How pregnancy changes your body, and what usually recovers

Many people worry that pregnancy will change their body for good. Here’s what the NHS says about the changes it knows about, what tends to fade, and where to ask for personal advice.

Stretch marks

The NHS says stretch marks happen when the middle layer of skin (the dermis) becomes stretched and broken in places. Skin elasticity affects who gets them, and above-average weight gain in pregnancy raises the chance. After the birth they may become paler and less noticeable, but they probably won’t go away completely. The NHS says there is no reliable evidence that creams remove existing stretch marks, and the evidence on oils or creams for preventing them is limited. See stretch marks.

Skin colour

The NHS says your nipples and the skin around them may go darker, skin may darken in patches or all over, and moles, freckles and birthmarks can darken. These changes usually fade after the birth, although your nipples may stay slightly darker. See skin in pregnancy.

Hair

Hair can change in pregnancy and shed after the birth. See hair changes in pregnancy.

Your tummy, pelvic floor and posture

Your ligaments soften and your body changes to make room for your baby, which can affect your back and pelvis. See back pain in pregnancy. If you’re worried about changes after the birth, ask your midwife or GP, and see pelvic floor and diastasis recti after birth and self-care tips for postpartum mothers.

If you’ve had cosmetic surgery

Tell your midwife about any past surgery at your booking appointment, including breast implants or abdominal surgery. See your first midwife appointment. For silicone breast implants, the UK Teratology Information Service says studies do not suggest they harm a baby in the womb and extra monitoring is not expected to be needed. Implants can sometimes affect milk production, so speak to your doctor or midwife if that worries you. For other procedures, including tummy tucks or breast lifts, how pregnancy affects the result depends on the operation, so ask the surgeon who did it.

Body image

If you’re finding the changes hard, you’re not alone. Mention it to your midwife or GP. See anxiety, low mood and loneliness in pregnancy and body changes: the things they don’t tell you.

Questions people ask

Will my stretch marks fade?

The NHS says they may become paler and less noticeable but probably won’t go away completely.

Will cellulite go away?

Cellulite isn’t covered by the NHS pregnancy pages, and there’s no reliable evidence on whether it changes with pregnancy.

Will pregnancy ruin a tummy tuck or breast lift?

There’s no general answer. It depends on the procedure and your pregnancy, so ask your surgeon and tell your midwife about any past surgery.