6 Surprising Benefits of Pregnancy

Senses Are Heightened

"Peppermint ice cream from Baskin-Robbins has always been one of my favorites, but it never tasted quite so good as when I was pregnant," says Sarah Sandell of Kalamazoo, Michigan. "I made a point of knowing when they had it in the store so I could always get my own personal pint."

Pregnancy seems to enhance your perception of taste, most likely because your sense of smell increases. Yes, that same nose that made morning sickness worse in early pregnancy can make food taste especially delicious later on. Some experts credit "radar nose" to high levels of estrogen. One theory for why it develops is that it may help you instinctively avoid dangerous substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and secondhand smoke.