As any mum will tell you, the human body can change hugely during pregnancy, from swollen ankles to stretch marks (which are all totally normal FYI).
But one video shared on TikTok has shocked women after it brought to light another change that can happen when they're expecting: chloasma.
TikToker @youngrebornmommy shared a video of her bump which had darkened during pregnancy, saying: "I didn't get no stretch [marks] during my pregnancy but my stomach did get really dark. Hopefully it [goes] back to its original colour."
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More than 6,000 commenters responded to the video, including lots of women who were confused that such a change could happen.
"Crazy! Is there a specific name for this?" one TikTok user asked.
"There's always something new I learn every week that makes me not want children," a second account said.
Some women commented that their stomachs also darked during and post-pregnancy but eventually went back to their regular shade.
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"It does go back to normal. Don't stress." a fellow user replied.
While another said: "It will go back. After my first child my belly was darker than the rest of my body. I also had a really dark brown line down the middle of my belly."
As it turns out this happens to be quite a common feature of pregnancy.
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Tyla spoke with Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy about chloasma who explained that the term specifically refers to skin pigmentation changes in pregnant women.
"Chloasma is described an excess accumulation of the skin pigment melanin. It's very common, with it occurring in 50 to 70 per cent of pregnant women," Dr Deborah says, adding that changes in hormones and exposure to the sun can lead to it developing.
The skin condition is not well understood, Dr Deborah adds, but it is more common in women with shades of brown skin. "Chloasma occurs most commonly in people who already have increased pigmentation in their skin."
Areas of the body that are exposed to the sun's UV rays can also be effected and become darker, "this directly triggers the production of melanin," Dr Deborah explained.
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Health Practitioner Tammy Richards, at the health dispensary brand PureOptical explained that skin darkening on the abdomen and stomach area is a "quite comment effect throughout pregnancy" due to hormonal changes, specifically melanin.
She said: "The condition is triggered by hormonal changes in the body during pregnancy, as when carrying a child, you produce greater levels of melanin, which is a natural component that the body creates that provides colour to skin, hair, and eyes."
Dr Deborah explained that chloasma usually fades and is not permanent: "Chloasma tends to fade over a period of months. Most cases are said to resolve within a year.
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"There is no absolute necessity to see the GP if you have chloasma, which is likely to fade after childbirth. However, if there is any doubt about the diagnosis, or it causing extreme distress, you should see your doctor.
"The important thing is to keep the affected area out of the sun, which means using a daily high factor sunscreen."
Featured Image Credit: @youngrebornmommy/TikTokTopics: Pregnancy, Life News, Life, Parenting, TikTok