Credit: Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. "It's considered cosmetic and nothing that is worrisome," says Dr. Tollefson. What Causes the Linea Nigra During Pregnancy? Can I prevent the linea nigra from appearing during pregnancy? The pregnancy line that forms on women stomach is a natural faction of pregnancy that cannot be treated or avoided. What you can do about the linea nigra during pregnancy.

| The linea nigra is a latin term which literally translates to ‘black line’, and describes the dark vertical line which so often appears on the abdomen of pregnant women. Anxiously awaiting your baby’s arrival? Watch all episodes of our Stay Calm Mom video series and follow along as our host Tiffany Small talks to a diverse group of women and top doctors to get real answers to the biggest pregnancy questions. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. When sex coincides with your most fertile ovulation days, you'll increase the chances of conceiving. There are so many old wives tales out there about how to find out the gender of your baby, and the linea nigra is definitely one of them. If you really want to get rid of linea nigra, Dr. Sheth says you may use bleaching creams after delivery if you're formula-feeding, or you could try a fade cream or topical retinol. According to OB-GYN Michelle Tollefson, M.D., an assistant professor in the department of health professions, integrative therapies program at Metropolitan State College of Denver, linea nigra often appears in the second trimester and persists throughout pregnancy.

"Some women say the acids help fade hyperpigmentation," Dr. Sheth says.

Parenting is so much easier with good pals. Whether or not you have a linea nigra is not a way to determine whether someone is pregnant. Am I pregnant?

The specific cause of the linea nigra is unknown, but it is believed to be related to the changing hormones or the imbalance of hormones as a result of your developing baby. If the line continues to the bottom of your rib cage, then you are having a boy. One old wives' tale says that you only develop a pregnancy line when you are pregnant with a boy. Print our free Thanksgiving coloring pages to keep kids of all ages entertained this November. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Women of all different skin colors are affected, although linea nigra can be more pronounced in women with fair skin. A dark, vertical line on your stomach is called a linea nigra.

Early signs and symptoms of pregnancy, Home births, hospital births and birthing centres: Your options explained, When will I ovulate?

That is only a myth. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. This website uses cookies to improve your experience.

Fair-skinned women show this phenomenon less often than women with darker pigmentation.

The line often shows up around the fifth month of pregnancy. Doctors warn against using medications or lotions on it. Johnson, Robert V. The brownish streak is usually about a centimeter (0.4 in) in width.

doi:10.4103/0019-5154.147782. Typically about one centimeter in width, the line usually starts at the pubic bone and continues up to the belly button, though it can extend to just below the breast in some cases. Designs include cornucopias, corn stalks, and turkeys! American Pregnancy Association. Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Feeling pain in your lower abdomen or feeling like your stomach is hard or swollen is not an early sign of pregnancy.

What causes the linea nigra to appear during pregnancy? Known as the linea nigra, hormones could trigger this skin change, which may accompany darkening of the areolas super early in your pregnancy. That's your linea nigra, and it was actually always there — it just gets a bit darker when you're expecting. It's totally normal while expecting, and it lingers after you give birth.

The pregnancy line is never really black, however, it is brownish and darker in color.

Here's what you need to know about this common condition.

During the time of conception, the fertilization takes place in the follicle tube. © 2020 Everyday Health, Inc. It was in this time that baby would instinctively shimmy up the belly, nuzzling to find the breast.

One theory is that the hormones cause your body to produce larger amount of melanin (a compound responsible for giving your skin pigment), and this extra pigmentation shows up as a dark pregnancy line on your stomach. ‘Some women get darker patches on the forehead or cheeks, if this is the case ensure you protect your skin from the sun.’. It’s all down to hormones.

Or could be a sign of hormonal imbalance, genetic disease, cancer, inflammation and even fungal infection.

However, there isn't really anything that you can or should do to make it go away, short of giving birth.

The linea nigra is a latin term which literally translates to ‘black line’, and describes the dark vertical line which so often appears on the abdomen of pregnant women.

The line runs vertically along the midline of the abdomen from the pubis to the umbilicus, but can also run from the pubis to the top of the abdomen. The brownish streak is usually about a centimeter (0.4 in) in width. Find a chore your kid loves to do, and start a habit of wanting to help out that'll last a lifetime. National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine.

What Is the Dark Line on My Pregnant Belly?

Although linea nigra is rarely discussed outside pregnancy, males and females of all ages may have it.

Learn to recognize the first signs of labor approaching, which signal that your little one might make an appearance soon.

:(But it's a beautiful thing, I loved both of mine completely! From new classics like Noah to tried-and-true faves like Ava, here are the top boy and girl names of the year so far, plus more naming trends to consider.

Women pregnant with girls also develop a pregnancy line. It is possible that the line may have previously been there, however, because it was so light in color in went unnoticed. The line runs vertically along the midline of the abdomen from the pubis to the umbilicus, but can also run from the pubis to the top of the abdomen. (1994). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

If you want a natural approach, try applying a little lemon juice to your skin.

The placenta may release a hormone that stimulates melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin to pigment your skin or give you a suntan. It can form when you are not pregnant, even in men.

It’s estimated that around 75 per cent of pregnant women will experience some evidence of linea nigra.

Hassan I, Bashir S, Taing S. A clinical study of the skin changes in pregnancy in kashmir valley of north India: a hospital based study.

It is a natural part of pregnancy. Top 5 Mom Friend Problems—And How to Fix Them, Your Chances of Getting Pregnant Every Day of the Month, Signs of Approaching Labor: How to Tell Your Baby is Coming Soon, These Are the Most Popular Baby Names of 2020, How to Deal With Bullies: A Guide for Parents, 17 Budget-Friendly Kids’ Birthday Party Ideas, All About Coronavirus COVID-19: A Concerned Parent's Guide, 15 Free Printable Thanksgiving Coloring Pages, 6 Postpartum Body Problems—And How to Fix Them. You develop a dark vertical line below your belly button.

These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. All about linea nigra", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Linea_nigra&oldid=982800114, Pathology of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 10 October 2020, at 12:21.

It is possible that the line may have previously been there, however, because it was so light in color in went unnoticed. Health information on this site is based on peer-reviewed medical journals and highly respected health organizations and institutions including ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), as well as the What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff. "Stay away from bleaching creams, as they often contain hydroquinone, which has not been proven safe to use if you are pregnant or nursing," says Vaneeta Sheth, M.D., an associate physician and instructor in dermatology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

It’s a rollercoaster of emotions for women, and your body is going through so many weird and wonderful changes. Everything you need to thrive at home as a family. Curious which baby names stole the show this year?

But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Please whitelist our site to get all the best deals and offers from our partners. Caring for a baby with a wet or dry cough? This line is probably caused by hormones in your body that change during pregnancy, although the exact cause is unknown. Chalk it up to evolution.

There is nothing you can do to prevent the pregnancy line.

So wear clothing over as much of your body as possible, and slather any skin that is exposed in sunscreen. Read our, Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD, MS, FACOG, Medically reviewed by Andrea Chisholm, MD, Medically reviewed by Leigh Raviv, WHNP-BC. In the meantime, try to embrace it as just one more thing that makes your growing bump beautiful.