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By Catherine Ferris
Writer, Trends
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A woman opened up about her experience developing Bell's palsy while pregnant in several TikTok videos that have gone viral.
"That time I was almost 39 weeks pregnant and developed Bell's Palsy," read the caption of one of Lauren Anderson's videos, which amassed nearly one million views on her account @laurensk9home.
While some viewers were surprised to learn that it is possible to develop Bell's palsy during pregnancy, many appreciated Anderson's openness in her videos.
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According to Facial Palsy UK, Bell's palsy is the most common cause of facial paralysis during pregnancy.
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What is Bell's Palsy?
This condition results in facial paralysis when the inner part of an ear becomes inflamed. That inflammation causes pressure on the facial nerve.
"Someone who is pregnant is at a higher risk of developing Bell's palsy than the non-pregnant population," the organization stated. "Studies have demonstrated that the majority of cases of Bell's palsy in pregnancy occur during the third trimester or within seven days of delivery."
Some of the symptoms that were listed included a watery eye, a change in speech and facial appearance and difficulty smiling and pouting lips.
In her video, Anderson said that she was about 39 weeks pregnant and had almost no muscle control on the right side of her face.
It's very hard to eat, or drink, or talk," she said as she laughed. "I cannot wait to deliver my son like this.
Lauren Anderson
"It's very hard to eat, or drink, or talk," she said as she laughed. "I cannot wait to deliver my son like this."
Anderson told Newsweek she noticed something felt off with her tongue on May 12, but couldn't quite place what the problem was.
She first thought she may have gotten COVID-19, but she quickly realized her symptoms could be linked to Bell's palsy. Anderson then took a look in the mirror.
"At that point, you really couldn't tell just by looking but when I squeezed both of my eyes shut I could tell right away that my right eye was not closing as tightly as the left—this was a test the neurologist I had previously seen asked me to do—so I was relatively sure at that point that I was having a repeat of the Bell's palsy," she said.
Anderson said she was scared at first because she was unsure if her son would be affected or how long the symptoms would last.
She explained that she previously had Bell's palsy, but she was not pregnant at the time.
The first time she developed the condition was in 2018, just more than a year after she had her daughter. Anderson realized she was having a difficult time whistling for her dogs. When she spoke with a neurologist, she learned she had Bell's palsy.
I made a full recovery the first time but it took almost two months.
Lauren Anderson
"I made a full recovery the first time but it took almost two months," she said.
Anderson shared another brief video on May 16, which was viewed more than 450,000 times, and said it has gotten worse.
"I'm having some difficulty with my hearing in this ear right now," she said.
Anderson said she was also on her fourth day of using Prednisone, which can be used to treat symptoms of low corticosteroid levels, per MedlinePlus.
While laughing, she noted that she had a few concerns about her delivery but said she was hoping for the best.
Anderson wrote to Newsweek that the symptoms are nearly identical to those she experienced the first time she had Bell's palsy, but are worse this time around.
"I remember thinking the first time that you couldn't tell just by looking at my resting face that anything was wrong but this time the droopiness on my right side is more significant," she said.
TikToker Comments
Viewers were quick to share their thoughts.
"I'm sorry," wrote a commenter. "What? New fear unlocked."
Thanks to TikTok I keep finding out the wild and crazy things that can happen being pregnant.
TikTok commenter
"Thanks to TikTok I keep finding out the wild and crazy things that can happen being pregnant," one viewer wrote."
"I would be in full on panic," another commented. "[I don't know] how you are laughing. I am NOT that brave omg!"
Though some were surprised, other viewers shared their own experiences of having Bell's palsy during pregnancy and many commended Anderson's attitude.
"Love that you have a sense of humor," a viewer wrote. "I'd be losing my mind."
One commented that they developed Bell's palsy when they were 37 weeks pregnant with their first child and it took about six months to regain full function.
"I got this too! 10 days postpartum," another viewer wrote. "Oh my god I can't believe I found someone else. 8 months and still not 100%."
Bell's Palsy Awareness
Anderson said the reason behind sharing the video was to let those around her know what was going on. She did not expect that anyone else would see the video but was overwhelmed by the support offered.
...and it helps one person get diagnosed or feel better about their diagnosis it would be worth it.
Lauren Anderson
"I knew then that I would keep making updates because Bell's can be a really mentally and emotionally difficult diagnosis for a lot of people and if I have the platform to help bring awareness and support to anyone else who might be going through it and it helps one person get diagnosed or feel better about their diagnosis it would be worth it," she said.
Anderson noted that it can be a "heavy weight to bear," especially when living in a culture fixated on appearances.
She said she's gotten recommendations on different treatment options and plans to explore them when she delivers. For now, Anderson is using a course of steroids prescribed by her doctor that is safe during pregnancy.
Anderson said these types of situations are opportunities to learn to be kind to one another.
I'm incredibly lucky to have an amazing support system and I realize not everyone does, so I want everyone struggling through this to know that it doesn't define them.
Lauren Anderson
"You never know what someone is going through or how it's affecting them," she said. "I'm incredibly lucky to have an amazing support system and I realize not everyone does, so I want everyone struggling through this to know that it doesn't define them. We have to remind ourselves that, despite what culture and media may try to convince us, our outward appearance is not the most important or the most beautiful thing about us!"
Other videos and posts have gone viral as it relates to a pregnancy journey.
A couple's video showing a staged wrestling match to reveal the sex of their unborn baby went viral on TikTok, while a woman's post on Reddit about how her husband found out she was pregnant left readers laughing.
A sweet video showing a cat cuddling up with its pregnant owner also went viral on the popular Reddit forum "Aww."
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