Your voice becomes deeper, plus other unusual things that can happen during pregnancy

We've all heard of the cravings, but your voice dropping...?
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Edwina Langley1 June 2018

Some new mothers' voices become deeper by two decimals following pregnancy, a study conducted by the University of Sussex uncovered earlier this week.

Whilst only temporary, the research found that whilst some singers found their voices got lower when pregnant, they actually deepened the most after birth.

Dr Kasia Pisanski, the study's key researcher, hypothesised this might be down to the mother's desire to be more authoritative in their new role as parent, or it could simply be due to hormonal changes.

Either way, it's a change new mothers might not expect, which only begs the question: what else happens during (and after) pregnancy we don't know about? Sure, we've heard of the cravings, the bloating, the mood swings... but does anything else go on?

Unsurprisingly, yes! Here are four unexpected things that can happen to expectant and new mothers...

Itchy stomach

Find yourself constantly scratching your tum? This is quite common during pregnancy and is usually caused by higher levels of chemicals in the blood, such as hormones.

Wearing loose clothes can help stave off the itch, as can cool baths, applying moisturiser and steering clear of clothes made from synthetic materials.

However, an itchy stomach could also be caused by the liver condition intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). This requires medical attention, so make sure you get it checked out.

Pregnancy skincare products - in pictures

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Bad breath

Change in hormones during pregnancy can also cause more plaque to grow in your mouth. This can lead to bad breath and also inflammation (and later bleeding) of the gums.

Dental care is free during pregnancy in the UK - and up until one year after your due date - so take advantage of the dental services on offer, especially if you experience either of the above symptoms.

Metallic taste in your mouth

Senses are heightened during pregnancy, most people know that. Spicy foods - your beloved chicken korma - can become utterly repellent, whilst tea, coffee and onions might also find their way onto your 'keep away' list.

Some women also report a strange taste in their mouths, which they describe as metallic. Not very pleasant, no, but common all the same.

Skin and hair changes

During pregnancy, you may also notice your nipples, birth marks, moles, freckles, and even skin colour, darken.

Not only that, but you may grow more hair too and that on your head may become greasier.

Post-pregnancy, some women experience hair loss, but fear not, this can be just losing the extra hair grown in the lead up to birth.

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