You may notice a dark line running down the center of your belly during pregnancy. This is known as the linea nigra. What causes it to appear? Does it mean something about your baby? And will it really fade after birth? This episode answers several listener questions and explores the science behind this mysterious line, what influences how dark it gets, and whether there’s anything you can do to prevent it.

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Hi Vanessa,

I’m 26 weeks pregnant, and I have a dark line going down the center of my belly. My doctor told me it’s totally normal and that it will fade after I have the baby. Still, the line is really dark, and I’m starting to worry it might not go away. Can you explain why this happens and whether it really does disappear? Is there anything I can do to make it less noticeable?

Thank you for your amazing podcast! It has been so helpful and I don’t know what I would do without it.

-Grace

Grace, thank you for sharing your question and for the kind words about the podcast. All of the changes that happen during pregnancy can feel a little overwhelming, especially if this is your first baby and you have not experienced them before. When physical changes show up, they are often visible to others, which can make you even more self-conscious. Let’s talk about what this line is, why it appears, and what you can expect as your pregnancy progresses to help put your mind at ease.

What is the Linea Nigra?

The term linea nigra means “black line” in Latin. It refers to the dark vertical stripe that often appears down the center of your belly during pregnancy. This line typically becomes noticeable in the second trimester and may darken as your pregnancy progresses. The linea nigra is a common and completely normal change. Studies show that between 32% and 92% of pregnant women develop it, depending on factors like skin tone and hormonal sensitivity.

Why it Happens (Pigmentation and Hormones)

Your skin color comes from a pigment called melanin, which is produced by specialized cells known as melanocytes in the outer layer of your skin. During pregnancy, levels of estrogen, progesterone, and melanocyte-stimulating hormone all rise. These hormones signal melanocytes to produce more melanin, which naturally darkens the skin. Estrogen increases both the number and activity of melanocytes and boosts the enzymes that drive melanin production. Progesterone enhances this effect by making melanocytes more responsive to other hormones, especially melanocyte-stimulating hormone. The result is that areas that are already a little darker, like your nipples and areolas, often become even more pigmented during pregnancy.

People with darker complexions tend to have a more pronounced linea nigra than those with lighter skin. This is because individuals with darker skin naturally produce more melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color, which makes any additional pigmentation changes during pregnancy more visible.

Why It Appears Where It Does (Linea Alba)

There is a strip of connective tissue that runs straight down the middle of your abdomen, from your sternum to your pubic bone. This is called the linea alba, which means “white line” in Latin. It forms very early in development when the left and right halves of the body fuse together at the midline. The linea alba is made mostly of collagen fibers. During pregnancy, as your uterus expands, this tissue stretches and thins. This tissue is structurally different from the surrounding skin and tends to show pigmentation changes more clearly. When hormonal shifts increase melanin production, this midline naturally darkens, creating the linea nigra.

Will It Go Away?

The good news is that your doctor is right, and the linea nigra usually fades after pregnancy as your hormone levels return to normal. The timing can vary, and fading happens gradually over several weeks or months. I searched for medical case reports of linea nigra that didn’t fade, and only found one case study where the line remained visible three months after birth. Unfortunately, there was no long-term follow-up on that patient. In most cases, the pigmentation lightens naturally with time. If you are still concerned after several months, dermatologic treatments like skin-lightening agents or laser therapy are available, though they will most likely be unnecessary. For nearly everyone, the linea nigra fades on its own.

Can You Prevent or Minimize It?

All of the hormonal changes that happen during pregnancy are necessary. There is nothing you can do to change how those hormones affect your skin. Unfortunately, there isn’t a known way to prevent the linea nigra from appearing on your belly. Grace, you also asked if there’s anything you can do to make it less noticeable. There are a couple of things that can influence how noticeable the line becomes.

Folate and Folic Acid

First, let’s examine whether there is a connection with folic acid. I came across a few references suggesting that folic acid or folate may help reduce how dark the linea nigra becomes. I really dug into the research to find solid evidence for this, but there isn’t much to support that claim. Folate, also known as vitamin B9, is an essential nutrient during pregnancy because it helps prevent neural tube defects in your baby. This is why many foods are fortified with folic acid, and why it is included in all prenatal vitamins. You can add more folate-rich foods to your diet, like lentils, spinach, and leafy greens, or avocado, but there’s no proven evidence that this will change how dark your linea nigra gets.

Sun Exposure

We do know that sun exposure can affect how noticeable the linea nigra appears. Sun exposure triggers your body to produce more melanin, which can make the linea nigra appear darker. The good news is that if your line becomes more noticeable from the sun, that doesn’