A woman who might possibly be pregnant looks for any sign to let her know she might have a little one on the way. Although a paraplegic woman suffers from nerve damage from the waist down, the early signs of pregnancy for a woman with a disability and a woman without do not differ by much.
Swollen Breasts
A noticeable, early sign of pregnancy are breasts that are tender and swollen. MayoClinic.com points out that this symptom can occur as early as two weeks after conception, and is due to hormonal changes taking place in the body. The breasts may feel heavier and fuller as well.
Fatigue
Another early sign of pregnancy is fatigue and exhaustion, according to Women's Health. This can cause a woman to go to sleep earlier, make it more difficult to get up in the morning and want to take frequent naps during the day. The cause of this side effect is higher levels of progesterone, along with a decrease in blood sugar levels.
Morning Sickness
Morning sickness causes nausea, vomiting or both. The name is slightly deceiving though, as these symptoms can occur at any time of day. MayoClinic.com considers this to be one of the most classic signs of pregnancy, which can begin as early as two weeks after conception.
Craving Certain Food
When pregnant, any woman may experience cravings for certain foods. She may also develop a distaste for foods that she previously enjoyed. These symptoms tend to occur most frequently in the first trimester when hormonal changes are the most dramatic.
Mood Swings
Mood swings affect any woman, paraplegic or not. Some of this is due to the massive increase of hormones, while some can be chalked up to the emotional adjustment of being a mother in the near future. Women's Health explains that these emotional mood swings are perfectly normal, although they may leave those in a woman's life dumbfounded.
Missed Period
A missed menstrual cycle is perhaps the most obvious sign of pregnancy, leading a woman to pay closer attention to other physical signs she might have previously ignored. While some women miss a period completely, others experience a lighter period than usual.
