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Viral photo shows how different each pregnancy is

Chontel Duncan <i>(Photo via Instagram)</i>
Chontel Duncan (Photo via Instagram)

If you’ve ever been pregnant then you know it affects your body in more ways than one. And if you’ve ever been pregnant at the same time as a friend, there’s no easier way to confirm that every body is different. Pregnancy can do a lot of weird things to the body, from nausea to a changing complexion, some reap the rewards of the “pregnancy glow” while others struggle to leave the house due to morning sickness and swollen body parts.

One fitness blogger took to social media to highlight how different pregnancies can affect your body. Despite being the same person who gave birth to her first child, her body has reacted completely differently to the second. Chontel Duncan recently shared an image of her feet to make the pregnancy comparison more real.

“Creating foot phobias all around the world with this post but this is the raw truth on how bad my fluid got towards the end of my first pregnancy. Second time around I have done nothing different but have absolutely no fluid retention,” she wrote.

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While the image is a simple side-by-side, the photos show two very different realities. Followers of the fitness blogger are praising Duncan for illustrating the difference for others who may not understand – or who may have lost hope.

“You gave me hope for my second pregnancy! My first looked just like yours… fluid for days and so painful at the end,” commented one follower.

“I’m the same! This time around with number one I was swelling like crazy. Number two is treating me so well, though feeling a lot more movement too,” added another.

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With more than 14,000 likes and 600 comments, Duncan’s post is resonating with women across the internet. Comments on her photo confirm that swelling during pregnancy is more common than you may think. The swelling, or edema, is a result of the body producing 50 per cent more blood and body fluids to help grow the baby, according to the American Pregnancy Organization.

If you’re pregnant and noticing swelling in areas besides the feet, fret not, it’s perfectly normal to experience these symptoms in your hands, legs, face and ankles. This extra fluid gives room for the baby to expand as it grows.

Duncan gave birth to her second baby last week, relieving the blogger from her swelling, and more importantly, introducing double the amount of love to her new life as a mom of two.

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