What are the First Signs of Pregnancy?
Posted by Midwife | Filed under Pregnancy Symptoms
The early signs of pregnancy usually begin for most women during the first few weeks following conception, and some even before their first missed menstrual cycle. The symptoms will vary in intensity and type, although a missed menstrual period is usually the first sign of pregnancy noticed by most women.
Generally the first sign of pregnancy is seen when the egg implants itself into the uterus. This takes place around 8 to 10 days after ovulation. Implantation results in an increase in the level of progesterone. This results in increased body temperature. If the body temperature remains high for 10 to15 days after ovulation then you may be pregnant. Implantation bleeding can be red, pink or brown in color.
Here are the other most common early signs and symptoms of pregnancy:
1. Missed Periods:
This can occur due to various reasons, the most common being pregnancy, if the conditions for it are met. Women that have a 28-day cycle can claim to miss periods if they do not come on fifteenth day after ovulation or twenty ninth day of the first day of previous menstrual cycle.
2. Food Cravings or Altered Taste:
Food cravings is a common sign of pregnancy with around 85% of pregnant women experiencing food craving of certain foods. You may just be wanting to eat certain food items more than normal and may become averse to the most favorite food of yours.
The opposite of food craving viz. – food aversion is also a pregnancy sign. These are more common in early pregnancy. Sometimes even the thought of the favorite food may result in nauseous feeling.
3. Tenderness in the Breasts:
Some of you may feel some difference in the breast size and firmness long before you even suspect that you are pregnant. Changes in breasts normally begin after 3 to 4 weeks of conception. Also there might be tenderness and darkening of the areola (skin around the nipple area).
4. Heartburn and Acidity:
This is amongst the first symptoms to come and is an invariable part of all pregnancies.
Some of you may even experience a new sensitivity or feelings in your pelvic area.
5. Frequent Urination:
Frequent urination is another common sign of pregnancy. Once the embryo implants and begins producing the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), there is this urge to urinate and the frequency also increases.
6. Tiredness and Fatigue:
Tiredness or fatigue is one of the sure markers of early pregnancy. This is because of high levels of the hormone progesterone. You may experience these sudden moments of exhaustion and body ache. Sometimes, even the most routine of your activities may result in complete exhaustion.
7. Morning sickness:
Morning sickness starts as early as 2-4weeks after conception. This is one symptom that you may mistake for acidity or stomach infection. Morning sickness may not even show up as generally these symptoms starts showing up after 1-2 months of pregnancy.
8. Body Discomforts:
The hormonal and physical changes because of pregnancy may be uncomfortable and irritable. Backaches, headaches, constipation, acne, bloating, diarrhea, cramps and mood swings can be experienced. Not very uncommon in early pregnancy, it is too nonspecific and comes with varied reasons. You can always count it as a symptom as an afterthought when the diagnosis is confirmed rather than trying to diagnose on this basis.
9. Increased Sense of Smell:
Pregnancy or the increased hormones cause almost all the senses to be more alert and so your sense of smell too can become overactive. You may also be prone to smell aversions too. Some odors seem stronger than normal early in pregnancy. Sometimes smell aversions results in food aversions.
10. Maternal Intuition:
Few women just feel they are pregnant even though there isn't any other obvious sign of pregnancy. These maternal intuitions are generally accurate.
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