What does the black line on the belly mean during pregnancy?

If you are currently pregnant, have you noticed black lines appearing on your belly? In medical language, this line is called the linea nigra. Actually, what does this black line mean when pregnant and why does it appear?

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What is the linea nigra line?

The linea nigra is the black line that appears on the stomach during pregnancy. That is why, the linea nigra is also known as the pregnancy line.

Although this black line does not always appear during pregnancy, generally about 90% of women who have or are pregnant have it, reports UT Southwestern Medical Center.

The linea nigra is a dark, black line that usually appears in the middle when the stomach begins to grow in size.

The location of this pregnancy line extends from the navel to the pubic area with a width of about 0.6-1.3 centimeters (cm).

Due to its central position, this pregnancy line is also considered the meeting point of the connective tissue of the abdominal muscles.

Linea nigra can be said to be one of the body changes signs of pregnancy even though it doesn't appear as early as pregnancy morning sickness.

However, the linea nigra usually begins to appear from the first trimester of pregnancy, or to be precise around the age of 5 months of gestation.

In fact, this black line may have appeared on your stomach since before pregnancy.

However, before pregnancy, the color of this line tends to be lighter or paler, resembling the skin color called linea alba.

The bright line color usually makes you less aware of it. Until then, this line turns darker during pregnancy called the linea nigra.

What causes the linea nigra line to appear?

The Linea nigra isn't actually completely black in color, but it looks brown and tends to be darker.

The cause of the linea nigra is not certain. However, the appearance of a black line on the stomach is believed to be related to hormonal changes during pregnancy.

The increase in the hormones progesterone and estrogen is one of the causes for the appearance of this black line.

Quoting from DermNet NZ, the hormones estrogen and progesterone stimulate melanocytes to produce melanin.

Melanin is a color pigment that makes skin darken. In addition, melanin also makes the discoloration around the nipples (areola) darker.

Pregnant women with dark skin tones usually have a linea nigra line with a darker color than pregnant women with lighter colored skin.

Is it normal to not have a linea nigra while pregnant?

As mentioned earlier, the linea nigra line is not always owned by pregnant women.

If your skin is white and even tends to be pale, this pregnancy line is usually not very clear.

However, it is important to understand that the absence of these black lines during pregnancy does not mean that there is something wrong with your body.

In fact, this black line cannot be used as a benchmark for problems or complications of pregnancy.

The appearance of this black line is just about how the pregnant woman's body responds to certain hormonal changes during pregnancy.

Do you need treatment if you have a linea nigra line?

Since the linea nigra is a normal, black line that appears on the stomach during pregnancy, there is no specific medical treatment to fade it.

Linea nigra is believed to have no adverse effects on pregnancy, both for the health of the pregnant woman's body and the development of the fetus in the womb.

It's just that exposure to direct sunlight risks causing the color of this pregnancy line to darken.

However, you are advised to take supplements or eat food sources of folic acid to disguise the slight appearance of the linea nigra.

Foods rich in folic acid, namely:

• Green leafy vegetables
• Orange
• Wheat bread
• Nuts
• Beef
• Dairy products

Mothers are usually advised to take folic acid before becoming pregnant and during pregnancy.

The main goal of drinking folic acid before and during pregnancy is to prevent birth defects in babies.

Can the linea nigra predict the gender of the baby?

The appearance of a black line on the stomach during pregnancy is often used as a benchmark or prediction of the gender of the baby to be born.

That said, if the line extends from the navel to the pubic bone, the sex of the baby is most likely a girl.

Meanwhile, if the line extends from the navel to the bottom of the ribs, the baby who will be born is likely to be a boy.

Not only that, but some say that if the linea nigra line appears, it means you are likely to have a baby boy.

However, these are all false pregnancy myths that you don't need to believe. The presence of a linea nigra line on the stomach during pregnancy cannot indicate the gender of the baby you are carrying.

Every pregnant woman has the same opportunity to give birth to a baby girl or boy later.

Can the linea nigra fade after childbirth?

The line on the stomach before pregnancy or the linea alba will later turn into a black line or linea nigra during pregnancy.

Again, the change in the color of the lines on the stomach is due to an increase in hormone levels which then affect the skin color pigment (melanin).

Well, after giving birth, hormone levels automatically return to normal so that the black line on the stomach that looks more real during pregnancy also fades slowly.

Yes, you don't need to worry because this line will disappear by itself approximately 3 months after giving birth, whether it's a normal delivery or a cesarean section.

However, there are some women with hyperpigmentation who will continue to have the linea nigra in the stomach.

When you get pregnant again later, these black lines can also appear again.