This amazing planet we live on rarely lets us forget that we have the privilege of sharing the universe with real, live miracles.
They take a million different forms, from the truly otherworldly, like this cherubic angel spotted on an ultrasound, to the less obvious — but no less extraordinary — biological wonders that allow us to grow and live and thrive.
Of course, the most remarkable miracle of them all is also the most commonplace. In fact, every single person alive has been a part of it at one time or another.
We’re talking about pregnancy, and the amazing steps that mothers take to bring new life into the world.
And we aren’t just talking a good game here; just a few days past Mother’s Day, we have to marvel at the many radical, seemingly impossible changes the body goes through during pregnancy. In any other scenario, these profound transformations would seem downright magical!
But when it comes to growing a new life, here are just a few of the mysterious ways that nature takes over…
Supermom Fact #1: Your Heart Gets Bigger
And we don't just mean metaphorically!
While every mom will tell you that love for her little one filled up her heart and made it feel 10 times bigger, it turns out that there's also some science to back it up.
A pregnant mom's heart literally enlarges, and starts to beat harder and pump more blood, according to Livestrong.
That's because for nine months, her heart is beating for two, and needs to be bigger to get the job done.
This ensures blood is circulating to her own body, and to the little one inside of her.
Supermom Fact #2: Your Feet Can Grow An Entire Shoe Size
It makes sense that ladies with a bun in the oven will have to retire their favorite skinny jeans for a while — but did you know that the same rules might apply to her cutest little ballet flats?
It's not just your waistline that expands during pregnancy; the water retention and extra fluid involved in sustaining a baby can also have an effect on your feet, according to LiveScience.
Women can gain as much as whole shoe size during pregnancy — and for many women, the change is permanent.
But don't mourn your old shoes for too long; just take it as an opportunity to shop for new ones!
Supermom Fact #3: Your Uterus Gets 500x Bigger
Before a woman becomes a mom, her uterus is usually about the size of a peach.
During pregnancy, however, the womb goes through a major growth spurt.
By the time the baby has fully developed at nine months, the uterus will be about 500 times bigger.
On average, the uterus is about the size of a medium watermelon by the end of the pregnancy!
Supermom Fact #4: You'll Lactate At The Sound Of Crying Babies
As every kid knows, Mom has eyes in the back of her head, and hears everything.
It’s a superpower that serves moms well for years, but it actually starts long before their kiddos are capable of scribbling on walls or spilling milk.
In fact, the earliest indicator is a hormonal response to the sound of babies crying.
Studies indicate that a pregnant mom in her second or third trimester might spontaneously start lactating if she hears the sound of another little one in need!
Supermom Fact #5: Your Sense Of Smell Goes Crazy
Hearing isn't the only super-sense moms develop during pregnancy either.
In fact, the estrogen flooding the body means that expectant mothers have a top-notch sense of smell.
This heightened sense of smell is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy, even before a test comes back positive, and can be blamed for certain cravings and aversions during pregnancy.
If Hubby's coffee breath is really getting on your nerves, your super-charged sniffer is probably the culprit.
Supermom Fact #6: Your Body Makes A Brand-New Organ
Most expectant moms know all about the placenta, the sac of nutrients that grows along with the baby, and keeps the little one nourished and healthy.
Of course, not everyone realizes that the placenta is actually a whole new organ that body produces on its own.
It’s basically like your body spontaneously growing a new kidney or spleen, which is pretty crazy.
Supermom Fact #7: Your Pelvis Will Never Be The Same
Lots of things change dramatically when a woman becomes a mom, but nothing changes as drastically as the pelvic bone.
The pelvic bones actually separate slowly over the course of the pregnancy, up to 9 millimeters.
This change takes place to help make labor a little bit easier, and give the baby more room to exit, but its effects last long after the baby is born.
In fact, the pelvis will never return to its old configuration, which is why doctors can always tell if a woman has given birth.
Supermom Fact #8: You Will Literally Glow
Women always produce some level of estrogen, the hormone responsible for a lot of the development we go through in puberty.
During pregnancy, however, your hormones go crazy, and your body ups its estrogen production, which helps to develop and maintain the placenta and jump-start lactation.
All that extra estrogen also has a few extra benefits: extra-thick hair, strong nails, and the luminous skin famously known as the pregnancy “glow.”
Supermom Fact #9: You’ll Be Extra-Stretchy
By the third trimester, most moms can’t even reach their feet to tie their shoes, so they may be surprised to learn that they’re actually stretchier than ever.
That’s because their bodies are producing a hormone called relaxin, which, true to its name, helps to relax the joints and make ligaments stretchier.
All of this makes childbirth a heck of a lot easier, and might be an extra bonus during all those prenatal yoga classes!
Supermom Fact #10: Your Heartburn Yields Shocking Results
Pregnant women often experience all sorts of heartburn and indigestion.
At the beginning, it’s from morning sickness, and by the end, it’s because everything is a little bit squished by the baby on board.
That said, it’s not all bad. According to FitPregnancy, heartburn during pregnancy might be a sign of boosted hormone levels that will give your newborn a full and luscious head of hair.
After all, who doesn’t want to be mom to a tiny baby Elvis?
If you firmly believe that pregnancy gives you superpowers, make sure to SHARE these mind-blowing pregnancy facts with all the mamas you know!
