What Is "Pregnancy Nose" And Is It A Real Thing?

What Is "Pregnancy Nose" And Is It A Real Thing?

During pregnancy, expectant mothers endure a wide range of symptoms ranging from swollen feet to pelvic pain. Some of the symptoms are well-known and talked about, while others are something moms learn about when they go through it for the first time.

As it turns out, some moms are trying to change that by taking to social media to share the less common pregnancy symptoms - like pregnancy nose - so future mamas can know what to expect.

Even celebrities have gotten in on the trend, including Chrissy Teigen who took to Twitter to share about her pregnancy nose, saying:

"d*mn my pregnancy nose is huge. my nose has its own bmi. how you gonna gain weight in your nose. this is fascinating."

https://twitter.com/chrissyteigen/status/991436104841637888/

On TikTok, people have gotten a lot of attention for talking about pregnancy nose. TikTok user @alexjoelenejacobson, for example, shared a video that garnered more than 1.4 million views.

In the video, she shows a before-and-during pregnancy face so you can see how large her nose got.

@alexjoelenejacobson # stitch with @savannalynnbeauty #greenscreen my big pregnant nose 😭😂 #pregnancy ♬ original sound - Alex

While some people are skeptical that pregnancy nose is real, experts are backing it up.

In an interview with TODAY, Angela Wilson-Liverman of Vanderbilt University Medical Center said, "Hormones of pregnancy — specifically estrogen — increase blood flow everywhere, but especially to mucus membranes of the body. So that increase in blood flow can cause swelling in those areas, or puffiness, which can make the nose appear larger on the outside."

Labor and delivery nurse Liesel Teen also offered an explanation about pregnancy nose on TikTok, explaining that your body produces more blood during pregnancy, which can lead to swelling.

@mommy.labornurse Pregnancy nose 101! 🤰👃 #pregnancynose ♬ original sound - Liesel Teen, L&D RN 👩‍⚕️

Many women are familiar with swelling of areas like the feet, but your face isn't immune!

Thankfully, if you experience pregnancy nose it won't last forever.

After pregnancy, your nose should return to its normal size so no need to worry. It's just another thing we go through for our kids.

Did you know about pregnancy nose? Have you experienced it for yourself? Let us know!

Malorie Thompson

Malorie works as a writer and editor in Northern California. She's passionate about food, conscious living, animal welfare, and conservation. She's worked with a variety of publications in different sectors but is happiest covering topics close to her heart. When not at her laptop, Malorie can be found enjoying picnics on the beach, hiking in the redwoods, and spending time with her rescue pup, Jax.

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