Looks like a shorthand for what they look like at first glance, not what they represent, in the same sentence the researcher hints to a far more probable "pregn

Looks like a shorthand for what they look like at first glance, not what they represent, in the same sentence the researcher hints to a far more probable "pregnant women" as the actual representation. Though I agree with you it might be a bit sensational and therefore probably included by the author.