Bizarre things that happen to your body when you're pregnant

Any new mother knows to expect the unexpected while pregnant, but even the most prepared will be met with a few surprises. 

Dr Kim Clugston, a fertility expert at DuoFertility Mobile, has given the Daily Mail the lowdown on some of the strange territory women can expect to have to navigate during pregnancy, and they include brain fog, loosening bones - and blue vaginas. 

Though some bodily changes might seem alarming, not to mention bizarre, experts assure that there is no need to panic as many of these symptoms are perfectly normal. 

VOICE CHANGES 

"Pregnancy causes an increase in the hormones oestrogen and progesterone which affect almost all parts of a woman's body, including lung capacity, muscle control and body fluid levels," Dr Clugston said. 

"All of these changes can result in the swelling of the vocal cords which means that pregnant women may lose the ability to reach high vocal notes, but may gain notes at the bottom. 

"The changes during pregnancy also mean that blood vessels are fragile and likely to tear, so take care not strain to try to reach the high notes. You may notice that your voice becomes more raspy towards the later stages of pregnancy."

LOOSENING BONES 

"Your body has to prepare itself for the eventual delivery of the baby and this is achieved by the release of a hormone called 'relaxin'. 

"The secretion of this hormone stimulates the separation of the pubic bone in the middle, which allows the uterine muscle to ease and helps to loosen and relax the cartilage that keeps all the bones together. This process is the body's way of rearranging itself for labour. 

"The downside is that this hormone can also affect other joints in the body and is one of the reasons why pregnant women experience joint and back pain."

BLUE VAGINA 

"Just one of many changes to occur in the vagina during pregnancy, is the change in colour. 

It is common for vaginas to develop a blueish colour during pregnancy due to an increase of blood flow, and this can occur as early as within the first six weeks. Your vagina will go back to its normal colour shortly after the birth."

BRAIN FOG 

"Many pregnant women report memory loss in their pregnancy, the so-called 'baby brain' and there is still no clear consensus on whether this phenomenon really does exist. 

"Theories as to why women may experience this 'brain fog' range from changes in priorities when pregnant to high levels of sex hormones, or through using different areas of the brain to process facial expressions which is thought to be important for bonding with the baby. 

"Other studies have failed to find a difference in the memory of pregnant women and suggest that the widespread conception of 'baby brain' results in women using this as a reason for when they have been forgetful, even though they may have done a similar thing when not pregnant."

BLOATING EVERYWHERE

"When you are pregnant it is not only your abdomen that gets bigger. 

"It is very common for pregnant women to experience bloating and swelling across their entire body and this is partly caused by the excess of fluid that is retained in the body. 

"Bloating can also be caused by the increase in progesterone which causes the smooth muscles to relax, and in the gastrointestinal tract, this slows down digestion to ensure nutrients are extracted for the developing baby, although a product of this is the buildup of excess gas which contributes to bloating feeling."

EXCESS HAIR 

"Many pregnant women experience an increase in hair growth particularly in new areas across the body for example, the face, the chest, abdomen and arms. 

"There is no need to panic, this is all down to an increase in the production of male hormones from the ovaries and placenta and this will decrease after labour. 

"It is not all bad news as the hair on the head is also known to get thicker and grow faster during pregnancy and so for some women you may find your hair looks more glossy and radiant than usual."

BAD BREATH 

"Bad breath can be another unfortunate effect of pregnancy. This is thought to be down to the change in hormones during pregnancy which may cause bacteria in the mouth to become inflamed and overgrown which incites bad breath and sometimes bleeding gums. 

"NHS dental appointments are free during pregnancy, so ensure you are having regular checkups and you are not neglecting your brushing and flossing routine to keep decay and gum problems at bay."

ITCHY STOMACH 

"When skin expands quickly it becomes dry, itchy and sometimes uncomfortable and can result in stretch marks. The severity of the itching varies among women, but it can be very uncomfortable. 

"To help with this, try to reduce the heat of the water in the shower or bath and apply moisturising creams or oils before you are fully dried."

CONGESTION 

"Higher levels of oestrogen and hormones produced by the placenta will cause the mucus inside the nose to increase. 

"As a result of this, approximately one in five mothers-to-be will experience a blocked up, itchy nose - with an abundance of sneezing as a side effect so if you are pregnant ensure that you keep your Kleenex at hand!"

SWEATING 

"Excessive perspiring is one of the most common symptoms of pregnancy. The increase in blood flow and metabolism during pregnancy causes the body to sweat more. 

"While the body may not be physically active, it is working hard to create another human life so it is understandable that this is enough to make you sweat."

This article was first published on Daily Mail and is republished here with permission.