are more unusual and outlandish than others. There are some that you might imagine to be true, even if you haven’t heard about them before, such as the fact that stress in the mother is capable of affecting the behavior of the child.

But there are others that are difficult to believe, unless they’ve happened to you. So, let’s take a look at these seven surprising facts about pregnancy:

7 surprising facts about pregnancy

• Cravings and nausea can be down to the development of a woman’s sense of smell during pregnancy. Research has shown that a woman’s sense of smell becomes much more sensitive during this stage. Many pregnant women can feel particularly irritated or captivated by certain odors, even when they are not very strong.
• One of the most notable physical features of a pregnant woman (apart from her bump, that is) is her hair. This is the best moment to flaunt healthy, radiant locks. This is due to hormonal stimulation. Unfortunately, it can change drastically after birth. Not all women experience this, either: there are many cases of hair loss during pregnancy.
• Although your baby might seem to be still within the uterus, in fact, they might be doing many different things. For example, there is evidence that they can hiccup, yawn, suck their thumb, turn around and even dream. What do you think your baby might be dreaming about in the womb?
• Women can undergo contractions even after giving birth. They may occur when the mother holds the baby, and can continue intermittently over a few days. This is due to a reflex in the human body. The area where you experienced the pain is still contracting.
• Your morning sickness might help you to tell your baby’s gender. Some studies have suggested being pregnant with a girl can cause more intense nausea than when the baby is a boy.
• During pregnancy, a woman’s feet may grow. This is due to the effects of the hormone relaxin, which has the function of allowing the uterine cavity and vaginal canal to expand during birth. According to studies, at least seven out of ten women experience this change, since the hormone also affects the ligaments in the feet.
• A baby’s heart is one of the first organs to develop. From the first few weeks, you will be able to hear their heartbeat when you have a scan. This is one of most meaningful moments of pregnancy, and it takes place at around six weeks after fertilization. As well as being exciting for the parents, listening to the heartbeat of the fetus helps specialists to make sure that they are in good shape.