Understanding the signs and symptoms of pregnancy is important because each symptom may be related to something other than pregnancy. Stress, illness, changes in diet and other situations can cause some of the common pregnancy symptoms as well.
Missed Menstrual Period
Pregnancy symptoms differ from woman to woman and pregnancy to pregnancy; however, one of the most significant pregnancy symptoms is a delayed or missed menstrual cycle. Pregnancy is the most common reason for a woman who is sexually active to miss her period.
Stress and lack of sleep can cause a woman to delay or miss a menstrual period.
Fatigue
Excessive fatigue is very common in the first trimester. Donýt be surprised if you wake up from a nap and still feel tired.
Not getting enough sleep and a poor diet can cause fatigue as well. Make sure you are eating well balanced meals and skip the fast food.
Morning sickness / Nausea
One of the most commonly recognized symptoms of pregnancy. One of the biggest complaints from women is that they feel nauseous all day long for the entire first trimester. I have known some moms who suffered with morning sickness for the entire pregnancy!
The commonly recommend solution is to eat crackers before getting out of bed in the morning. Other women have found that starches work best in calming the nausea such has potatoes.
Sore and Tender Breasts
Just about the time your period should start your breasts will start to feel heavy, full and very tender to the touch. Donýt be surprised if your nipples also start to hurt when touched or rubbed.
The week leading up to the start of your menstrual period you breasts may feel slightly fuller and tender to the touch. If you have a normal menstrual period and your breasts are still tender or sore see your ob/gyn doctor something else could be going such as an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy.
Frequent urination
The increased frequency that your bladder is full, even if you just went ten minutes ago is a common sign of pregnancy. If you are pregnant, the cause of the frequent urination is twofold. First, the uterus starts growing as soon as the baby has implanted itself into the endometrium lining. As the uterus grows it pushes against the bladder making the bladder smaller. Second, the hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) hormone causes the bladder to want to empty itself more frequently. During the first trimester as the hCG levels are climbing at logarithmic rates the bladder will want to empty itself a lot.
You could have a UTI. You need to get it checked out quickly as the urinary tract infection could move up into your kidneys and become life threatening.
Headaches
Frequent headaches during the first trimester do occur and can be gotten rid of by taking a nap.
Your healthcare provider will want to know about any headaches as they could signal a more dangerous condition developing. Both toxemia and preeclampsia can begin with headaches. If you are pregnant or suspect that you might be, contact your doctor immediately.
Heartburn
Heartburn typically is a constant symptom for most pregnant women. In the first trimester heartburn is typically caused by hormonal changes and eating too spicy food. Even if you were able to eat spicy food before you became pregnant it is possible that you now cannot tolerate the same level of spiciness.
Heartburn could signal more a severe problem such as an ulcer.
Spotting
A little spotting during pregnancy is normal especially about 7 to 10 days after conception when the baby is implanting itself into the uterus lining. Spotting can also occur after sexual intercourse. During pregnancy the cervix enlarges and grows additional blood vessels. Bumping the cervix during intercourse can cause a little spotting.
Having a menstrual period like blood flow where you are soaking a pad per hour could indicate that you are having a miscarriage. Contact your healthcare provider immediately.
It's natural to feel doubt, anxiety, and fear about pregnancy and childbirth, as well as happiness, excitement, and anticipation. Keeping a pregnancy journal can help you keep track of your emotions. Plus, it will serve as a wonderful keepsake of your pregnancy in the years to come.
Take control of your pregnancy by taking an active role in your prenatal care and make informed choices about normal pregnancy weight gain taught at http://www.pregnancybabyinthemaking.com
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Labels: Pregnancy Symptoms