8 People Share the Real Consequences of Pregnancy

If you’ve seen a pregnant woman or experienced it on your own skin, you definitely know that it’s a long and transformative journey. It’s filled with joy and many ups and downs that can challenge the moms, but it proves how strong and brave they are in the end.

1. “Excess Belly Skin / Skin texture.”

Pregnancy hormones and abdominal stretching are the primary factors contributing to loose skin after pregnancy. Throughout pregnancy, the body releases a unique hormone called Relaxin, which relaxes the abdominal ligaments and provides additional room for the baby’s development. Nonetheless, this natural process can result in loose skin after giving birth.

2. “Pregnancy changing my hair color! I dye it platinum, it normally grows back dark blonde, but now it’s growing back platinum.”

In certain instances, regardless of their natural hair shade, some women experience a darkening of hair color either during pregnancy or after giving birth. This change is attributed to hormonal fluctuations, which, as with many other pregnancy-related changes, play a significant role in this phenomenon.

3. “My toenail grew in extra thick during my pregnancy, then abruptly stopped growing thick once I gave birth to my son.”

During pregnancy, the nutritional needs of your developing baby can sometimes lead to deficiencies in your body, affecting the texture and hardness of your nails. Ensuring you have a good diet that provides all the necessary nutrients for you and your baby is essential.

4. “Pregnancy acne is the worst!”

Throughout the initial two trimesters of pregnancy, higher levels of reproductive hormones, notably progesterone and androgens, are produced in your body. These increased hormone levels lead to heightened oil production in your skin, resulting in more clogged pores. Consequently, you may experience the appearance of pimples in various areas, such as your face, neck, chest, or back.

5. “I’ve developed stretch marks post-pregnancy.”

• This has been on the underside of my left wrist for the past 2 weeks. I think it’s from carrying my son(1yr old) predominantly on my left arm and his weight squishing my skin together for long periods of time every day, leaving groves. I’ve been trying to drink more water for the past two weeks, and it still won’t go away. tweetybean / Reddit

Stretch marks that occur during pregnancy are akin to scar tissue. These marks are indented streaks on the skin and can appear in colors such as pink, red, black, blue, or purple. They might feel slightly raised during their initial appearance, but with time, they tend to become subtle depressions in the skin.

6. Pregnancy edema is a crazy thing.

Edema, a common occurrence during pregnancy, is characterized by the accumulation of body fluids needed to nourish both you and your baby. As a result of typical pregnancy-related changes, your body’s water content increases by approximately 6.5 liters or up to 15 pounds by the end of the term. This water surplus is essential for supporting the growing fetus, placenta, amniotic fluid, and maternal blood volume.

7. “I used to be a 1c/2a hair type. Couldn’t hold a curl for more than an hour but with lots of thick hair. After my kids, my hair is now 2c, I think.”

The influence of hormones extends beyond hair strands and can affect muscles, including the occipitofrontalis muscle in the scalp responsible for moving the scalp and eyebrows. When muscle tone changes, it can also alter the shape of hair follicles and the direction of their growth.

8. “6 years struggling to lose the weight from my latest pregnancy, but I’m still not where I started.”

Losing weight might prove more challenging than anticipated, and several factors could contribute to this, such as sleep problems, breastfeeding, and hormone imbalances. The ideal timeframe to aim for returning to your pre-pregnancy weight is within 6 to 12 months after delivery. Typically, around 6 weeks after childbirth, most women shed about half of their weight, with the remaining weight gradually coming off over the following months. The body undergoes many changes during pregnancy, so you should be proud of yourself regardless of the consequences.

Sometimes it is hard to loos weight with all the changes happening to your body. Everyone is different, so you should not stress over it. Most importantly, you must love yourself, be proud of becoming a mom, and enjoy every moment with your little one.

Having kids can be some of the most outstanding achievements in life. Watching them grow and teaching them new things can be fun and exciting. Some surprising signs indicate pregnancy. You can learn more about that in this article.