What are the Symptoms of Pregnancy?
Talking about the pregnancy, this might be an exciting moment or a terrifying one. The feeling could be positive or negative, but you have to prepare yourself by learning the early signs and symptoms of pregnancy.
If you want to be sure about your pregnancy you need to get down to the nearest drugstore for a testing kit. But if you know what to look out for, then there are an early symptom of pregnancy that will help you to.
Do All Women Get Early Symptoms of Pregnancy?
Every woman has a different immune system so, the experiences of pregnancy is also different. The pregnancy system varies from one woman to another or even symptoms vary from one pregnancy to the next in the same women.
The enlisted below are some common early symptoms of Pregnancy. The fact you need to notice that these symptoms can be caused by other means also, but if you are feeling such symptom then you may be prone to the pregnancy. The only way to ensure the pregnancy is the pregnancy test.
When Do the Symptoms Start?
This may sound odd, but the fact is your first week of pregnancy depends upon the date of your last menstruations cycle. Your last menstrual date is considered to be the first week of pregnancy, even if you were not actually pregnant at that time.
The expected dates are calculated by using the first day of your last period cycle. For the reason, the first few weeks no sign symptoms are shown by the body and also count toward 40-week to week pregnancy.
Early Sign and Symptoms
As mentioned previously above that everybody showed different sign and symptoms, but some of the most common symptoms are enlisted below. Let have a look and familiar to all these sign and symptoms.
1. Sensitive Nipples
The sensitive nipple is a common symptom that women experiences, this is due to the increase in the progesterone hormones and estrogen.
At the time of early pregnancy, your breasts size begins to increase due to the gain of more fat and milk ducts, which also add up to the sensitivity.
Also, the nipples become darker. This pregnancy symptom generally occurs further in the first few weeks.
2. Implantation Bleeding
Some women experience the light bleeding when the blastocyst (ball of cells) is implanted into the wall of the uterus.
This symptom is often described as ‘spotting’ and experienced by very less number of the mother. Sometimes this is mistakenly considered as an early period but is nothing to be getting concerned about.
3. Cramping
The most difficult one, as it also comes along your period, but some women may experience light cramping or constipation in the first weeks.
This further leads to the number of things such as implantation, the uterus expanding, or a corpus luteum cyst, which keep on releasing the progesterone until the placenta takes over around 12 weeks.
4. Extreme Tiredness
Many a woman has tweaked that at the time of the pregnant they fall asleep sitting up at 3 pm.
If you had gone through the number of the restless night then please disregard this one, but it has rested well and still battling the nods before dinner time, then this may be an early sign that you are pregnant.
5. Nausea
This symptom is commonly associated with morning sickness. Many women experience nausea in the early days of pregnancy, this may be in the form of subtle weakness, unease in the stomach and the vomiting is caused in extreme cases.
This is the worse feeling to experience vomiting in the morning on an empty stomach, so it is highly recommended to have to try snacks to settle down the tummy.
6. Night Time Bathroom Visits
At the final stages of pregnancy, an unborn baby starts putting pressure on your bladder, this causes the urge to pee become frequent. But the fact is that this could an early symptom of pregnancy too?
As of right from conception, the body will begin to expand to accommodate the unborn baby with start growing, and this increases the blood flow leads to 2 am wake-ups to empty the bladder.
7. Constipation
This is a very common symptom experienced by the women, as at the time of pregnancy the hormone progesterone slows down the bowels, and leads to an increase in the production of the hormone.
The pre-conception vitamin that contains iron can also compound the problem. If you are taking it is recommended to keep up your water intake.
8. Change in Taste
Altering in taste is also noted from a very early stage during pregnancy. Some women report having a metallic taste, while others experience only change in tastes or even some cases the saliva is also increased. Bleeding gums while brushing the teeth are also associated with mouth related changes.
So if you notice that you become suddenly averse to your favorite late night chocolate binge, or no longer be glad about the smell of a fresh morning coffee, then perhaps some exciting news is about to happen.
9. Feeling Light-headed or Dizzy
Morning sickness also leads to the Dizziness and headaches, but even if you’re not feeling nauseous but having the light-headed or dizzy, then this could be a symptom of pregnancy.
This is commonly related to the increased blood supply and sudden changes in the circulatory system, or even you may experience the low blood sugar in the early stages.
If you are prone to the dizzy spell then eating small but frequent meals and dressing in non-restrictive clothing is a good idea, as it will make you feel comfortable.
If you feel dim, sit or lie down with your head between your legs then you need to seek medical the attention.
10. Mood Swings
Mood swings are experienced by many women in early pregnancy. Again, this is due to a change in hormone levels. For example, you may blame for the fact that you’re crying over Friday night cricket or getting angry over a TV fashion show.
What Is Pregnancy Planning?
Pregnancy planning typically involves the discussions with her health-care team and a woman’s partner and includes the discussions about exercise, nutrition and vitamins, genetic counseling, weight gain, and the need to avoid certain medications and alcoholic substance too.
However, as mentioned previously also that some women may also experience light bleeding also known as implantation bleeding and this is mistakenly taken as menstrual period because of irregular menstrual cycles.
Due to some women may not realize that they are pregnant until specific symptoms are not started to develop. At this time, the women unknowingly get exposed themselves to substances which are harmful to their pregnancy.
Women who are planning for pregnancy before conception should follow the steps to ensure that potentially harmful exposures should be avoided.
Healthcare: It is very important to give a regular visit to health care throughout the pregnancy.
The first visit:
- The preliminary appointment for pregnancy should be done within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
- At the initial checkup, mother general health and issues are diagnosed and treatment is provided if required.
- They will also Advice you healthy living during pregnancy.
- Also, local pregnancy care services and any available financial assistance are offered by the doctor.
- The initial checkup includes the weighing, checking normal blood pressure, urine test for any signs of infection and abnormalities. Physical examination may also do for Pap and smear.
- Ultrasound is also recommended to produce an image of the fetus, as this is helpful to predict the birth date. This test also reveals multiple pregnancies.
Further Visits and Tests in Pregnancy
A second ultrasound is done between weeks 18 and 20 for the checking of baby development. Some other tests are also done to check the health condition of the mother so that unborn baby does not get effects.
These conditions include:
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Anemia:
A much higher quantity of iron is required by the women during pregnancy to produce hemoglobin and the protein in red blood cells is the carrier of the oxygen to other cells.
Anemia leads to the deficiency of the red blood cell which makes the process complicated.
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Down syndrome:
The risk is directly associated with the mother’s age. Simple blood tests are done to diagnose the condition. An amniocentesis test is performed to the chromosomal abnormalities.
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Hepatitis:
Hepatitis B and C are the diseases that can be passed from the mother to the baby. A regular visit to the healthcare provider can reduce the risk to the baby during or before the pregnancy.
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Rubella (German measles):
The risk of transmission of rubella is very minute, but it can lead to major health issues such as genetic abnormalities, miscarriage, or similar developmental problems.
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HIV:
HIV virus can be prevented from the transmission through the medications to the baby at the time of pregnancy, labor, delivery, and breastfeeding.
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Syphilis:
If the treatment to this is not received by the proper time then this infection can critically cause harm the mother and the baby.
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Gestational Diabetes:
This problem generally develops during pregnancy and get resolves after delivery.
At the initial stage of the pregnancy, it is very important to get in touch with the healthcare provider for the checkup of existing conditions or symptoms such as headaches, blood pressure issues, diabetes, and thyroid conditions. Very well said that prevention is better than cure, so it is well brought up prior surgeries.
Healthy Tips for Pregnancy
Pregnancy risk cannot be prevented always, but by adopting the following healthy habits you can reduce the risk of these harms.
- Exercise is boon to the healthy pregnancy, as being physically active to help to maintain the general health and body weight which is helpful at the time labor and delivery.
- Excess of everything is harmful so one should avoid the excessive weight gain. The advice of a doctor should be taken that how much weight gain is suitable.
- Avoid tobacco smoke and alcohol, as it is an exposure to health disease and causes fetal alcohol syndrome.
Intake of marijuana or cannabis also leads to the harmful effect on the fetus. - Doctor advice should be taken before the intake vitamins and supplements. Usually, folic acid is recommended, as it is beneficial for the fetus.
- Vitamin A supplements should be avoided as they cause the possible risks.
- Discuss with the healthcare provider before intake of the medications.
- Have a healthy and balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- At least 2 liters of fluid should be consumed a day, preferably of water.
- Use of caffeine should be reduced to 200 mg per day, as recommended by Gynecologists.
- Raw fish and meat should avoid as it contains mercury, especially shark, marlin, swordfish, and barracuda and this causes the bacterial infections which cause harm the fetus.
- If your experiencing the vaginal bleeding occurs, right away call the doctor. Also, get advice from the doctor about safety measures during each trimester.
- Soil and some animal feces are the major sources which transmit infections. Toxoplasmosis from cat feces severely harms the fetus is highly recommended to wear gloves and wash the hands before and after gardening or changing cat waste.
Conclusion
Being pregnant is an exciting time with significant changes. The above mentioned are the early sign and symptoms of the pregnancy, which are helpful in diagnosing the pregnancy.
Along with that, some healthy tips are also mentioned to reduce the risk of the harmful effects that may lead to serious health problem to mother as well as the unborn baby.
It is very important to avoid using alcohol, tobacco, and similar substances to reduce the risk to the fetus.
Very important to get in touch with the healthcare to discuss new or unusual symptoms of pregnancy you experience.
Be in touch with healthcare professionals as they provide key and healthy support throughout your pregnancy.
Resources:
- https://flo.health/getting-pregnant/trying-to-conceive/signs-of-pregnancy/very-early-pregnancy-signs
- https://www.verywellfamily.com/early-pregnancy-signs-2759952
- https://www.kidspot.com.au/birth/pregnancy/signs-and-symptoms/first-symptoms-of-pregnancy-what-happens-right-away/news-story/2683c7eed8bb3fe71f95599078bddea5
- https://www.medicinenet.com/pregnancy_symptoms_am_i_pregnant/article.htm
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/symptoms-of-pregnancy/art-20043853
- https://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/pregnancy-am-i-pregnant#1