why is it pregnant women have such a heightened sense of smell?

Answer 1

The increase of "pregnancy" hormones such as progesterone heighten your sense of taste, sometimes turning foods you really like into foods that make you sick. The heightening of sense of taste goes hand in hand with a heightening of the sense of smell. The reason for this is said to be a defense mechanism. Back years ago, when your body needed calcium, a woman would crave milk and when her body need Vitamin C, her body would crave Orange Juice. Now, with all of our foods so fortified, when a woman needs calcium, she may crave Oranje Juice instead of milk. Our bodies become very confused and "fight' with our brains. The increased sense of smell and taste is meant to protect us from eating foods that could possibly hurt the baby or make us sick ...

Answer 2

I really do not know why but I do believe that is it part of just being pregnant. I hate to be that way because almost everything smells too me.

My husband thinks that I am exaggerating and I tell him that he will never understand how I feel because he will never have a baby.

Answer 3

This sense of nostril flaring acuteness while preggers developed as protection against predators....the troglodyte jungle woman
could smell trouble ahead, as when lions or other creatures
were around.....we are still animals, so when we get preggers, our sense of smell becomes acute like the animals we are

Answer 4

Your hormones cause that and its not the most fantastic thing if you have morning sickness. I know from experience!

Answer 5

Some think it is the hormonal influx

Answer 6

hormonal changes in pregnancy causes that ........in my 1st pregnancy i could not take the smell of Lux soap

Answer 7

hormones do strange things to ones body... could be that :)

Answer 8

babies help them smell