We hear a lot about the less than wonderful side effects of pregnancy - from morning sickness to cravings to the pain and trauma of labour itself.
Let's face it, women go through a lot in order to welcome a child into the world.
But in a rather heartwarming Twitter thread, one woman asked fellow mums to share some of the positives of their pregnancy journeys, in a bid to reassure herself (and others) that it wasn't all that bad.
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Alongside a meme of a woman looking stressed, the Twitter thread began: "Can y'all post some positives about pregnancy because..."
Gushing about everything from hair growth to increased sex drive to growth in self-confidence, tonnes of proud parents were quick to flip the often gloomy narrative and share their positive experiences of the nine-months they spent as a mum-to-be.
"My hair grew, my skin became very clear & has stayed clear..," one woman wrote.
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"I didn't get my period for two years because I breastfed, sex is out of this world when you're pregnant. . Also the whole world is extra kind to you for like two years."
While everyone's experiences vary, it's common for women's periods to stop for three to six months or longer when they're breastfeeding, and they obviously don't have periods while pregnant either, providing a welcome break from the cramps and the bleeding that many of us have to go through.
Another woman agreed: "Its the no period for 2 years for me..."
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"Have to second this! No period for a year [and] really was/is totally a welcomed flex!," a third woman chimed in.
"Added to that is the ethereal reality of caring another person and therefore never being alone, feeling the baby's movements sometimes like a flutter or a sudden jolt is a sense second to none".
She wasn't the only one who talked about the unspeakable mood boost and bonding experience that comes after feeling your baby kick and move about when pregnant.
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"The bond baby... the bond...especially in your stomach, that's a whole best friend you can talk to about anything and they 100% there for you," someone else wrote.
As a fellow mum concurred: "Feeling them kick and move around is crazy! Sometimes it hurt but when they start reacting your voice, it's truly magical."
Hair growth was another positive tonnes of mums were quick to agree on.
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"Now my hair grew like a weed!!! Omg! I'm dealing with a little postpartum shedding but my hair is so thick you can't tell and the length has definitely stayed. Skin on 10 and I'm more confident than I've ever been," said one.
Thicker locks are common in pregnancy as the hormones you're releasing - like oestrogen - mean that your hair follicles remain in the anagen stage of your hair cycle (where they are active) for longer, which results in less shedding and more growth.
Meanwhile, clear skin was another bonus for some - also a result of the same pregnancy hormones as well as increased cell turnover and blood flow, which gives that pregnancy 'glow'.
"I can relate to this clear skin part, cos my skin suddenly became clear and I was literally glowing. Like what!!!.. I've suffered acne my whole life. Then boom! all cleared miraculously.and within a month too!," another mum wrote.
"Had THEE best skin of my life when I was pregnant, I still miss that lol," another concurred.
As with all these symptoms, clear skin isn't something all expectant mums experience - in fact, some suffer from quite the opposite, because of excess sebum production - it just goes to show how differently all our bodies react!
One mum who was lucky enough to have experiences all of the positives listed above shared her story on Twitter too, adding that the kindness of strangers also didn't go un-noticed.
"My skin was glowing, my nails and hair grew long and strong, no period for 2 yrs coz of breastfeeding, strangers were SUPER nice to me it was like wearing a birthday badge everyday lol got a little person who loves me more than anyone in this world, I'm sure even my mum can't pass," she wrote.
Meanwhile, fellow mums also said that pregnancy helped them to grow as a person, and increased their self worth.
"The sickness & difficulty helped me to develop a deep understanding of my ability to fight through everything. I feel my most powerful, alive & sexy while pregnant," one woman said.
"Going through the hardships of pregnancy brought about a new found confidence for me. I survived one of the hardest things any human can endure! No one can take that power from me! Or deny its significance! Especially no man!," said another.
The main bonus is you get a baby at the end, of course!
"There is absolutely nothing like the overwhelming feeling of love and happiness when your child first enters the world," one mum encouraged.
Naturally, everyone reacts to pregnancy differently, but we think hearing about some of the good stuff that some people went through is a welcome change.
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Topics: Pregnancy, maternity, Life, health news, Parenting, Twitter