“Pregnancy Isn’t Just About the Cute Bump and Baby Kicks”: Woman Shares Dramatic Changes During Pregnancy
A woman from Malaysia, Farah Faizal, has shared her experience of how her face became “completely unrecognizable” during her pregnancy. Farah, a marketing manager, posted two unfiltered photos on X (formerly Twitter) to show how her appearance changed “100 percent” before and after becoming pregnant.
In the first photo, Farah’s skin looked clear and had rosy cheeks. In the second, her face appeared red and was covered in large, cystic acne-like bumps. Additionally, her nose changed shape and looked much larger, while deep lines formed on her cheeks, nose, and forehead.
Farah expressed gratitude for not having pregnancy sickness, but she noticed her skin changing about two months into her pregnancy. Acne began to appear as pustules, and her skin turned red, resembling a sunburn. Her nose also started to swell as her pregnancy progressed, which was her second.
“Then slowly my smile lines became deeper and my face started to look like that of an old person,” she said. “I realised there were lines appearing on my forehead and between my eyebrows, and they were getting deeper and more kept appearing. The closer to my due date I got, the worse it became.”
At one point, she broke down and asked her friend, “Why are other pregnant women so beautiful? Just glowing? Why am I the only one who has been affected like this?” She explained, “I asked this because I saw influencers who looked simply beautiful while they were pregnant.”
Though she wasn’t sad, Farah admitted to feeling insecure. Her husband reassured her that her changes were fine and temporary, always encouraging her with compliments. “He said I was still beautiful in his eyes and not to think of anything untoward.”
Farah credited her best friend for providing encouragement and inspiring her to share her story on social media. “Don’t think that pregnancy is easy, different people have different experiences,” she added.
She also advised men: “So appreciate your wife, as she has sacrificed her body to give birth to your child. Don’t say an epidural is a ‘cheat code’.”
In an interview with Malaysian media, Farah aimed to raise awareness about the often-unspoken aspects of pregnancy. She stated, “I wish more people understood that pregnancy isn’t just about the cute bump and baby kicks. There are so many changes—physical, emotional, and mental—that we go through. Every woman’s experience is different and all of them deserve to be acknowledged.”
After giving birth in July, Farah mentioned that her skin is slowly healing a month later. “I’m slowly regaining my features. It has been a month since I gave birth and I’m in recovery mode. I’ve also started monthly laser treatments to help my skin heal and improve.”
