3 ms·

Probably TMI, but I have a very good sense of smell. I once figured out my coworker was pregnant because she basically smelled the same as a baby's fontanelle (

Probably TMI, but I have a very good sense of smell. I once figured out my coworker was pregnant because she basically smelled the same as a baby's fontanelle (I kept this to myself, I'm not insane).

meepmorp 5y ago
To be a fly on the wall for the hypothetical alternative timeline where you decided to have that conversation. "Not to sound weird, but you smell like babies..."
- cambaceres 5y ago
  Hi Lauri, you smell like an infant. Wanna grab some lunch?
- RationPhantoms 5y ago
  To be fair, there have been people (or specifically a single person) who have been known to detect Parkinson's so pregnancy, while social suicide, isn't that far from the table: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/03/23/820274501/her-incredible-sense-of-smell-is-helping-scientists-find-new-ways-to-diagnose-di https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/03/23/8202745...
mr_overalls 5y ago
Also TMI (and let's be honest: mega-creepy) I can tell when women are menstruating with about 90%+ accuracy if we share small-ish indoor space for a few minutes. (As confirmed by female family members.) It's not so much an obvious smell as a perceived "sharpness" that feels related to the sense-modality of smell, but is not exactly equivalent to it. I wonder sometimes if it's a pheromone-based phenomenon.
- dr_dshiv 5y ago
  Woah. How do you use this superpower? I can often smell when my wife is in a bad mood (her breath literally smells sour). However, it isn’t a reliable indicator (many false negatives).
Cthulhu_ 5y ago
Could this be related to when pregnant people are referred to as "beaming" or whatever the phrase was?
- guythedudebro 5y ago
  Always thought that referred to their breasts
- nefitty 5y ago
  There must be some hormone thing happening that tightens and sheens the skin. I think people say, "she's glowing." As a teen, I once got heckled by some coworkers. "Wow, are you pregnant? Your face is radiating!" I had accidentally put on too much oily sunscreen that day. I'm a cis male with a beard.
cambaceres 5y ago
You mean "I'm not keen on making my coworkers think I'm insane"

Probably TMI, but I have a very good sense of smell. I once figured out my coworker was pregnant because she basically smelled the same as a baby's fontanelle (I kept this to myself, I'm not insane).

meepmorp 5y ago

To be a fly on the wall for the hypothetical alternative timeline where you decided to have that conversation. "Not to sound weird, but you smell like babies..."

cambaceres 5y ago
Hi Lauri, you smell like an infant. Wanna grab some lunch?
RationPhantoms 5y ago
To be fair, there have been people (or specifically a single person) who have been known to detect Parkinson's so pregnancy, while social suicide, isn't that far from the table: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/03/23/820274501/her-incredible-sense-of-smell-is-helping-scientists-find-new-ways-to-diagnose-di https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/03/23/8202745...

mr_overalls 5y ago

Also TMI (and let's be honest: mega-creepy) I can tell when women are menstruating with about 90%+ accuracy if we share small-ish indoor space for a few minutes. (As confirmed by female family members.) It's not so much an obvious smell as a perceived "sharpness" that feels related to the sense-modality of smell, but is not exactly equivalent to it. I wonder sometimes if it's a pheromone-based phenomenon.

dr_dshiv 5y ago
Woah. How do you use this superpower? I can often smell when my wife is in a bad mood (her breath literally smells sour). However, it isn’t a reliable indicator (many false negatives).

Cthulhu_ 5y ago

Could this be related to when pregnant people are referred to as "beaming" or whatever the phrase was?

guythedudebro 5y ago
Always thought that referred to their breasts
nefitty 5y ago
There must be some hormone thing happening that tightens and sheens the skin. I think people say, "she's glowing." As a teen, I once got heckled by some coworkers. "Wow, are you pregnant? Your face is radiating!" I had accidentally put on too much oily sunscreen that day. I'm a cis male with a beard.

cambaceres 5y ago

You mean "I'm not keen on making my coworkers think I'm insane"