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26 August 2024 · Updated 11 October 2024

About Pregnancy Glow

Lexy Pacheco

Lexy Pacheco

Focused chiropractic DONA, certified doula

Reviewed by Lexy Pacheco

About Pregnancy Glow

What is pregnancy glow?

The sight of luminous, glowing skin on your face during pregnancy is known as pregnancy glow. It's a legitimate pregnancy symptom that gives some expectant mothers a "glowing" and flushed face.

You can be very sure that someone who says to you while you're pregnant—say something like, "You're glowing!"—is not just saying it to be nice. And sure, you might be so excited about your upcoming arrival that you can't stop smiling, which is undoubtedly adding to some of that glow, but there are also scientifically supported reasons why your skin might have a flushed pregnant glow to it.

What causes pregnancy glow?

Pregnancy glow is often attributed to happiness, but there are really a number of biological variables that play a role in glowing skin:

Surging hormones. The extra hormones produced during pregnancy, such as progesterone, estrogen, and hCG, can give your skin a flushed appearance, which adds to its radiance.

Increased blood flow. Your blood volume might rise up to 50% during pregnancy in order to support your growing fetus and your organs. A higher blood flow rate can give you more radiant skin. Additionally, some pregnant women have a tendency to have higher body temperatures, which can cause flushing.

More oil production. Pregnancy-related hormone shifts also cause your sebaceous glands to produce extra oil, which can give your face a radiant, healthy-looking appearance. 

When does pregnancy glow start and end?

Although the pregnancy glow doesn't always appear at first, the second trimester is when you could feel the most beautiful and start to notice your skin gleaming and flushed. The early pregnancy symptoms that could make you feel unpleasant and dull (like morning sickness and excessive fatigue) have usually started to slow up a bit, but there's still a lot going on with fluctuating hormone levels.

The postpartum glow is less erratic; it disappears once the baby is delivered, your hormones begin to stabilize, and your blood flow returns to its regular state.

Do all women get a pregnancy glow?

Regretfully, not every woman will have a glowing pregnancy. Every pregnant body is unique, and not everyone experiences the same pregnancy symptoms—both positive and negative—as is the case with most things pregnancy-related. While some ladies may notice a difference and have perfect, glowing skin, many will instead develop severe acne.

Remember that lacking the pregnant glow does not necessarily indicate a problem or a decrease in your inner light about your upcoming baby. Likewise, pregnancy glow doesn't provide any specific information about your pregnancy (such as the sex of your unborn child, for instance).

However, that doesn't mean your skin won't change in any way. In addition to aggravating pre-existing skin disorders, fluctuating hormone levels during pregnancy can also result in:

  • Acne during pregnancy
  • Rashes and itchy skin
  • Stretch marks
  • Melasma
  • Varicose veins

What is pregnancy glow?

The sight of luminous, glowing skin on your face during pregnancy is known as pregnancy glow. It's a legitimate pregnancy symptom that gives some expectant mothers a "glowing" and flushed face.

You can be very sure that someone who says to you while you're pregnant—say something like, "You're glowing!"—is not just saying it to be nice. And sure, you might be so excited about your upcoming arrival that you can't stop smiling, which is undoubtedly adding to some of that glow, but there are also scientifically supported reasons why your skin might have a flushed pregnant glow to it.

What causes pregnancy glow?

Pregnancy glow is often attributed to happiness, but there are really a number of biological variables that play a role in glowing skin:

Surging hormones. The extra hormones produced during pregnancy, such as progesterone, estrogen, and hCG, can give your skin a flushed appearance, which adds to its radiance.

Increased blood flow. Your blood volume might rise up to 50% during pregnancy in order to support your growing fetus and your organs. A higher blood flow rate can give you more radiant skin. Additionally, some pregnant women have a tendency to have higher body temperatures, which can cause flushing.

More oil production. Pregnancy-related hormone shifts also cause your sebaceous glands to produce extra oil, which can give your face a radiant, healthy-looking appearance. 

When does pregnancy glow start and end?

Although the pregnancy glow doesn't always appear at first, the second trimester is when you could feel the most beautiful and start to notice your skin gleaming and flushed. The early pregnancy symptoms that could make you feel unpleasant and dull (like morning sickness and excessive fatigue) have usually started to slow up a bit, but there's still a lot going on with fluctuating hormone levels.

The postpartum glow is less erratic; it disappears once the baby is delivered, your hormones begin to stabilize, and your blood flow returns to its regular state.

Do all women get a pregnancy glow?

Regretfully, not every woman will have a glowing pregnancy. Every pregnant body is unique, and not everyone experiences the same pregnancy symptoms—both positive and negative—as is the case with most things pregnancy-related. While some ladies may notice a difference and have perfect, glowing skin, many will instead develop severe acne.

Remember that lacking the pregnant glow does not necessarily indicate a problem or a decrease in your inner light about your upcoming baby. Likewise, pregnancy glow doesn't provide any specific information about your pregnancy (such as the sex of your unborn child, for instance).

However, that doesn't mean your skin won't change in any way. In addition to aggravating pre-existing skin disorders, fluctuating hormone levels during pregnancy can also result in:

  • Acne during pregnancy
  • Rashes and itchy skin
  • Stretch marks
  • Melasma
  • Varicose veins

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