This is your body on pregnancy

Pregnancy transforms a body. And some changes you 100% expect: Your belly will grow larger and so will your breasts. But there are plenty of other head-to-toe changes you might not anticipate. Some can be wonderful — and some can be unexpected. But they’re all part of the experience.

While not every pregnant woman notices every symptom, here are 10 of the top changes to watch out for.

1. Sensitivity to smell

During the first trimester, many pregnant women become extremely sensitive to certain odors, says Mary Love, a certified nurse midwife. She recalls having a strong aversion to her husband’s deodorant during pregnancy.

“I remember being in the grocery store and sniffing every deodorant, trying to find one that would be okay,” she says. Do you find a friend’s perfume or a coworker’s lunch overwhelming? It’s likely because of your changing hormones, which can impact your sense of smell.

Those changes can also impact how things taste, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). You may find that certain foods or drinks taste sour or metallic, or they just aren’t as enjoyable as they used to be. Some pregnant women develop aversions to foods like meat.

2. Loose joints

To prepare for pregnancy, your body releases a hormone called relaxin. And relaxin continues to rise while you are pregnant, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Its main job is to “relax” parts of your body, such as:

• Blood vessels (to help them tolerate the boost in blood volume)
• Muscles in your uterus (to help prevent early contractions and preterm labor)
• Ligaments in the hips and pelvis (to let the baby through during childbirth)

Relaxin can also affect other joints as well, leading to joint and back pain. A maternity belt, designed to support the belly and take pressure off your hips and back, may help, says ob-gyn Lisa Leone, M.D. For side sleepers, try putting a pillow between your legs to support lax hips. (Another unusual result: Relaxin may cause your teeth to feel looser.)

3. Forgetfulness

Forgetfulness is very common during pregnancy, Dr. Leone says. Many women report trouble concentrating or remembering things. Scientists aren’t sure why. It could be due to hormonal changes, stress and anxiety, or poor-quality sleep. Two strategies that can help: Manage your stress levels (try deep breathing exercises or pregnancy yoga) and try to get more sleep.

4. Luxurious locks

This is one change that some women like: a fuller head of hair. Typically, your hair has a natural growth cycle. “You normally shed some hair and keep growing some,” Love says. “But in pregnancy, your body tends to shut down the shedding phase. You go 10 months and lose hardly any hair.” The added nutrition from prenatal vitamins may aid hair growth too, Dr. Leone says.

Once you give birth, you will shed that additional hair. That is normal and is not true hair loss, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Most women’s hair returns to normal fullness by the time their baby turns a year old.

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5. Blue-ish vagina

Your body’s blood volume increases a lot during pregnancy. And that greater blood flow to your pelvic region may cause your vagina to take on a blue-ish color, say Love. You may also notice some swelling or bulging veins.

Don’t worry. Most of the changes related to increased blood flow and swollen veins go away after childbirth. (Be aware that delivery can cause other changes to the vagina, however.) On the plus side, the bonus blood flow can make sex more pleasurable.

6. Warmer body temperature

Increased blood flow and metabolism can raise your baseline body temperature. That may cause you to feel warmer than usual. And during the third trimester, your growing baby produces body heat that can also make you feel hot. Good news for some: Women who tend to be cold normally may not have that problem during pregnancy, Dr. Leone says.

7. Odd cravings

Most women know that pregnancy can affect appetite and induce food cravings. But some pregnant women develop a condition called pica. Pica is when a person has an urge to eat nonfood items. Common items include chalk, clay, dirt, and ice. The cause is unknown, but some people with pica show signs of mineral deficiency.

Pica commonly goes away on its own in pregnant women, according to the Cleveland Clinic. If it happens to you, don’t eat that nonfood item. Call your doctor for guidance.

8. Bigger feet

Around month five, you may notice your feet getting bigger. This again is due to relaxin, which can loosen ligaments in your feet. That causes the foot bones to spread. And with the extra weight pushing down, the feet can flatten out as well.

Swelling from fluid retention can also add to this. Your feet may shrink back to normal after the birth, Dr. Leone says. In the meantime, buy a few pairs of inexpensive comfortable shoes in bigger sizes.

9. Dark line down the stomach

During pregnancy, your body produces more melanin, a pigment that gives color to skin. It can darken your nipples and may cause a faint dark line to appear down the center of your abdomen, Dr. Leone says. The line is called the linea nigra. It was always there, but you couldn’t see it before because it was likely the same color as the surrounding skin. After your baby is born, the line should start to fade.

10. Stuffy nose

Increasing hormones and blood volume can trigger the mucous membranes in your nose to swell and dry out. That can lead to a runny or stuffy nose, or occasional nosebleeds, according to the Mayo Clinic. Try saline drops or saline rinse to keep your nasal tissues moisturized. And stay hydrated.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.