Signs of Pregnancy

Just as every woman is different so are the signs of being pregnant.  Some women don’t have any symptoms other than a missed period. Others have every possible symptom from emotional to physical. It all depends on a woman. There are some women that can just tell they are pregnant and they are even able to determine the exact day! If you suspect that you are pregnant here is a list of all the possible signs of pregnancy.

Missed period

One of the first signs that a woman is pregnant is, as already mentioned, a missed period. This doesn’t mean that you can’t be pregnant if you do have bleeding.  If bleeding occurs, it is not a true menstrual flow, but can be mistaken for one.

Basal Body Temperature

A clear sign of pregnancy is also the change in a woman’s BBT (Basal Body Temperature). If BBT is higher than usual and it remains high for two weeks or more it is a definite sign of pregnancy.

Exhaustion

Another sign of pregnancy is exhaustion . Whether you have an active life style involving physical activities or not, you may feel extra exhausted while pregnant. This happens due to exertion of the body since the baby starts taking all the essential nutrients it demands from its mom. Therefore, moms tend to feel hungry and have a need for food more often than in normal circumstances. Not eating enough however, may cause fatigue. Having other children at home may also cause more exhaustion than usual. Not being able to nap through the day, whether due to caring for other children or working full or part time, will mean an early night to catch up!

Hunger

Hunger! No matter how much pregnant women eat, they never seem to be satisfied.  When they wake up they are hungry.  After eating a large dinner, they are hungry again.  Yes, the baby uses up energy therefore needing it replenished.  Hormones can play a role in this as well.  Cravings are also known in pregnancy.  Perhaps it is the “stereo-type” of a pregnant woman wanting pickles and ice cream.  Most crave something at some point during the pregnancy and it can be anything.  These cravings can also happen at any time of day or night.  Just ask the men who have hunted stores in the wee hours of the morning, not being able to find the “right” item to cure the craving!

Mood change

Mood swings are another sign of pregnancy.  A woman could be on a high, singing and be happy then switch to a great cottonelle commercial with all the tears she is shedding the next minute!  Hormones are a factor in this.  These hormonal changes affect the levels of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain). Mixed emotions can also cause this. Being excited and happy in conceiving all the way to being scared and worried for caring for a newborn can cause a bunch of different emotions.

Frequent urination

Frequent urination is also a sign of pregnancy.  Through the pregnancy, the baby grows, putting pressure on the bladder, causing the woman to feel the need to go more often.

Breast changes

Some women may have breast changes as a sign of being pregnant.  In the beginning stages of pregnancy the breasts may become slightly sore or extremely sore.  This may only happen when a woman is not wearing a bra, therefore not receiving the proper support. The breasts may also become larger. Nipples may also change in the appearance.  The nipples and the skin that surrounds the nipples, (areolas) could become larger and darker.

The small glands on the areolas may raise and become bumpy. These glands have a purpose of producing an oily substance that will prevent the nipples from becoming too dry and cracking.

You may be one of many women that don’t have any symptoms or slight symptoms of breast changes in pregnancy.If so, keep in mind that it has nothing to do with the ability to have a successful pregnancy.  It also has nothing to do with having the ability to breastfeed.

How to know for sure?

One of the most accurate tools for confirming pregnancy is a home pregnancy test. After following the instructions carefully, you may have your answer in a matter of minutes. The tests are 98 percent accurate.  If this shows positive, visit your physician straight away so you can do a few needed blood tests and an ultra sound.  The ultra sound is also useful in determining how far along the pregnancy is.  Measurements and sizes are recorded so a close due date can be given.

Whether a woman has none, one, some or all of the pregnancy signs, there are no two pregnancies that are alike. If you suspect you are pregnant or know you are, seek and follow the advice of your physician.

The result of fertilization is the formation of a zygote in the fallopian tube which gradually moves from the fallopian tube into the uterus to get itself implanted there. From this point onwards one can state that pregnancy has commenced. The symptoms and signs of pregnancy are many and one has to be on the look out all the time. One of the best ways to find out if you are pregnant is to visit the doctor, who will conduct a urine or blood test to confirm pregnancy. If you wish to confirm the pregnancy at home you can do so by buying a home pregnancy test kit which is available in the market at a reasonable rate. One can get an accuracy of above ninety five percent by using these testing kits at home itself.

Different symptoms and signs of pregnancy are experienced by different women, which indicate that she ‘could’ be pregnant. It is very important to learn about the earliest symptoms and signs of pregnancy. Symptoms vary from one woman to another once she conceives. Many women may not experience anything till about few weeks into the pregnancy. Experiencing some symptoms though, is a normal part of being pregnant.

Constipation:

This happens due to the increased levels of progesterone in the pregnant woman. Muscles that are in and around the uterus get relaxed due to the release of the hormone progesterone. Muscles need to get relaxed to aid the delivery process as well as provide enough space for the baby to grow. It may become difficult to pass feces as contraction of muscles in the intestine become difficult and this leads to constipation for the pregnant woman.

Implantation bleeding:

Many women experience implantation bleeding too, just a few days after the fertilization has taken place. Once the sperm and the egg fertilize together, the egg slowly travels to the uterus to get itself implanted within the lining of the uterus. The lining of the uterus is called the endometrium lining. When the zygote which is the fertilized product of the sperm and egg, implants itself in the lining there could be some shedding of blood which passes out of the vagina – also called implantation bleeding. There is slight spotting or bleeding which is one of the many symptoms and signs of pregnancy.

Cramping:

At the time of implantation many women also experience cramping. Once the implantation occurs there could be sight spotting and bleeding along with a cramping feeling in the abdomen.

Tender breasts:

One of the other symptoms and signs of pregnancy is developing tender breasts. The woman experiences a lot of changes in the breast after conceiving. As the breasts get prepared for feeding after the baby is born, they start becoming tender and can also increase in size. The areolas also appear dark during the pregnancy period.

Unusual cravings for food:

The pregnant woman may suddenly start develop cravings for different types of food. She may start liking a particular food which she never liked before. She may also start hating a particular food which she had always liked. Sudden food aversions and cravings are also some of the symptoms and signs of pregnancy which happen during the first trimester.

Morning sickness:

Vomiting and nausea is experienced by most women during the first trimester of pregnancy and sometimes it gets extended through the whole term of pregnancy also. The nausea and vomiting can be experienced during any part of the day, but is most common in the morning. As the woman enters her fourth month of pregnancy nausea and vomiting may slowly disappear.

Terrible mood swings accompanied by tiredness:

A lot of hormonal changes take place in the body of the woman during pregnancy and it is because of these changes that the woman experiences terrible mood swings as well as tiredness. The fatigue level is so high that she does not feel like working and may want to rest for longer periods.

Frequent urination:

As the uterus grows there is pressure in the bladder leading to frequent urination. The uterus grows in size to make space for the baby during the first trimester. Frequent urination may continue even up to the fourth month of pregnancy. Once the uterus enters into the abdominal cavity the frequency of urination usually stops.

With so many symptoms and signs of pregnancy and many more like headaches, backaches, varicose veins etc. you can certainly get the ’feel’ of existing pregnancy. To minimize these symptoms one can adopt a healthy diet, indulge in recommended pregnancy exercises, and take adequate rest. Of course nothing equals to the expertise and knowledge imparted by a good gynecologist. It helps to read and research to enjoy the many joys a baby brings into the world, and to get yourself harnessed for the tougher days ahead.

Even the slightest feeling is enough to excite you, but confirmation of pregnancy is a must. The most challenging days are the first two weeks of pregnancy as you start feeling the signs of pregnancy. A woman’s body goes through a lot of major changes during this period. There is great joy in the realization that there is a new life breathing within and this new joy changes your entire mindset. Pregnancy brings along with it a lot of mood swings too.  All these developments are related to hormonal changes but in the face of ignorance, they could bring on subsequent health deteriorating issues. It pays to research and garner advice at the right time.

A woman may not even notice any sign of pregnancy during the initial stage. During the first two weeks the fertilization and ovulation process takes place. To carry out the process of ovulation, the body also produces progesterone and estrogen in different amounts to prepare the body for pregnancy. An egg is released by the ovaries which gets fertilized and travels to the uterus through the fallopian tubes. Once the egg reaches the uterus it attachés itself to the lining of the uterus and resides there for the next nine months.

Tenderness in the breasts:

This is one natural indication of pregnancy. Breasts become sore and tender, due to the hormonal changes in the body of the woman. The fertilization process involves a lot of hormonal changes in the body, resulting in fuller and heavier breasts. The breasts are actually in the process of getting ready to feed the baby after it is born.

Missed periods:

This is the most common thing experienced by most women. If the periods have always been regular and you miss a period for the first time it could indicate a pregnancy. This could also be accompanied with nausea, fatigue, vomiting, tiredness, cramping in the abdomen, and pain the lower back. These may not be experienced in the initial two weeks of pregnancy. There could be vaginal discharge with ovarian cramping too.

Mild bleeding accompanied by cramping:

Severe ovarian cramping may be experienced during the first two weeks of pregnancy, which is very similar to menstrual cramping. Cramping may be accompanied by spotting or bleeding. Once the fertilized egg attaches itself to the lining of the uterus one may experience such bleeding.

Vomiting and nausea:

These are the most common symptoms of pregnancy. The level of estrogen increases in the body thus leading to nausea and vomiting. There is an increased or deepened sense of smell during the initial stages of pregnancy too. Pregnant women feel nauseated with the slightest smell of cigarette smoke, paint or a particular kind of food.

Frequent mood swings:

A woman can start relating to the signs of pregnancy when she experiences terrible mood swings. She becomes emotionally unstable due to the hormonal changes taking place in her body. The pregnant woman may be happy at times and sometimes and alternatively – sad. She could suffer from anxiety and depression without a reason.

Tiredness and fatigue:

These are common symptoms of pregnancy due to the hormones released in the body of a pregnant woman. When the level of progesterone hormone increases in the body it can make you feel drowsy and expose you to increased blood production but a very low blood pressure. Energy levels in the body get depleted and you start feeling fatigue.

Craving for different foods:

Due to a lot of hormonal changes in the body a pregnant woman may experience different food cravings. She may want to eat a particular food desperately and will feel very uneasy till she gets it. Many a times the woman displays desire to eat a particular type of food that she disliked before. This is another common symptom of pregnancy.

Backaches and headaches:

Mild or severe headaches are also indicative of the initial stages of pregnancy. These are caused by hormonal change in the body during pregnancy. There could be sudden weight gain and the development of frequent backache. There are pregnancy exercises that help in relieving back pain.

Dizziness:

The blood pressure level as well as the sugar level drops significantly during the initial stages of pregnancy. Blood vessels get enlarged and as you experience low blood pressure and low blood sugar levels, you start feeling dizzy and lightheaded. Some women may even faint due to low blood pressure levels.

If you wish to enjoy motherhood and a safe pregnancy, it is necessary to harness a lot of care and precautionary measures during the entire term of pregnancy, till the time of delivery. If you are feeling the signs of pregnancy then regular visits to the doctor can help you handle subsequent health problems better. A happy term does result in a happy baby!