Strange as it sounds, your vagina can turn bluish during pregnancy because of your body’s increased blood flow. This can happen as early as six weeks into getting pregnant. However, it’s not permanent: Your vagina will go back to its original colour shortly after you give birth.

The skin on your belly stretches quickly during pregnancy, which can make it dry, itchy, and often uncomfortable. This also leads to the dreaded stretch marks. Try taking cooler showers to relieve itching, and apply moisturising creams or oils to nourish your skin.

Some women have a dark line known as the ‘pregnancy line’ or ‘linea nigra’ down the middle of their tummies, running from the navel to the pubic bone. The area darkens during pregnancy, and is related to changing hormones. After birth, it gradually fades away – but may reappear during your next pregnancy.

Who would’ve thought your upcoming baby could cause you to have stinky breath? Hromonal changes can cause bacteria in the mouth to become overgrown, resulting in bad breath or worse, bleeding gums. Pregnant women are more prone to dental health issues, so have regular check-ups at your dentist’s and make sure you’re taking good care of your teeth.

Pregnant women often report having thicker, more lustrous hair: A result of increased male hormones from your ovaries and placenta. However, hair can also show up in unwanted places, like your chest, face, tummy and arms. Not to worry, though: This usually goes away after birth. 

Swollen feet are a common symptom of pregnancy – all that water retention means your feet will increase in size, to the point where you may need new shoes. For some women, their feet go back to their regular size after birth, but for some, their feet stay permanently bigger. Take this as a great excuse to treat yourself to some new shoes!

Heartburn, or acid reflux, is a fiery sensation that runs from the bottom of the breastbone to your lower throat. It happens to pregnant women when the hormone progesterone relaxes the valve that separates the esophagus from the stomach, which can make gastric acid seep back upwards, causing a burning sensation in your throat and chest. 

You can relieve heartburn by eating smaller meals, reducing your intake of spicy, carbonated, oily and fatty foods, and drinking plenty of water. Cheming gum also helps to stimulate saliva production, which neutralises acid. 

As your estrogen and progesterone hormones increase during pregnancy, your vocal cords could swell, changing your voice. Pregnant women may have raspier voices, and sometimes lose their ability to sing high notes, though they may find they are able to sing notes in a lower range. 

With a baby and placenta resting against your bladder, mums-to-be are constantly on the verge of peeing – which means any slight stimulation, like laughing or sneezing, can cause them to pee a little. Though this can feel embarassing, don’t worry: It’s often a very tiny amount, and you can wear pantyliners to absorb the pee discreetly. Doing kegel exercises daily will also help to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, which prevent pee from leaking out. Contract your pelvic floor muscles for 3 seconds, and rest for 3 seconds, and do three sets of 10 kegels three times a day.

Memory loss is a common side effect of pregnancy, jokingly referred to as “baby brain”. Some theorise that a woman’s brain works differently when pregnant, but fatigue and stress from pregnancy can also compromise memory. 

Bigger, fuller breasts can be a perk of pregnancy – but they can also make you feel uncomfortable and tingly. Your breasts’ milk ducts are growing in preparation for breastfeeding, and blood supply to your bosom is increasing, making your veins there look more prominent.

During pregnancy, your nipples change shape and start to look more prominent and erect, in preparation for breastfeeding. You may also notice “bumps” on your nipples, which are actually Montgomery glands which protect the area from infection, and help prepare the skin for breastfeeding. The diameter of your aerolas will also increase, and the skin around them will get darker so your newborn can later spot your nipple easily when he breastfeeds.