35 Interesting Pregnancy Facts That You Should Know About

One of the most fascinating experiences a woman can go through is pregnancy, and there are so many pregnancy facts you don’t know about. Pregnancy is full of astonishing changes: some beautiful, some bizarre, and many that defy everyday logic. Imagine a new life growing inside you, cocooned nicely and drawing nourishment from the food you eat. There are many more surprising and unusual things that happen during pregnancy and the subsequent delivery, which even experienced mothers may not be aware of. Beyond the commonly known symptoms, your body and your baby may surprise you in numerous ways. Read on for a mix of intriguing, little-talked-about facts for pregnant women about pregnancy.

Crazy Facts About Pregnancy

Scroll down for some mind-blowing and weird facts about pregnancy. We are sure you would not have known about these strange facts that women endure during pregnancy. 

1. Your unborn baby can hear you!

Amongst one of the most amazing facts about pregnancy, this one surely ranks pretty high. Your unborn baby in your womb can see, hear and feel all that is going around it around 18 weeks of pregnancy (1). You can talk to your baby and even stroke your belly to give it a similar feeling.

2. That’s a huge expansion!

A woman’s uterus can expand to nearly 500 times its normal size during pregnancy to make room for the foetus.

3. You grow a new organ — the placenta.

A pregnant woman develops a completely new organ in her body, known as the placenta, which is the only transient organ in the human body. It releases hormones like oestrogen, progesterone and hCG while acting as a protective barrier.

4. Your baby gets a taste of whatever you eat.

You should be cautious about what you eat during pregnancy, as babies can detect the flavours in your food. This is likely why doctors advise mothers to be mindful of their diet. Strong flavours like onion and garlic can be passed to the womb through the amniotic fluid.

5. You automatically start producing milk when you hear babies cry.

Pregnant women and new mothers can lactate automatically when they hear babies cry. It can even happen if the baby does not belong to them.

6. Foods you once loved may taste awful, and vice versa.

Fun fact: Beyond simple cravings or aversions, pregnancy hormones can almost reprogram your taste receptors, making staples like coffee, meat, or eggs seem vile or metallic, even if you used to enjoy them (2).

7. You have underestimated your uterus.

Your uterus is capable of handling extreme pressure. The force generated in the uterus due to pushing translates into about 397 pounds per square foot on the baby’s head. That’s amazing.

8. Your pelvic bone is never the same after your first delivery.

The first time a woman delivers her child, her pelvic bone separates in the middle as the cartilage stretches to its maximum. Although the bone does not break, it doesn’t go back to its original position ever.

9. The fetus can “hiccup” in utero.

Babies in the womb often hiccup weeks before birth. You may feel rhythmic jabs in your belly. Some believe these hiccups help the developing diaphragm practice breathing motions with amniotic fluid (3).

10. You might carry two babies with different due dates.

Although sex during pregnancy is supposed to be free of risk, a woman can get pregnant while she is already pregnant. On rare occasions, a woman can carry two babies with two different due dates. A phenomenon called superfetation results in twins with different conception times and thus potentially different due dates.

11. Your immune system becomes more selective, not weaker.

Rather than being ‘suppressed,’ your immune system becomes more finely tuned. It modulates itself to protect you and tolerate the fetus, which carries paternal antigens. This is why certain autoimmune conditions may temporarily improve or shift during pregnancy.

12. Your hair may thicken and then shed postpartum.

During pregnancy, hair often enters a resting phase, reducing shedding and making hair look fuller. But months after birth, many women experience dramatic hair shedding when those hairs finally cycle out (4).

13. The linea nigra appears (dark vertical stripe on belly).

You will be familiar with that dark line known as the linea nigra, which appears out of nowhere in the middle of the stomach during pregnancy. This line was always there, but the pigmentation, because of hormonal changes, makes it visible. It is more visible in people with darker complexion (5).

14. Baby urinates in utero.

After you enter the second trimester, your baby releases about a litre of urine every day. If you are wondering where all this urine goes, well, the baby drinks it, maintaining the amniotic fluid balance. Weird! And you thought you had to visit the bathroom so many times.

15. Blood volume surges nearly 50%

Increased blood flow in that pregnant body, by almost 50% and overactive oil glands are responsible for the glow and the soft, shiny look. However, this enhanced blood flow can cause your gums to bleed and lead to bloody noses, too.

16. There’s a whole lot of oestrogen production during pregnancy.

You know that your body produces large amounts of oestrogen during pregnancy. But did you know that the placenta produces more oestrogen in one day than a woman could produce in three years?

17. Pregnancy can last up to 12 months.

A normal pregnancy lasts for approximately nine months. However, it is possible to remain pregnant for over a year. The record for the longest pregnancy is 375 days, way back in 1945. Modern mothers are induced as soon as they are a few days overdue.

18. Babies poop in the utero.

Baby faeces are known as meconium. This is made by the 21^st week of your pregnancy, but it won’t pass until after the baby’s birth.

19. Contractions actually continue for some time after pregnancy.

Contractions are common during pregnancy, but they do not stop even after the baby is born. They continue for a few days after delivery and help the mother’s body in stopping excessive blood loss.

20. History’s very first successful C-section.

The first woman to survive a C-section was in the 16^th century in Switzerland. Her husband, who was a pig castrator by profession, performed this operation on his wife.

21. Pregnancy can make you crave even non-edible things.

Pica is a peculiar disorder that affects pregnant women in which they crave non-food items like paper, hair, ice, paint, metal and glass. The word Pica is Latin for the magpie, a bird that is known to eat anything.

22. You can develop a “pregnancy mask” that lingers

Melasma, or pregnancy mask, is a dark patch on the face that can persist for years after delivery, particularly in women with darker skin. These are triggered by hormonal shifts and sun exposure.

23. Your baby bump’s features can indicate baby gender, but it’s a myth.

Carrying a baby high or low is considered to be one of the facts about pregnancy gender, but it is just a myth since it is more related to your body type, uterus structure and abdominal muscle strength.

24. Couvade syndrome — phantom pregnancy symptoms.

When a pregnant woman’s partner experiences symptoms like weight gain, morning sickness and growth hormone levels, it is known as Couvade syndrome or sympathetic pregnancy.

25. You may become a cholesterol factory.

Your body ramps up cholesterol production to support hormone synthesis, placental development, and fetal growth. Elevated cholesterol during pregnancy is expected and normal (within limits).

26. Your vision may shift — temporarily.

Hormonal fluid changes can thicken the cornea or alter eye curvature, causing temporary changes in vision, contact lens intolerance, or increased dryness.

27. You might feel electrical tingling in your skin.

Some women report feeling a “buzzing” or electric-tingling sensation under the skin, possibly due to nerve compression, increased blood flow, or shifting tissues.

28. Pregnant women used to write their wills on the wall during the Middle Ages.

During the Middle Ages, childbirth was considered fatal, which is why women often wrote their wills as soon as they realised they were pregnant.

29. Pregnancy denial is real.

Rarely, women suffer from “Pregnancy Denial” when they refuse to acknowledge they are pregnant. They ignore all the pregnancy symptoms that they experience.

30. Highest and lowest fertility rates ever.

The world’s highest fertility rate is 6.76 children per woman in Niger, and the lowest is 0.86 in Singapore.

31. In ancient times, childbirth pain was considered divine.

In 1591, a woman called Eufame was burnt alive because she asked for pain relief while giving birth to her twins. Religious leaders thought that God wanted women to feel pain for Eve’s act in the Garden of Eden.

32. Your taste of salt and spices can fluctuate.

Not only may you crave saltier or spicier foods, but your sensitivity to these flavours can rise or fall unpredictably through each trimester, influenced by hormonal changes in saliva and taste receptors.

33. You can see baby’s movements differently.

Some women report that at certain angles or under bright lighting, the skin over the belly becomes translucent enough to actually see limb shadows of the baby moving inside — a ghostlike glimpse of life within.

34. Another pregnancy myth – salty food cravings mean a baby boy.

One of the baby boy pregnancy myths says that if a woman craves salty foods like chips and pickles, she is likely to give birth to a male child.

35. The only male species to get pregnant.

Male seahorses are the only species in the animal world to become pregnant and develop embryos like female mammals (6).

FAQs

1. What are early pregnancy symptoms?

Early pregnancy can bring a mix of physical and emotional changes. Common signs include a missed period, breast tenderness, mild cramping, fatigue, mood swings, and nausea, often called morning sickness. Some women also notice food cravings, a heightened sense of smell, or frequent urination. Since these symptoms vary widely, taking a pregnancy test is the most reliable way to confirm (7).

2. Is it safe to exercise during pregnancy?

For most women with healthy pregnancies, moderate exercise is not only safe but also beneficial. Activities such as walking, swimming, or prenatal yoga can improve circulation, boost energy, and ease discomforts like back pain. However, high-impact or contact sports should be avoided. It’s best to consult your doctor before starting or continuing any fitness routine (8).

3. What changes happen in the first trimester?

The first trimester, spanning weeks 1 to 12, is a period of rapid development. Inside the womb, the baby’s organs, brain, and heart begin forming. For the mother, hormonal shifts may trigger nausea, fatigue, breast changes, and emotional ups and downs. Blood volume increases, and some women also notice food aversions or heightened sensitivity to smells (9).

4. What all comes out of your body during labour and childbirth?

Childbirth involves more than just delivering the baby. The amniotic fluid that has cushioned the baby often releases first. During labour, blood, vaginal secretions, and mucus are also discharged. After the baby arrives, the placenta and membranes are expelled in what’s known as the afterbirth. Small blood clots or tissue fragments may continue passing for days or weeks afterwards as the body heals.

There are quite a few mysteries and myths surrounding pregnancy and childbirth, but with growing awareness and knowledge, it is easier to dispel them. As a modern mom, you should check the facts and verify the truth before acting on them.

Also Read:

Periods while Pregnancy
Myths and Facts about Pregnancy
Tales about Pregnancy and Gender Prediction

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Sources References

1. American Academy of Pediatrics – Question: When can my unborn baby hear me? I’d love to be able to read and sing to them.

2. UT Sourthwestern Medical Center – 5 weird pregnancy symptoms you might not know about

3. UT Southwestern Medical Center – Fetal hiccups won’t harm your baby – they’re totally normal!

4. Pregnancy Birth and Baby – Hair care during pregnancy

5. Cleveland Clinic – Linea Nigra

6. National Ocean Service – How do seahorses differ from all other animals?

7. Cleveland Clinic – Am I Pregnant?

8. ACOG – Exercise During Pregnancy

9. Mayo Clinic – 1st trimester pregnancy: What to expect