During pregnancy, the breasts expand, resting heart rate speeds up, and organs shift to accommodate the growing fetus. And now, scientists have added one more item to this list: the gut grows dramatically.
According to new research conducted in mice and 3D models of human tissue, the lining of the inside of the small intestine — known as the epithelium — changes its structure and doubles in size during pregnancy, as well as during breastfeeding.
