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.

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.

Public health officials in South Wales, UK, have issued an alert on a localized outbreak of hepatitis A, and have urged residents to maintain hygiene as well as vaccinate children.

Cases of hepatitis A involving the same strain have been identified in three separate households in Barry, according to Public Health Wales.

The health body, in a statement, said the strain’s characteristics “suggest the infection may be spreading locally.” Investigations into the “small number” of cases are ongoing.

To curb the outbreak, the officials have also issued an urgent appeal to parents to ensure their children remain “vigilant with their handwashing.”

Those infected are “receiving appropriate care and are recovering well,” Public Health Wales said. As a precaution, close contacts of the affected individuals have also been offered vaccination.

What Is Hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is a viral liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It spreads mainly through contaminated food or water, or through close personal contact with an infected person.

The infection can lead to liver inflammation, jaundice, extreme fatigue, and stomach pain. In most cases, it is a short-term illness that clears on its own without specific treatment, although severe cases can occur. Unlike hepatitis B or C, hepatitis A does not usually cause long-term liver damage.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent infection.

Also read: Hepatitis Infections Claims 1.3 Million Lives Worldwide, India Among Top Contributors: WHO

Symptoms of Hepatitis A

Symptoms usually appear a few weeks after exposure to the virus, although some people may not develop noticeable signs. According to the Cleveland Clinic, symptoms can include:

• Persistent fatigue and weakness
• Sudden nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Pain or discomfort in the upper right side of the abdomen near the liver
• Pale or clay-colored stools
• Reduced appetite
• Mild fever
• Dark-colored urine
• Joint pain
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Severe itching

Can Hepatitis A Be Prevented?

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“The best way to prevent the spread of hepatitis A is to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water. This is important after using the toilet, changing nappies, and before preparing or eating food,” said Susan Mably, Consultant in Health Protection for Public Health Wales.

Vaccination against hepatitis A is also highly effective in preventing the disease.

Doctors recommend the vaccine for:

• Children older than 12 months
• Adults at risk of exposure at home or work
• Travelers visiting regions where the virus is more common
• People with existing liver conditions

• drinking boiled or bottled water,
• avoiding food from unhygienic sources,
• peeling fruits at home and not getting pre-cut from stores.

If someone in the household is infected, cleanliness becomes even more important. Surfaces should be disinfected, food prepared carefully, and personal items not shared.

Safe sexual practices also matter, as the virus can spread through oral-anal contact. On a broader level, preventing future outbreaks requires more than short-term fixes. Improving water quality, repairing sewage systems, and strengthening public health surveillance are essential to stop the cycle from repeating.

The rates of resistance to recommended antibiotics are rising among newborns in the US, according to an analysis of invasive Escherichia coli samples.

E coli is a major neonatal pathogen in the United States and a leading cause of sepsis and mortality in newborns.

“Mortality due to E. coli sepsis remains high, especially in preterm newborns. Resistance to beta-lactams and aminoglycosides, the most common empiric treatments for E. coli sepsis, is worsening,” said researchers from the University of Missouri.

They called for tailoring treatment regimens against neonatal E. coli sepsis according to evolving antibiotic resistance trends.

“Neonatal sepsis isolates are characterized by specific genomic traits indicative of virulent phenotypes that need continued surveillance,” they added in the research published in the Open Forum Infectious Diseases journal.

What Are the Key Findings?

The researchers identified and analyzed E coli isolated from blood cultures of newborns at the hospital from 2006 to 2021. They intended to investigate the clinical characteristics of newborns with E coli bacteremia (bacteria in the blood), and the pattern of antibiotic resistance in E coli isolates over time.

“This knowledge is crucial to develop effective preventative and treatment strategies for this devastating disease,” the researchers wrote.

Of the 54 newborns identified with E coli bacteremia

• 7 developed early-onset sepsis (within 72 hours of birth or less),
• 12 were treated for E coli meningitis,
• 2 had necrotizing enterocolitis.
• Five of the newborns died, including three who were born preterm.

Antibiotic susceptibility analysis found 54 per cent of E coli isolates overall were non-susceptible to ampicillin and 11 per cent were non-susceptible to gentamicin—the two antibiotics recommended for first-line treatment in newborns with sepsis.

Also read: US CDC Links Recent Salmonella Outbreak To Backyard Poultry

Meanwhile, nonsusceptibility to ampicillin rose from 46 per cent to 61 per cent between 2006-2013 and 2014-2021.

The percentage of isolates that were non-susceptible to cefazolin, an alternative therapy, rose from 8 per cent to 36 per cent.

Whole genome sequencing revealed that the most prominent E coli sequence types (STs) were

• ST95 (17 per cent),
• ST69 (11 per cent),
• ST131 (7 per cent),
• 43 per cent of isolates contained the K1 capsule, which plays a crucial role in disease progression.

“Understanding genomic traits and molecular epidemiology trends of neonatal E. coli invasive strains is also crucial to develop novel preventative and treatment strategies that are urgently needed,” they wrote.

What Is Antibiotic Resistance?

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According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria learn to withstand the medicines(antibiotics) that are supposed to kill them. It's like the bacteria have developed a suit of armor against the drug.

When this happens, doctors have to switch to different antibiotics. These backup medicines might not work as well or might cause more side effects. Sometimes, a bacteria can become resistant to all available drugs, which leaves the patient with a dangerous infection that doctors have no way to treat. The alarming thing is that these tough, drug-resistant bacteria can spread from one person to another, both in hospitals and at home.

A 2025 report from the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that one out of every six serious infections confirmed in labs worldwide in 2024 could not be killed by the antibiotics meant to treat them.

The report noted that the standard, first-choice antibiotic is failing against over 40 per cent of E. coli.