Skin and weight

placeholding invisible text

Average rating:

Skin

Some women find that their skin positively 'glows' in pregnancy. But others discover that they have spots for the first time in years, or their skin becomes really dry.

Around 90% of women find that the pigmentation in their skin increases during pregnancy which, for some, means the colour of their freckles becomes more pronounced, while others develop the 'butterfly mask of pregnancy', or chloasma. This is when the skin develops a brownish stain, usually across the nose and cheeks. But rest assured that it fades after the birth.

Many women also develop a brown line that stretches from the pubic area to the navel. This is called the linea negra and will fade after your baby is born, although it never disappears completely.

Weight

Women vary hugely in how much weight they put on in pregnancy - the average is 9-13.5kg (20-30lb). The most important thing is that you eat a healthy, balanced diet.

Some mums-to-be have no appetite in the first three months, due to sickness, while others feel constantly hungry as their metabolism increases because the body is working harder to provide for their growing baby.

You'll probably notice a dramatic increase in the size of your breasts, too. They'll grow throughout pregnancy, but the biggest changes will be in the first three months. They'll probably feel more sensitive, lumpy and the colour around the nipple (areola) will darken, too.