20 Strange but True Pregnancy Facts

Pregnancy is one of the most amazing things a woman ever experiences in her life. There is nothing like growing a new life inside of you — it's crazy when you think about it!

Many unbelievable changes happen to the body during pregnancy. Some of them may sound strange and even gross but are pretty normal. Here we have gathered up the 20 most weird facts related to pregnancy that will blow your mind. Read on to know!

#1. The baby forms all of her unique fingerprints by 9 to 12 weeks in the womb. Good to know that your little one has their own identity long before they're born.

#2. From the second trimester onwards, your baby begins to urinate about a liter per day in the womb. And can you guess where that pee goes? The baby drinks it. How disgusting, right?

#3. Pregnancy hormones can do wonders to your nails and hair, causing them to become thicker and shinier. However, your hair may fall out in alarming amounts after childbirth.

#4. One in every 2000 infants is born with teeth. These are known as natal teeth and pulled out shortly after birth by doctors to prevent choking, injury, and biting.

#5. Extra fluid and water retention can cause your feet to grow as much as a whole size bigger. Even some women's feet stay in the same size after birth.

#6. Babies begin to cry silently in the womb as early as 28 weeks. Not because they are sad or distressed, but because they are practicing for the real world. However, you can't hear them because of the amniotic fluid.

#7. You can get pregnant while already pregnant. It's incredibly rare, but it happens when your ovary doesn't stop releasing eggs. It's called superfetation.

#8. The average duration of pregnancy is 280 days, but it is possible to stay pregnant for over a year. The most prolonged pregnancy ever recorded was 375 days long, which is three months longer than average.

#9. Is the baby's father gaining weight? Scientific experiments even prove to share pregnancy-related symptoms with your partner. This condition is called sympathetic pregnancy or Couvade Syndrome.

#10. During pregnancy, your uterus stretches from the size of an orange to the size of a medium watermelon. That's about 500 times its original size.

#11. Babies can taste some of the foods you eat. Intense flavors like garlic and onion can pass through amniotic fluid into the womb. Perhaps that's why doctors ask moms-to-be to be careful about their diet.

#12. At about 18 weeks, the baby can recognize their mom's voice from inside the womb.

#13. If you're overweight or tall, you're more likely to carry twins or multiples.

#14. The old wives' tale that pregnant women who suffer from heartburn are more likely to have babies born with a full head of hair is real. There is also scientific evidence to support it.

#15. As annoying as it is, morning sickness during pregnancy is nature's way of protecting mothers and their babies from food-borne illness and harmful chemicals, and this is scientifically proven.

#16. Some pregnant women can start to lactate in late pregnancy when they hear the sound of someone else's baby crying. It happens automatically.

#17. In the latter days of pregnancy, your placenta produces more estrogen in one day than that a non-pregnant woman does in three years.

#18. 'Pregnancy brain' or forgetfulness might be a real thing. According to research, around 80% of women experience memory impairment during pregnancy.

#19. As your uterus grows in size, so does your heart. It's because your heart works hard and beats faster to pump more blood to the fetus. Your blood volume also increases by 40-50% during pregnancy.

#20. It's quite common for pregnant women to experience a change in skin tone. Factually, 9 out of 10 women share a difference in their skin tone during pregnancy.

So these were 20 weird yet normal facts about pregnancy! There are quite a few facts, mysteries, and myths surrounding pregnancy, but you can quickly dispel them with knowledge and awareness. Whether you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant, consult your doctor. They can answer all your questions about pregnancy and develop a plan for a healthy delivery.

Tell us know which fact amazed you the most in the comments section below.