Whether this is your first pregnancy or you've been through it before, there are always new things to learn. In this article, we'll share 8 surprising facts about pregnancy!
1. The longest pregnancy ⌛️
Did you know that the longest pregnancy lasted 398 days?
On average, a pregnancy lasts 273 days. But occasionally, women go beyond this time! This was the case in 1910 for Jacqueline Haddock, a 23-year-old British woman who had to wait nearly 398 days before giving birth—that's 13 months and 1 week!
2. The shortest pregnancy 🏃♀️
The shortest viable pregnancy lasted 21 weeks and 5 days!
On November 7, 2010, a German woman gave birth after only 21 weeks and 5 days of pregnancy. It was the world's most premature birth! The little girl measured 28 cm and weighed 460 g. After five and a half months in the clinic, she was able to leave the hospital, weighing 3.5 kg and measuring 50 cm. The clinic professor declared it a "miracle," as a child born before the 22nd week normally has no chance of survival due to the insufficient development of the heart, brain, and lungs.
3. Increased blood volume 🩸
During pregnancy, a pregnant woman's blood volume increases by about 50%!
Does that seem like a lot? It's necessary to meet all the fetus's needs during pregnancy!
4. Birth on the due date 📅
Did you know that only 5% of babies are born on their due date?
A pregnancy lasts an average of 280 days, or 40 weeks, and is considered "full-term" between 37 and 42 weeks. However, it is normal for it to last longer than 40 weeks. Pregnancy length can vary from woman to woman, and it is difficult to accurately determine the due date.
5. The uterus is a super muscle 💪
Did you know that the uterus is considered the most powerful muscle in the female body?
During pregnancy, the uterus can hold about 5 liters of blood and weigh up to 1 kg, or 20 times its initial weight. Normally, the uterus is only 7 to 9 cm long, 5 cm wide, 1.5 to 3 cm thick, and weighs on average between 50 and 60 g. It is composed largely of muscle tissue that allows for the evacuation of menstruation or the expulsion of the baby during childbirth.
6. Development of fingerprints ☝️
Baby's fingerprints begin to form as early as the 3rd month of pregnancy!
From the 10th week of pregnancy, papillary ridges begin to form on the fetus's fingers, which will determine the unique characteristics of fingerprints. These papillary ridges are formed by various genetic and environmental factors, giving each person a unique fingerprint.
7. The power of the placenta 🤰
Did you know that the placenta is the only organ that forms for a limited period and for a specific purpose and that the body rejects as soon as it has fulfilled its function?
It is formed from embryonic cells and cells of the uterine lining after implantation of the fertilized egg. It plays an essential role during pregnancy:
- It provides oxygen and nutrients to the baby while removing metabolic waste from the fetus.
- It filters pathogens to protect the fetus, although it cannot block certain harmful substances such as alcohol, nicotine or certain medications.
- By producing hormones, it ensures the proper progress of pregnancy and promotes acceptance of the fetus by the mother's immune system.
8. Fetal hearing👂
Hearing is the fetus's most acute sense!
During the womb, the fetus primarily hears its mother's sounds: your heartbeat, your breathing, and the sounds of your digestive organs. Around 5 or 6 months, the fetus begins to hear certain external sounds such as voices (intonations), music (especially bass), or white noise.
Studies have shown that babies can remember sounds frequently heard in the womb. Don't hesitate to talk to your baby or play music, for example!
Please feel free to share this article with other pregnant women!
And if you're bothered by your pregnancy symptoms, find our infusions right here, specially designed to relieve the ailments of pregnant women and new mothers 🫶