Symptoms of early pregnancy- Missed period, morning sickness, breast discomfort, fatigue, frequent urination, spotting, mood swings, food aversions, etc.
Pregnancy is a unique experience for all women as every woman is different. If you want to confirm that you are pregnant, the best way to find out is by taking a home pregnancy test which is more accurate than noticing pregnancy symptoms.
If you suspect that you’re pregnant before you miss a period, know the symptoms of early pregnancy.
Symptoms of the Pregnancy
Symptoms of early pregnancy may include the following-
Missed period- One of the most obvious symptoms of pregnancy is missed period when you are having a regular menstrual cycle. If you miss a period after having unsafe intercourse then go for the home pregnancy test to confirm the diagnosis.
Spotting- Light spotting during pregnancy, also known as implantation bleeding or placental sign. It usually occurs when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining.
Such bleeding is usually light which might not need any use of a tampon, lasting for a shorter duration and is not to be confused with miscarriage bleeding. Well, not all women experience it.
Morning Sickness- Nausea and vomiting are present in about 50% of cases and mostly in the first pregnancy. It usually appears soon after the missed period or after 6 weeks and rarely last beyond the third month.
It is caused by a change in hormone levels and varies from nausea on rising from the bed to loss of appetite (reduced desire to eat) or even vomiting. It does not affect the health of the mother and subsides by the 16th week.
Some women may feel nausea earlier and some never experience it. If you don’t feel any morning sickness during your pregnancy it doesn’t mean that there is some problem with your pregnancy. It’s normal to have or not to have it.
Frequency of urination- Increased urination is quite a troublesome symptom during early pregnancy and the last trimester. During pregnancy, blood volume increases which cause the kidneys to filter more fluid and results in increased urination. It also occurs due to the resting of the growing uterus on the bladder.
Symptoms usually disappear after 12 weeks and may reappear in the last trimester.
Breast discomfort- Due to changes in the hormone levels, you may experience tender and swollen breasts. Breast discomfort in the form of a feeling of fullness and pricking sensation is evident as early as a 6-8th week and decreases after 12 weeks as your body adjusts to the hormones.
Fatigue- Fatigue is a frequent symptom that may occur early in pregnancy due to a rapid rise in the level of the hormone progesterone during early pregnancy.
You make feel sleepy in early pregnancy due to fatigue. Take adequate rest and sleep, consume a protein-rich diet to overcome it.
Dizziness and fainting- Dizziness and fainting are also common during early pregnancy. Some women may experience it due to low blood pressure and low blood sugar.
Mood swings- Mood swings during early pregnancy is common due to change in hormone levels. It may cause a feeling of irritability, depression, happiness and anxiety in women.
Constipation -Constipation is quite common during pregnancy due to the effect of progesterone, reduced physical activity and pressure of the growing uterus lead to slowing down of the digestive activity. Take plenty of fluids, vegetables and fruits to ease constipation.
Food aversions- When you are pregnant, due to changes in hormone levels and nausea and vomiting, you might become more sensitive to certain food smells and your sense of taste might change. It becomes normal after the end of the first trimester, you’ll start to crave some food item.
Abdominal cramps- Some women may experience mild abdominal cramps during their pregnancy due to changes in hormone levels and stretching of the pelvic muscles and ligaments. It’s normal to have it but if you experience severe abdominal cramps may indicate miscarriage and need immediate consultation with your doctor.
Back pain- Back pain during pregnancy is a very common symptom and experienced by most women due to stretching of the muscles and ligaments and growing uterus causing strain on the back muscles.
Bloating– You may feel bloated during early pregnancy due to hormone changes as you feel at the start of a menstrual period.
Weight gain- You will start weight gain during early pregnancy more commonly towards the end of the first trimester. The total weight gain during pregnancy is about 11 kg. In the first trimester, you may not gain much weight due to nausea and vomiting. Thereafter, there will be a steady gain in weight.
Pregnancy glow- Some women develop pregnancy glow due to hormone changes and some may develop acne during their pregnancy.
Women during their pregnancy could have all of these symptoms or may have only one or two. If any of these symptoms become troublesome, talk to your health care provider right away.
Conclusion
In the above post, we have discussed the different symptoms of early pregnancy which may include a missed period, spotting, morning sickness, frequency of urination, breast discomfort, fatigue, mood swings, food aversions, constipation, backache, weight gain and pregnancy glow. If your symptoms become troublesome then consult your health care provider.
