Pregnancy is a life-transforming journey and while there is so much changes that happens during this time, you cannot always be prepared for everything. Here are 10 surprising facts that you did not know were true during pregnancy.

The Nesting Instinct

If you have seen animals look for paper scraps, or take fur out of their own body or collect small twigs and stem to build a nest for their upcoming babies, even if the animals are domesticated, humans do the name. Humans do not take fur or hair out of their body, but we too experience a powerful urge to prepare our home for the baby. We clean it, decorate it and thanks to modern homes, we can now baby proof it do!

Mommy Brain

This happens in the first trimester, when tiredness, morning sickness and other symptoms can make the mother feel worn out and mentally fuzzy, often called the mommy brain. The National Institutes of Health also notes that cognitive function decline in the third trimester of pregnancy, leading to memory problems.

Mood Swings

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and pregnancy share several symptoms, such as breast swelling and tenderness, hormonal fluctuations, and mood swings. If you’ve experienced severe mood swings due to PMS, you may notice an intensification of these emotions during pregnancy. It's common to feel joyful one moment and tearful the next as your body adjusts to hormonal changes.

Breast Growth

An increase in breast size is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy apart from your missed period. It happens in the first trimester due to the higher levels of hormones like estrogen and progesterone. The growth continues throughout pregnancy.

Skin Changes

Have you heard about pregnancy glow? This happens because pregnancy women have an increased blood volume, this happens to provide extra blood flow to the uterus and other organs, especially the kidneys. This greater volume brings more blood to the vessels and increases oil gland secretion.

Hair and Nails

During pregnancy, many women notice changes in their hair texture and growth. Hormonal shifts can make hair grow faster and reduce hair loss. However, these changes are typically temporary, and many women experience some hair loss during the postpartum period or after they stop breastfeeding. In some cases, hair growth may also occur in unexpected areas like the face, belly, or around the nipples. Additionally, hair texture can shift, becoming drier or oilier, and some women even notice a change in hair color.

Nails can also undergo changes during pregnancy. Increased hormone levels may cause nails to grow faster and become stronger, but for some women, nails may become more brittle, splitting and breaking more easily. Like hair changes, these nail changes are usually temporary. If your nails are more prone to splitting or tearing, it’s helpful to keep them trimmed and avoid exposure to chemicals in nail polish and nail polish remover.

Your Feet Grow

If you have heard about it, then you already know that it is not just the clothes that do not fit you, it is your shoes too. Extra fluid in the pregnant body also leads to swollen feet. The joints also tend to be looser during pregnancy.

Joint Mobility

Your body also releases hormones like relaxin that prepares your body, especially the cervix for the birth. This loosens the ligament in your body, which may make you less stable .

Varicose veins, constipation, and hemorrhoids

Varicose veins, common in the legs and genital area during pregnancy, result from blood pooling in veins enlarged by pregnancy hormones. They often disappear after delivery. To prevent them, avoid prolonged sitting or standing, wear loose clothing and support hose, and elevate your feet when seated.

Hemorrhoids, which are varicose veins in the rectum, may develop due to increased blood volume and uterine pressure. They can cause pain, itching, bleeding, or stinging, especially during bowel movements. Constipation, caused by hormonal changes and uterine pressure on the large intestine, can worsen hemorrhoids by straining during bowel movements.

Prevent constipation and hemorrhoids by eating a fiber-rich diet, staying hydrated, and exercising regularly. If needed, consult your doctor about stool softeners, laxatives, or creams for relief.

Labor and what goes out of your body

When you are in labor, your amniotic sac, that has fluid that surrounds the baby, breaks or ruptures, which is what is also known as water breaking. For most women contractions start before their water breaks, if not, then the doctor may have to rupture the amniotic sac, in case the cervix is already dilated. Some women may feel the urge to pee, while for some it may feel a trickling their leg.

The postpartum period is often entirely centered around the baby, and a mother’s recovery is supposed to proceed quietly in the background. Many women continue to feel uncomfortable months after delivery, but they treat that discomfort as a normal part of being a mother. One of the most underreported and misunderstood conditions is Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP), which is a condition of the postpartum period resulting from the weakening of pelvic floor muscles post-pregnancy and childbirth.

What Happens To The Body After Childbirth?

Pregnancy and vaginal delivery place a significant strain on the muscles and tissues of the pelvic floor, which support the expansion of the uterus, bladder, and bowel. Extended periods of labour, large babies, multiple pregnancies, and challenging deliveries can diminish these support systems even further. When a woman's pelvic floor weakens, her pelvic organs, such as the bladder, uterus, or rectum, may shift downward into the vaginal canal, leading to pelvic organ prolapse.

Why The Condition Often Goes Unnoticed

Pelvic Organ Prolapse tends to develop gradually, making its symptoms easy to ignore. Many women think bladder leakage, pelvic heaviness, or discomfort are all part of postpartum recovery, and so do not talk about them because they are embarrassed or unaware. Many new mothers also sacrifice their own health in favor of baby care, pushing off seeking medical care until symptoms start interfering with everyday life.

Signs your body may still be recovering:

• Pressure or heaviness in the pelvic area
• Urinary leakage when coughing, sneezing, or exercising
• Constipation or pains in the bowel
• Difficulty emptying the bladder completely
• Pain in the lower back and/or in the pelvis
• Sense of “something coming down” vaginally

How To Aid Postnatal Pelvic Recovery

• Practice gentle Kegel exercises to strengthen pelvic floor muscles
• Start light movement, such as short walks and gentle stretching
• Maintain proper posture while sitting, standing, and breastfeeding
• Avoid heavy lifting and high-impact exercises in the initial recovery phase
• Stay hydrated and consume a nutrient-rich diet to support tissue healing
• Get adequate rest and sleep for overall recovery
• Consult a doctor if experiencing urinary leakage, pelvic pain, or heaviness for a prolonged period.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse is common, treatable, and manageable, but many women quietly navigate suffering since these conversations are rarely had publicly. Early detection of the symptoms and support to overcome these can greatly enhance longer-term recovery and quality of life postpartum.

Maternity wards across large Indian cities are witnessing a troubling shift. Doctors note that while having a baby is a happy time, the medical challenges are mounting. Families usually step into a clinic expecting a smooth and joyous nine months.

Yet, the medical realities behind the scenes are getting tougher. Just look at the numbers from the National Family Health Survey-5. Practically half of all pregnancies, 49.4% to be exact, now carry some degree of medical risk. Things look even bleaker in the cities.

A recent 2026 study from Mumbai’s urban pockets found that 56.5% of expecting mothers fell right into the high-risk bracket. Better hospitals are everywhere in cities, sure. The reality is that city life brings intense daily stress, and this directly impacts maternal health.

A pregnancy is classified as high risk when medical complications threaten the mother or the baby. Doctors in busy urban setups are treating far more lifestyle diseases now. Blood pressure issues, high blood sugar during pregnancy, thyroid problems, and weight gain are extremely common.

Add to this the fact that many couples now delay parenthood. Older maternal age naturally invites more complications. Regular check-ups also expose a lot of cases with low haemoglobin levels, along with complications from previous C-section surgeries.

Spotting Red Flags

Identifying danger signs early saves lives. Obstetricians constantly drill one rule into the minds of families: never ignore the red flags. If a patient notices any vaginal bleeding or pain, they must go to the casualty ward immediately.

Pre-eclampsia remains a major threat. This happens when blood pressure spikes dangerously. Symptoms of the situation include severe head pain, blurred eyesight, and sudden swelling on the face or hands. Other major red flags are a decrease in fetal movement, continuous vomiting, high temperature, or breathing difficulty. Families must not wait for the next scheduled clinic visit. They must call a 108 or 102 ambulance right away.

Timely medical tracking changes the entire outcome. Regular antenatal check-ups help doctors intercept problems long before an emergency room is needed. The government has put serious weight behind this effort.

India’s Declining Maternal Mortality Ratio

Through the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), doctors have screened upwards of 6.19 crore pregnant women. They use a very practical system. A glance at a medical file tells the story. A Red sticker means high risk and demands strict monitoring, while a Green one means low risk. They do not just stop at birth, either.

The extended e-PMSMA initiative keeps tabs on new mothers for a full 45 days postpartum to block any late-stage complications.

There is a definite silver lining here. India’s maternal mortality ratio has dropped significantly. It currently sits at 88 deaths for every 100,000 live births, driven heavily by the push for hospital deliveries with trained medical staff.

The core advice from the medical community remains clear-cut. Get the pregnancy registered as early as possible. Do not skip doctor visits. Four is the absolute minimum, though eight is much better.

Expectant mothers must eat well to keep iron levels up and always stay alert for danger signs. A high-risk label sounds scary, but it really just means the medical team and the family need to sync up a bit more closely to ensure a safe, healthy baby.

World Thalassemia Day is observed every year on May 8 to raise awareness about the inherited blood disorder caused by faulty genes.

The day was initiated in 1994 by the Thalassaemia International Federation in memory of George Englezos, the son of the federation’s founder, who succumbed to the disease.

This year’s theme, “Together for Better Care and Equal Access,” highlights the need for universal screening, safe blood availability, and advanced therapies.

The disorder, which often requires blood transfusions every fortnight, affects approximately 1.3 million people living with severe forms of thalassemia worldwide. About 1.5 percent of the global population is carriers, and the disease claims nearly 11,000 lives annually.

More than 40,000 infants are born each year with severe thalassemia, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries. Although mortality rates have declined, they remain high in developing regions, particularly in Southeast Asia.

What Is Thalassemia?

Thalassemia is an inherited hemoglobin disorder caused by defective synthesis of alpha or beta globin chains.

In β-thalassemia major, reduced or absent beta-chain production leads to ineffective erythropoiesis, severe anemia, bone marrow expansion, splenomegaly, growth retardation, and iron overload due to repeated blood transfusions.

Patients often present in early childhood with pallor, jaundice, recurrent infections, and characteristic facial bone deformities.

Thalassemia Screening

With 10,000–15,000 babies born with Thalassemia Major every single year in India, the country remains one of the global hotspots for the blood transfusion-dependent disease.

HealthandMe spoke to doctors who emphasized that carrier screening, premarital counseling, and antenatal diagnosis remain crucial preventive strategies in India, often referred to as the “thalassemia capital of the world”, as nearly one in every eight thalassemia patients globally lives in the country.

Experts stressed that normalizing conversations around screening is key to reducing the disease burden.

Dr. Ajay Sharma, Director and Head of Hematology and Hemat-Oncology at Paras Health Panchkula, said thalassemia is a preventable genetic disorder, but continues to go undetected until it is too late.

This is because “thalassemia screening, which is one of the simplest yet most overlooked preventive steps in India,” said Dr. Vishnu Hari, Associate Director and Head of Haematology & BMT at Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad.

“Every couple, especially those planning marriage or pregnancy, should undergo basic carrier screening. The challenge is not the availability of tests, but the lack of awareness and social hesitation around genetic conditions,” Dr. Hari said.

Also read: Reused Syringes Infect Over 330 Children in Pakistan With HIV: Report

When To Get Screened?

Screening should ideally be done early, as early detection helps informed decision-making and prevents severe health complications in children. Experts recommend screening:

• At the premarital stage
• At the start of pregnancy

What Will the Screening Find?

Carrier detection is possible with a complete blood count and a test called High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Indicators include:

• Low haemoglobin (~9 g/dL)
• Low MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume, ~65)
• HbA2 levels above 3.5%

“If both partners are carriers, timely genetic counselling during the antenatal phase becomes critical,” he said.

While cultural stigma and low prioritization of preventive healthcare often delay this step, the integration of routine thalassemia screening into premarital check-ups and early pregnancy care can help significantly reduce the number of affected births in India.

What Could Be Done To Manage Thalassemia?

Dr Parveen Yograj, a General Surgeon from Jammu, in a post on the social media platform X, shared that treatment for thalassemia has evolved remarkably over recent decades.

“Regular blood transfusions combined with iron chelation therapy using agents like Deferasirox and Deferiprone have significantly improved survival. Curative therapy through bone marrow transplantation is now increasingly successful, especially in children with matched donors.

"Recent breakthroughs in gene therapy and CRISPR-based genome editing offer new hope for a long-term cure by correcting defective globin gene expression,” he said.