Am I pregnant? This is a question that gets asked a lot, your automatic reaction is do a test and find out, the plain fact
is that some women do not want to test for a myriad of different reasons some because they know its too early, some are too
scared to see the answer, some are scared that they are going to be disappointed again, many don’t want to face the
consequences of what being pregnant will mean to them, some young girls are just simply too embarrassed to go into a shop
and buy a pregnancy test.
For any of you that feel this way these are the early symptoms of pregnancy, but if you want to know for sure and in the
end that is the only way as pregnancy is not something you can ignore, do a test. This list is just a guide, remember that
every women is different and even ever pregnancy is different, you may have completely different symptoms with different children.
It is also worth bearing in mind that a lot of the symptoms can be very similar to the symptoms of PMT, PMS and can often
be mistaken for each other, (hence the need for a test to be sure).
Missed Period -
this is the most obvious sign or pregnancy, if you are due your period and it doesn’t
arrive then pregnancy is a possibility. Many women are simply just not sure when they are due a period and that is why the
other symptoms are worth listing.
Breast Tenderness - One of the very noticeable early signs of pregnancy is tender, and often swollen, sore breasts.
When you become pregnant, your body begins preparing your breasts for producing milk and breastfeeding. Hormones start increasing.
In addition to breast tenderness and swelling, your nipples may feel sore or extra sensitive. Some women notice their nipples
darken in colour. However, breast are often swollen and sore when a period is due so this symptom can be misleading.
Fatigue - It is very common foe woman in the first trimester of pregnancy to feel exhaustion. Some women find that
they start wanting to go to bed sooner, or find it harder than normal to get out of bed in the morning. Many women feel that
they could fall asleep during the day and many of the normal jobs that they do without thinking about them become trying.
Feeling Pregnant - Many many women say that they just feel pregnant, it is not something they can easily quantify,
it is just a strange different feeling. All the same it is a very common experience that many woman share.
Nausea - queasiness, nausea and vomiting can come on in the first week into the pregnancy. Many women experience morning
sickness when they have a drink or eat something on an empty stomach. Other women notice nausea in the afternoon or evening.
Others feel queasy all day. It usually eases off as the pregnancy progresses
Frequent Urination - you may notice that you are going to the toilet more often. One cause of this pregnancy symptom
is that the swelling uterus can put pressure on your bladder or that the pregnancy causes extra body fluids to be processed
by your kidneys and bladder.
Dizziness or Fainting - this is often felt by women in the early stage it is caused by the uterus swells it compresses
arteries in your legs. This can drop your blood pressure and make you dizzy. It may also be due to low blood sugar, because
that is your baby's main source of food.
Food Cravings, or Aversions to Foods - this is one of the most common symptoms a and can be very strange, it is a good
idea to make sure you take a pregnancy supplement to stave off some of the more bizarre craving such as coal!
If your cravings are for something unhealthy try to be cautious as this can lead to huge weight gain which is not good
for you or the baby. Unfortunately this problem may come and go for some women, for others it could last right through the
pregnancy.
Sensitivity to certain smells - pregnant women often find that they can no longer stand the smell
of every day things coffee, perfumes seems to be common ones, they feel nauseous at the slightest sniff, This is thought to
be a side effect of the oestrogen that is flowing through your body.
Heartburn and indigestion - Although heartburn
and indigestion are usually associated with the later stages of pregnancy, they can also occur early on for some women. Human
Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) slows down digestion meaning that your stomach remains full for longer. Stomach acid can then
make its way into your oesophagus and even to the back of your throat causing discomfort and even nausea.
Heartburn and indigestion can often be relieved with medication, so ask your doctor for some antacids suitable during pregnancy.
Avoid eating heavy or spicy meals late in the evening as these can aggravate the problem.
Constipation - In order to absorb all the nutrients that your developing baby requires, pregnancy hormones slow down
your metabolism and this can lead to constipation. Try increasing your intake of dietary fibre by eating plenty of fresh fruit
and vegetables (especially leafy green vegetables) and drinking plenty of water to help avoid constipation.
Mood Swings and Irritability - With lots of pregnancy hormones raging through your body, as well as coping with sickness
and tiredness and everything else, it is little wonder that pregnant women get easily irritated and suffer mood swings during
early pregnancy. Many pregnant women find that one moment they may be perfectly happy, the next they will be in floods of
tears. This early symptom of pregnancy may decrease in the second trimester. Meanwhile get plenty of sleep, eat right, take
your prenatal vitamins and get some moderate exercise by taking short walks.
Lower Back Pain - This low back pain can be caused by several factors. First is the change in your weight. The change
in your posture which pulls on your back. Lack of your typical night’s sleep is another factor. Finally, your hormones
and body changes have some effect too. Your body is getting ready for birth and so some of your joints and ligaments are loosening
up to make delivery possible. All of these changes added together can cause the early pregnancy symptoms of low back pain
Light Bleeding - One of the little known symptoms is the slight bleeding and spotting that can be caused when the fertilized
egg begins to implant itself into the uterus. This is known as "implantation bleeding" and it usually takes place between
3 to 6 days after fertilization. Not all women experience implantation bleeding so it is not considered one of the most obvious
pregnancy signs.
Weight loss and weight gain - It maybe surprising but many women loose weight in the first trimester this can be due
to a number of factors , eating more sensibly morning sickness, nausea. On the other hand some increase in weight and this
can often be explained by women giving into cravings that are not healthy. You should only be having 300 extra calories a
day which is very little and this eating for two nonsense is just something that women who have struggled with their eating
for many years say to explain that they think they can finally eat all the things that they have deprived themselves of for
years. Be very careful how much weight you allow yourself to gain as it can cause problems for you or the baby later, 15-20
pounds is a healthily overall weight gain.
