Pregnancy Trivia… Because Life is About More Than Just the Facts!
Most of these are true, some are odd, many are unbelievable, and a few are completely made up. Can you tell the difference? Find out at the end of the quiz!
- A woman’s uterus expands to 500 times its normal size during pregnancy. (And men are proud of a simple erection!)
- If your baby is born in May, chances are it will weigh an average of 500 grams more than babies born in other months.
- Egyptians used (somehow!) crocodile dung as a contraceptive.
- Drinking the urine of a pregnant woman is said to strengthen the immune system. Any takers?
- The first test tube babies were born in 1981. Wonder where they are today?
- A pregnant woman’s sense of smell becomes nearly as acute as a dog’s.
- If either parent smokes at the time of conception, chances are you’re having a girl. Proof that males are the weaker sex?
- Tasting cervical mucus during ovulation can predict the baby’s sex. If it’s acidic or sour, it’s a girl. If it’s pH balanced… boy.
- Speaking of gender—it’s entirely determined by the sperm. The woman has nothing to do with determination of gender.
- A breech baby can cut off part of the intestine and stomach, making it impossible for the mother to keep food down. This usually resolves when the baby moves.
- In the U.S., about 4.25% of all women are pregnant at any given time.
- A pregnant woman’s daily caloric needs can be met by adding a 6-ounce yogurt and half a bagel.
- Cravings often reflect mineral deficiencies during pregnancy.
- Eating fish during the first trimester can increase a child’s IQ.
- Blood flow to the mouth increases during pregnancy.
- Many women lose one tooth per child in their lifetime.
- A woman’s feet typically grow by half a shoe size during pregnancy.
- Lactation can begin as early as the second trimester.
- Placing a radio between a woman’s legs when the baby is breech may help the baby turn, as they are drawn to the sound.
- It’s not sex that can trigger labor—it’s the semen.
- A woman’s voice can deepen during pregnancy due to testosterone.
- Most women experience significant hair loss three months after giving birth.
- The bladder can be compressed to the size of a pancake during pregnancy. Yes, *ouch*! Now you know why she’s always in the bathroom.
- Doctors sometimes use a crochet needle to break the water.
- Water breaks before contractions begin in only 12% of pregnancies—so don’t worry too much about it happening at dinner.
- The longest recorded pregnancy, according to *Time* magazine, lasted 341 days. The baby weighed only six pounds—someone’s got some explaining to do!
- Twins occur in about 1 in 20 pregnancies, but around three-quarters of pregnancies begin as twins. One “vanishes” within days of conception.
- 17% of mothers over 45 give birth to twins. (Maturity bonus?)
- Connecticut and Massachusetts residents have the highest rate of naturally conceived twins. Must be something in the water!
- Pregnancy can be contagious. A pregnant friend can trigger hormonal shifts in others, making them more fertile.
- The heaviest baby ever born weighed 23 pounds, 12 ounces. And you’re complaining?
- Newborns don’t have kneecaps.
- Breastfeeding a baby can reduce a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer.
- 42% of women secretly (not so secretly now!) worry about birth defects.
- Chocolate, potato chips, and tacos are the top three most craved foods during pregnancy, according to a 2008 survey.
- On average, a woman loses 13.5 pounds within an hour of delivery. (Woohoo!)
- Amniotic fluid has the same salt content as the ocean.
- A newborn’s skin can heal without scarring.
- Giving birth after 40 increases the chances of having a left-handed child by 127%.
- Pregnant women are 50 times more susceptible to sunburn.
- Sexual positions during conception may influence the baby’s gender.
The list of strange facts could go on forever. There’s a lot to learn about pregnancy—and realizing that humans have one of the longest gestation periods of any species can feel like life is unfair. While some of these facts are gross, others are fascinating, and many are just plain weird, here’s the kicker: every single one of them is true! (Well… at least to some extent.)
By the time you’re holding your own little newborn, chances are you’ll have your own bizarre, personal tidbit to add to the ever-growing collection of pregnancy trivia. Until then, remember this: when it comes to pregnancy, nothing is normal!
