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It is a known fact that a woman's body will inevitably change during pregnancy. If you are expecting your first child, you have probably read all the books and looked for the best online pregnancy resource, and asked your Mom or friends with kids for tips. However, no matter how ready you think you are for the many adjustments your body will go through, something will surely happen that will completely surprise you. After all, this magical period comes with some not so magical changes, some funny, some weird and some just plain uncomfortable. If you are not a huge fan of surprises, here are some facts you may not yet know about pregnancy.
Your heart will get bigger, and it is not the only one
During the pregnancy you will have extra blood in your body, so your heart will get bigger in order to be able to pump it. However, your heart is not the only part of you that will increase in size. Your feet will also get bigger so be prepared that your shoes won't fit and that you will need to buy a whole size bigger.
You can get diabetes
Did you know that there is a specific type of diabetes that can occur during pregnancy? You can get gestational diabetes if your blood sugar is too high and the pancreas can't supply enough insulin. Although this problem often disappears after giving birth it is still recommendable that you do everything in your power to avoid it, since it can negatively affect both you and your unborn child. It can lead to a higher risk of preeclampsia, high birth weight of the baby, premature birth and cause the baby to have low blood sugar levels at birth. In order to avoid gestational diabetes, you should exercise regularly, eat well and avoid processed foods and sugary beverages, as well as attend routine care appointments.
Your voice can change
During pregnancy, your hormones are raging, so it is no wonder that a lot of changes occur. One of the interesting ones will happen with your voice. Since the levels of estrogen and progesterone will increase, your vocal folds may swell up, which means your voice could get deeper than it usually is.
You sense of smell gets heightened
Have you noticed that suddenly you can smell things you couldn't before? This change usually occurs in the first trimester, and it is quite possible that Mother Nature arranged this so that pregnant women can easily avoid unsafe foods.
Parts of your body can change color
You are probably aware of the fact that your body will develop stretch marks, but that is not the only change you can expect when it comes to skin color. It is possible that dark spots will appear on your face, and the line down the stomach might also get darker. Your vagina can change color as well and turn purple, while 10% of women get blue varicose veins in their land down under that disappear a few weeks after the birth.
You might start forgetting things
If you feel like your brain is not working properly and you often forget things, don't worry. Pregnancy brain is a real thing and about 80% of women experience memory impairment.
You may start to lactate when you hear a baby crying
When you are pregnant and you hear the sound of a baby crying, you may start to lactate, so be prepared for some awkward situations.
When expecting you may deal with a lot of things you have never experienced before, but that is a normal part of pregnancy so try to relax and enjoy this amazing period in your life.
