Pregnancy can be a wonderful and exciting time in a woman's life. It can also be confusing. The body does give clues that a pregnancy is developing, but the way in which these symptoms are experienced, if they are noticed at all, varies from woman to woman and even from pregnancy to pregnancy in the same woman. To make the matter even more uncertain, most symptoms of early pregnancy can often be explained by other conditions or even the stress of daily life.
A Missed Period
A missed period, or even two, is often the first sign of pregnancy that a woman may notice. If the pregnancy is unplanned, she may not be on the lookout for other early symptoms of pregnancy, such as breast tenderness or nausea.
Many women experience irregular menstrual cycles or menstrual cycles that vary in length from month to month. This makes predicting pregnancy based on menstrual cycles alone confusing and unreliable. If a woman suspects she has missed her period, she should take a home pregnancy test.
Breast Tenderness
As estrogen and progesterone levels increase, blood flow to the breasts also increases. This causes swelling and tenderness to both the breast tissue and to the nipples. The surface veins on the breast may become enlarged and more noticeable as well. This infusion of blood and hormones helps prepare the breasts for breastfeeding.
Nausea and Morning Sickness
Women who are trying to become pregnant or who know they are in the first weeks of pregnancy are often on the watch for pregnancy-related nausea, often referred to as morning sickness. However, morning sickness can occur at any time during the day. In many cases, vomiting alleviates the condition temporarily. Fatigue and low blood sugar can aggravate this condition, so expectant moms should eat regularly and get plenty of rest.
According to Dr. Mohammad Emam of OBGYN.net, 90 percent of women experience pregnancy-related nausea during their first 16 weeks of pregnancy. The direct cause is still unknown, though the nausea experienced in pregnancy can follow the rise and fall of certain pregnancy hormones. This is a self-limiting symptom of early pregnancy, which means it usually resolves by the early weeks of the second trimester with no long-term effects to the mother or the fetus she is carrying.
Frequent Urination
The urge to urinate frequently is not reserved solely for later pregnancy. As soon as the fertilized egg implants into the uterine lining, it begins to secrete hCG, the pregnancy hormone. This hormone is notorious for triggering frequent urination.
Fatigue
Progesterone, the hormone your uterus utilizes to maintain a healthy lining, is to blame for a fatigue as well. As levels of this vital hormone increase, so does the urge to take a nap.
Positive Home Pregnancy Test
You have followed the instructions; you see the plus sign, the extra line or the digital readout that indicates you are pregnant. Now what? Call your health care provider. Depending on your medical history, she may want to see you in the office immediately, or she may decide you can wait a few more weeks before your first prenatal office visit. Either way, she will want to clarify your medication history and will likely get you started on a regimen of prenatal vitamins to get your pregnancy off to the best start possible.
