As all mums know, a body can change a lot when it’s hosting a baby. Not only is there a growing bump, but water and fluid retention can happen anywhere from fingers down to the toes. Then there are also things like stretch marks, morning sickness, shrinking bladders …

Of course, it’s all worth it. Most mums accept these discomforts as a consequence of bearing children that will hopefully look after them in their old age. But every pregnancy is different, and can come with its own unique set of ‘surprises’ – as Chrissy Teigen discovered this week.

The model and TV host, who is almost full-term with her second pregnancy and is already a mum to one-year-old Luna, shared a cute video of herself with husband John Legend:

baaaaaahahahaha pic.twitter.com/gvQULV0SHU

— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) May 1, 2018

Taking another look at the video a little later, the 32-year-old noticed her nose looked large – in comparison to usual appearance. She then jokingly tweeted:

damn my pregnancy nose is huge. my nose has its own bmi. how you gonna gain weight in your nose. this is fascinating

— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) May 1, 2018

Teigen’s questions are ones that pregnant mums all over the world have thought at some stage, because swelling of the nose during pregnancy is a common (and particularly mysterious) side effect of being “with child”. Other women responded to share their experiences, and were grateful to Teigen for raising a little-talked-about problem:

I am so glad you mentioned this because all the women in my family get the pregnancy nose so i literally thought it was hereditary lmao

— Malia????Laguisan (@mammaliaa) May 1, 2018

My nose got so big with each of my pregnancies I was surprised it didn’t end up with stretch marks lol

— Ani Lowe (@AniLowe) May 2, 2018

Pregnancy nose is real and people don’t speak of it enough. I was horrified!!

— Laura Lehman (@LA_Lehman) May 2, 2018

Apart talking about the usual places where swelling can occur, such as the breasts, feet and legs, commenters on Teigen’s post shared more unusual places that became swollen, such as their lips or even their ears.

Of course, Teigen looks as beautiful as ever, and was simply poking fun at her slightly altered appearance. But her post did raise the interesting point that while many pregnant mums do accept all these changes as part of the journey, why does nose – a part of the body that generally remains the same if it’s not traumatised – actually occur?

Well, the Women’s and Children’s Health Network, a website run by the South Australian government, says your nose can go a bit awry during pregnancy:

“Many women find their nose becomes blocked up and runny, and sometimes bleeds for no obvious reason. This is probably because of pregnancy hormones, which cause the delicate lining of the nose to soften and swell. It can start in the first few months, and last until your baby is born.

“If your nose does become blocked, try not to blow it too hard, as this can cause nosebleeds. Many over the counter cold medicines are not suitable to use during pregnancy but some nasal spray products may be useful (check with your pharmacist to see which are best during pregnancy). Saline drops or sprays which do not have any other chemicals in them are usually fine. Steam inhalations may help.”

Sami Lukis didn’t want a baby until she was told she couldn’t have one…

The answer is basically hormones and increased blood flow, all of which changes to help a baby grow in utero. It’s officially called “ pregnancy rhinitis “. The good news is that while it may be an uncomfortable condition, and an expecting mum might not be thrilled with her altered appearance, it should settle after a baby is delivered.

So it looks like Teigen unexpectedly highlighted an issue that women are quietly talking about – and made it relatable with her usual warmth and humour. Which is why we love her.

This article is general in nature and not to replace medical advice. If you have any concerns during pregnancy, please consult your GP.