Not all women experience pregnancy the same way – while some mothers-to-be notice the signs very early, others may not experience many of the symptoms throughout their entire pregnancy. In the eventuality that you are worried – or you actually hope – that you might be pregnant, the best approach comprises of confirming or infirming it with a pregnancy home test.
In case the test results are positive, then you should contact your physician right away to back up the pregnancy home test and make a decision regarding the course of actions to be followed. Without further ado, let’s review the early symptoms that you are most likely to experience if you are pregnant.
1. Overwhelming fatigue
Because your body is focused on producing higher amounts of progesterone as well as delivering oxygen and nutrients to the fetus, you will start feeling more tired, even though you were not engaged in exhausting activities. In general, physicians agree that this is the first symptom of pregnancy and you will most likely experience it until the 12th week or until the placenta is fully formed.
2. You feel constantly bloated
The high levels of progesterone found in a pregnant woman’s body will affect the muscles and one of the functions of the hormone is to relax the muscular and smooth tissue. Progesterone will have a significant impact on the digestive tract and it is known to slow down digestion. Consequentially, the slower digestion process will favor abdominal discomfort and chances are you will be feeling bloated most of the time, especially after a large meal.
3. Abdominal pressure and frequent cramps
The slowing down of the digestion as well as the plethora of changes that are taking place in the abdominal region will typically cause cramps and mild to moderate abdominal discomfort. This symptom will usually kick in rather early, sometime between 6 to 12 days after the ovulation and their severity has been often described as resembling the period or PMS cramps.
4. You will urinate more often and feel constipated
As the uterus experiences several changes in order to accommodate the fetus, it will exert pressure on the organs located in its proximity and mostly on the bladder. Therefore, pregnant women are known to urinate rather frequently. At the same time, the pressure of the uterus as well as the bodily changes happening during pregnancy is the two factors known to lead to constipation.
5. Breast tenderness
In the eventuality that you notice your breast are swollen or are becoming tender, then that might constitute the first clue that you are pregnant, particularly since this symptom starts manifesting soon after the conception. The level of discomfort you feel in the area is usually caused by the high levels of hormones and the fact that your breasts are undergoing important modifications, such as developing milk-producing cells and creating mild ducts that you need in order to breastfeed your newborn. The good news is that the pain will eventually subside once your body adjusts to the new levels of hormones. However, until that point, you should consider wearing a professionally fitted bra to reduce the discomfort experienced.
6. You will feel nauseous, especially in the morning
Perhaps the most irritating symptom of pregnancy is the nausea and queasiness, proprietary to the first semester. While it is true that nausea can kick in at any given time of the day, most women report that the worst episodes typically occur in the morning. The bad part is that even though most women will experience it, there is actually no cure for it since the medical community has not determined the cause of the symptom so far. On a side note, research done so far indicates that the vomiting sensation can be caused by the hormonal changes, low blood sugar and high amounts of stress.
7. You will experience constant backaches
As previously mentioned, one of the roles of the progesterone hormone consists of relaxing the muscles and smooth tissues of the body. Sometimes, when the progesterone levels are high, it will also cause a softening of the ligaments and spinal disks, thus leading to backaches. Another know cause of backaches in pregnant women are the urinary tract infections, so remember to watch out for the symptoms.
8. You may notice more vaginal discharges
Many women reported frequent vaginal discharges (extra cervical fluid) in the first semester of pregnancy. However, do not panic as this is rather normal if you think about the plethora of changes your body is currently undergoing. The problem with the vaginal discharges is that they do not necessarily follow a pattern and hence, can appear once per day or throughout the entire duration of a day. In addition, the consistency of the fluid varies from woman to woman, meaning that some may notice a creamy/white fluid, while others have a very liquid discharge. It is important to note that if the fluid is accompanies by unusual smells or your constantly feel itches, then you could have a yeast infection and it is highly advisable to see a physician right away.
9. You start having unusual cravings
In the few moments when you are not experiencing severe vomiting sessions, then you are very likely to start having unusual cravings. Considering that the pregnant woman’s body is working rather hard to accommodate the fetus, the cravings and the hunger sensation are very normal. In fact, doctors suggest that pregnant women should have an intake of 300 more calories in order to be certain that sufficient nutrients are reaching fetus and the body has the energy to function efficiently.
10. You start having mood swings
Given the hormonal modifications your body is experiencing, especially in the first semester of pregnancy, it is normal that some women undergo a variety of emotions and experience the so-called mood swings. Significant changes of the hormone levels in the body are known to affect the neurotransmitters that regulate your moods. Even though the body will adjust rather quickly and eliminate this issue, it is necessary to mention that you should seek professional help if the mood swings episodes last more than two weeks.
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