The linea nigra is a dark line that appears on the belly during pregnancy due to an increase in melanin production. It is more common in women with darker skin and usually disappears after pregnancy. There is no evidence that it indicates the gender of the baby.
The linea nigra is a common pregnancy symptom that begins to show itself around the beginning of the second trimester. The term comes from Latin and translates as black line, but this translation is not that helpful or descriptive for pregnant women. Instead the linea nigra can be described as a thin, dark line that usually starts just above the pubic hair in the center and runs to or beyond the belly button. Not all women get a linea nigra when they are pregnant, but many of them do, and some may keep it after pregnancy, thought most of the time the line eventually vanishes.
Some women have a precursor to the linea nigra called the linea alba. A light line, sometimes paler than the skin, can be seen where the dark line may eventually form. What happens next for many women is that the skin produces too much pigment called melanin and this results in the formation of a dark line. There are actually several theories as to why women get it, but the most adopted one is that the increase in hormone production at this time sends melanin into hyperdrive. This is easily demonstrated by other skin discolorations that can occur during pregnancy such as the butterfly mask that can occur on the face or the darkening of the nipple, genitals and moles which is common.
It is also known that a linea nigra is much more likely to occur in women of darker skin coloring because they have extra melanin to begin with. Line formation is much easier and hyperpigmentation can occur more easily. However, there are many fair skinned women who will also develop this pigment problem.
Most women are concerned that a linea nigra will never go away after pregnancy ends, but most women will see their skin clearing up again. This isn’t always immediate, is likely to take longer in darker skinned women, and may not mean a total return to the skin color that existed before the line was formed. Some people notice the line reverting to a linea alba. It should also be noted that sunscreen is much needed to keep the slim figure; exposure to the sun or tanning can make it darker or more noticeable.
There is a significant amount of folk wisdom and old wives knowledge surrounding the appearance of this line and genre. While unreliable, darker lines are thought to indicate that women are carrying boys. Alternatively, lines stopping at the navel were thought to indicate that the developing baby is a girl. While useful in theory, there is little evidence that a linea nigra indicates gender through its appearance.
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