To say that pregnancy is an amazing experience is truly an understatement. The changes a woman experiences during pregnancy affect every aspect of her existence.
Her body, mind, and heart are all completely hijacked by the miracle of life.
Sometimes these changes come as a bit of a shock for expectant moms, so we've gathered the most bizarre facts about pregnancy to both enlighten and prepare you for the wild 10-month ride that is pregnancy.
That's right, I said 10 months...
1) While everyone and their mom thinks that pregnancy is 9 months long, it's really 10.
The reaction when I've told friends that #pregnancy is closer to 10 months is often awe. This is a good read. https://t.co/4FGWva98Au— Christen Evans (@Christen Evans)1470511819.0
2) "Mom brain" is a real thing.
A woman's brain shrinks during pregnancy and takes up to 6 months after giving birth to regain its full size.— Facts of Life (@Facts of Life)1517731249.0
3) Your heart grows, and not just in a cheesy metaphorical way.
During pregnancy, a woman's heart increases in size so that it can pump the extra 40-50% of blood she has running through her veins. And it doesn't just grow bigger; it beats faster, too. The walls of the ventricles thicken in order to pump all that extra blood. Extra blood and relaxed arteries allow the heart to beat more often without overexerting itself.4) Your baby can taste the food you eat during pregnancy.
Did you know that when you are #pregnant that babies can taste the food their mothers eat in the womb? To see some… https://t.co/AeVD7lqDVY— HollisterWomensHlth (@HollisterWomensHlth)1515344458.0
5) You might have X-rated dreams.
Are sex dreams common during pregnancy? Cause Ryan Gosling just gave me the best 8 hours of "sleep" ever. He's welcome in my dreams again.— Bella (@Bella)1487431247.0
6) Many women experience bleeding during their healthy and successful pregnancies.
8 Causes & Symptoms of Bleeding During Early Pregnancy https://t.co/MhzQ4e4HsS https://t.co/IIaZeab16a— Music News (@Music News)1517421140.0
7) It's possible to get pregnant while your already pregnant.
Meet Malachi, the surprise 'superfetation' baby who made headlines across the world. In full:… https://t.co/4H9J0wrhgG— Victoria Derbyshire (@Victoria Derbyshire)1510680763.0
8) Twins come in many forms.
There are 7 different kinds of twins: Identical, Fraternal, Half-Identical, Mirror Image, Mixed Chromosome, Superfecundation, Superfetation— Mamas Uncut (@Mamas Uncut)1517937311.0
9) Tall women are more likely to have twins.
Tall Women are more Likely To Conceive Twins. According to a study put together in 2006 by Dr. Gary Steinman, an ob… https://t.co/W9V42sLWvr— easyDNA AUSTRALIA (@easyDNA AUSTRALIA)1512946804.0
10) A fetus has fingerprints.
A fetus develops fingerprints at 18 weeks.— Google Facts (@Google Facts)1516689092.0
11) The uterus is stretched to 500 times its normal size during pregnancy.
During pregnancy, a woman’s uterus expands from the size of a peach to the size of a watermelon. To know more, do… https://t.co/GSRy7eXQUd— Reelabs (@Reelabs)1515315618.0
12) The biggest baby on record weighed a whopping 22 pounds.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest baby on record weighed 22 pounds and measured 28 inches long and was born on January 19th, 1879 in Seville, Ohio. And I thought giving birth to a 9.5 lb baby was rough.13) Babies cry in the womb.
😠https://t.co/pbu98MqQQl— POPSUGAR Family (@POPSUGAR Family)1517849767.0
14) The longest pregnancy ever recorded lasted over a year.
The longest pregnancy on record in humans is 375 days— PregnancyFacts101 (@PregnancyFacts101)1446326553.0
15) Nosebleeds are a common pregnancy symptom.
Bring some tissue and not just for crying. Nosebleeds can show up right from the start of pregnancy. Baby Center reports that 20% of pregnant women experience nosebleeds, compared to only 6% in non-pregnant women. The culprit: expanding blood vessels inside the nose combined with an increased blood supply.16) You might leak breastmilk upon hearing your baby cry.
According to Dr. Viehmann on Parents.com, "Anything that makes you think of your baby, like saying her name, talking about her, or even hearing another baby cry, causes your body to release oxytocin. It's the same hormone that helps women bond with their babies, but, at times, a surge of oxytocin can cause lactating moms to leak.17) Your uterus plans ahead.
Braxton Hicks or labour: How to recognise the signs https://t.co/4g5TqEdHUx https://t.co/DQe8dxLlEH— HuffPost UK Parents (@HuffPost UK Parents)1485481490.0
Braxton Hicks contractions can begin as early as the second trimester. However, they are most commonly experienced in the third trimester. When this happens, the muscles of the uterus tighten for approximately 30 to 60 seconds, and sometimes as long as two minutes.Unless your contractions are consistent and painful, you're most likely just joining your body on a test-run. But if you've got any concerns, always give your doctor a call.
18) Nipple stimulation is scientifically proven to bring on labor.
More respectably known as the comfort technique, nipple stimulation is the only scientifically proven method of initiating labor. Once again, you have oxytocin to thank for getting things going.19) Your baby will be so cute you will want to eat them up, literally.
"Cute agression" is the name for the feeling you get when something is so cute you want to squeeze it http://t.co/WVeQKy3B6u— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed)1406565702.0