Strange But Very True Facts About Pregnancy That Doctors Rarely Talk About

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We’ve all heard the clichéd stuff about pregnancy — vomiting and nausea, dizziness, craving different types of food, and unexplained mood swings. But in real life, pregnancy can come with a list of other conditions which are unheard of. And the experience can vary widely across women. As such, pregnancy is as bizarre as it is profound and beautiful. You may experience things that you would never have imagined, and often, these strange things are the ones which are unspoken of!

Just when you think that carrying a tiny human inside of you for nine months was strange enough, you’ll notice some crazy bodily changes that might downright freak you out! Then there’s the part about your little baby being safe inside you — a lot happens inside your womb as well! So let’s discuss some of these strange things that you might notice or have to face during your pregnancy:

Babies Cry…Inside The Womb Too!

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If there’s one thing that babies do expertly, it is crying. Right from the first cry when they enter this world to their crying sprees whenever they’re hungry, or their diapers are soiled, babies do a lot of crying. This is primarily because crying is a form of communication for babies. How else would they express that they are in distress? And we’re all well aware that babies cry. But did you know that the crying goes way back in time when your baby is in the womb? Yes, you read that right. Babies start crying even when they’re in the womb. They may not cry the same way that we all do here in the outside world, as the womb is essentially filled with amniotic fluid. However, they mimic the same facial expressions (1).

Food Isn’t The Only Thing You’ll Want To Eat

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There may be times when you want to have a whole jar of pickles during pregnancy. And there may be days when you don’t really feel like eating at all. But what about having a craving for eating a non-food item like a rock? Or maybe paper? You read that right; food isn’t the only thing that some women crave during pregnancy. You may want to eat non-edible items as well, and no, you’re not the only one! This is an actual medical condition called Pica, and it can be dangerous in some cases. The moment you get such an urge, get in contact with your doctor as soon as possible (2).

Your Partner May Be Pregnant Too

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We’re kidding. Your husband can’t possibly get pregnant, but there is a medical condition where men experience pregnancy symptoms when their partners are pregnant. It’s called Couvade Syndrome or Sympathetic Pregnancy. Just like you, they may experience nausea, dizziness, and (wait for it) a growing belly too! It’s bizarre but true. Luckily, it goes away a few days or weeks after childbirth (3). Ugh, they just had to steal our thunder!

Nine Months Of Pregnancy? How About A Year?

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The gestation period for humans is nine months, and sometimes for various reasons, a baby may decide to come earlier. But did you know that in extremely rare cases, you can be pregnant for an entire year? The most prolonged pregnancy lasted for a whole twelve months, which is technically three extra months of pregnancy! (4).

Your Uterus Is Magical

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It’s true. During pregnancy, your uterus can expand to around five hundred times its normal size in order to house your little bundle of joy. This is along the course of nine months of pregnancy. But that is not all. In around two months post-pregnancy, the same uterus can shrink back to its normal size! If you want a better comparison, here you go — the average uterus is the size of a peach. But through pregnancy, it grows big enough to the size of a watermelon (5).

Your Feet Grows In Size

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You have the perfect reason to go shoe shopping — the old ones won’t be fitting you anymore! It’s normal for your feet to grow in size during pregnancy. Carrying a human in your belly is no joke. It can take a severe toll on your body, and an increase in the size of your feet is one of them. All that pressure on your feet and hormonal changes can affect the joints on your feet (a class=”citation_class” href=” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3596423/” rel=”follow noopener noreferrer”>6).

Your Baby May Be Born With Teeth

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Although not common, some babies are born with their teeth. These teeth, called natal teeth, are different from neonatal teeth, which primarily come up in the early stages of a kid’s life. Natal teeth are weak, and more often than not, they fall off on their own. The doctor may pull them out if they are loose to prevent your baby from swallowing or choking on them (7).

Pain? Get Used To It

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Everyone knows that childbirth is extremely painful. However, over the course of the nine months of pregnancy, you will experience a variety of other forms of pain also, though none as painful as the pain of delivering off course. From the early days, you will witness nausea, vomiting, and dehydration every now and then. Some undergo morning sickness in varying degrees. From about the second trimester of the pregnancy, carrying the weight of the fetus will cause pain in the joints and back. This pain will gradually only get worse as the fetus grows and gains weight. There will be a myriad of other irritations from hormonal changes too. Pain is a part and parcel of pregnancy and you better get used to it and maybe even try to enjoy it!

The experience of pregnancy varies from person to person. Depending on your body structure, past conditions, and health status, your custom pregnancy journey will take shape. So it’s important to have a basic understanding of your own body. When pregnant, you’re not just responsible for yourself; you’re also responsible for the little one inside of you. A lot of bizarre things can happen during pregnancy and this calls for better awareness in would-be mothers. It is highly advisable to stay in regular contact with your doctors and take them in your confidence too. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments below!

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