Are You Pregnant? First Signs of Pregnancy

Some women won’t even consider the possibility that they are pregnant until the pregnancy test turns up positive. Others are anxious to know for sure and will look for the first signs of pregnancy long before a period is even missed. While the only definitive way to know if you are expecting is with a home pregnancy test or an exam in your doctor’s office, there are some first signs of pregnancy that many women will experience before that test is done.

Changes to the Body
While you may not experience the swollen belly and small kicks inside your abdomen until well into your second trimester, there are some first signs of pregnancy that are more subtle. Many women will first notice early pregnancy symptoms like changes to their breasts, even before the first day of a missed period. The breasts may begin to feel swollen or tender, much like they do prior to a period only with much more intensity. The tenderness is caused by hormone fluctuations that happen during those first few weeks after conception. Once your body adjusts to the hormone changes, those first signs of pregnancy will diminish.

Other women may find that they have to urinate more often than necessary, even getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. While you don’t have an oversized stomach pressing on your bladder just yet, the hormones are increasing fluid levels in your body and the bladder has to work overtime to eliminate them. Unfortunately, this trouble won’t alleviate much during pregnancy, but you can look forward to less frequent bathroom breaks after the baby is born.

Fatigue and nausea can also be some of the first signs of pregnancy, although not all women will experience the effects of morning sickness. Fatigue is a very common first sign of pregnancy as your body adjusts to the hormone fluctuations and the new life growing inside. Most women find that they are less tired during the second trimester, but the fatigue will be back in the later months as a good night’s sleep becomes elusive and the body has to work overtime to support the baby.

For those that are actively trying to become pregnant and are using a basal body temperature chart to do so, they may find that the body’s basal temperature will remain high after conception has taken place. If this temperature stays elevated for 18 days or longer, there is a good chance that pregnancy has occurred.

These first signs of pregnancy may not be able to diagnose conception on their own, but they can indicate that a pregnancy test should be done – especially if the menstrual cycle does not occur on schedule. If you experience any of these early pregnancy symptoms and you have a late period, make an appointment with your doctor for a pregnancy test.

How to Identify a Sign of Pregnancy

The best way to determine if you are pregnant is through a pregnancy test done at home or in a doctor’s office. However, there are ways to recognize a sign of pregnancy that may occur before a period is missed or a test is taken. In the case of teen pregnancy, these signs may not be recognized or they may be ignored due to stress. Many teens that find themselves in this situation have a hard time coping and will opt to deny the possibility until much later in the pregnancy term.

It is also possible that what is considered to be a sign of pregnancy in many cases is really just a symptom of stress or increased activity level. For example, young women who are under severe strain caused by the demands of school or friends may experience nausea and changes in appetite. It is also true that serious training for a sport can cause a woman to miss periods. However, barring unusual circumstances, theses signs of pregnancy may at least be a signal to make an appointment with your doctor or perform a pregnancy test at home. The sooner a pregnancy is diagnosed, the sooner a teen and her family can weight the options available to her.

Symptoms of Teen Pregnancy
The symptoms of pregnancy in a teen are similar to those that an adult will experience. The primary sign of pregnancy is a missed period, although this can occur for other reasons as well. Other symptoms might include nausea, fatigue and swollen breasts. Parents may notice changes in eating habits as food aversions or cravings kick in, often during the first trimester. Increased urination is another sign of pregnancy that can occur in the early weeks.

Some teens may ignore the early sign of pregnancy, and will then be forced to deal with the situation when the later symptoms begin to appear. These might include an enlarged abdomen as the baby grows, weight gain or loss in some cases and headaches and backaches. The movement of the baby may begin to be more obvious, as small movements and fluttering known as “quickening” will evolve into full fledges kicks and punches from inside. A pregnancy “mask” may appear on the face as the hormones affect the melanin in the skin and food cravings may increase.

If you suspect that you are pregnant, it is important not to ignore the sign of pregnancy that is occurring. A pregnancy test can easily confirm your suspicion so that you can begin weighing your options and make decisions that are right for you and your baby. Seek out help from parents and support groups that can help you understand your options and give you the support and guidance you need to get through this difficult time.

Unusual Pregnancy Symptoms: Should I Call my Doctor?

While pregnancy is a happy, exciting time for most women, there is also a degree of anxiety that permeates the experience from the first sign of pregnancy. This anxious feeling can be compounded by the fact that pregnancy symptoms begin even before the pregnancy test comes up positive, and many women have trouble distinguishing between what’s normal and what are unusual pregnancy symptoms. While some pregnancy signs may be less common than others, not all of these unusual pregnancy symptoms are an indication that something is wrong. Still, if you are ever concerned about any of the symptoms that you encounter during your pregnancy, a call to your doctor is always a good idea.

When to Call your Doctor
Some unusual pregnancy symptoms will warrant a call to your doctor, and usually sooner rather than later. These might include bleeding, cramping or pain at any time during the nine months. Once you begin feeling the movement of your baby, your doctor will offer guidelines as to when to call if the movement is not felt within a period of time. The general rule of thumb is to call if you are more than 28 weeks along and you don’t feel at least ten movements in two hours or less.

Other unusual pregnancy symptoms that are worth a call to your doctor include pre-term labor signs like contractions that begin to occur at regular intervals, pressure in the lower abdomen or fluid leaking. Other unusual pregnancy symptoms that might be seen in the second and third trimesters include swelling of the hands, face or feet, blurred vision, fever or sever gastrointestinal problems.

Other Symptoms to Watch For
Some unusual pregnancy symptoms may not be the sign of a problem but do need to be checked by your doctor. If you gain weight at a more rapid pace than is typical, it could indicate gestational diabetes or it could mean that you are carrying more than one baby. Other signs that you are carrying twins might include increased pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness and fatigue. A distinct heartbeat may be heard earlier than is typical and the uterus may grow much quicker. While these unusual pregnancy symptoms are not an indication of a problem, it is a good idea to see your doctor about them so your prenatal care is tailored to your unique situation.

Pregnancy is a time of excitement and apprehension, especially when unusual pregnancy symptoms crop up during the term. While many unusual pregnancy symptoms will not indicate that anything is wrong with the baby, it is always a good idea to contact your doctor for reassurance and an accurate assessment of your pregnancy.

Understanding your Pregnancy Symptoms Week by Week

Pregnancy is an exciting time for many women, but it can also be a time that is wrought with anxiety and uncertainty. One way to feel more comfortable with your pregnancy is to educate yourself about the changes that both you and your baby will experience in the upcoming months. By tracking pregnancy symptoms week by week, you can stay up to date on what is typical throughout your pregnancy and when to worry about particular symptoms that may crop up.

The First Trimester
The first trimester will see a lot of changes to your body due to the fluctuating hormones that will prepare you for the job of caring for that growing baby inside. Because of this, pregnancy symptoms week by week will come fast and furious, from nausea and fatigue to swollen breasts and an aching back. This is a good time to stay abreast of the changes that might take place and if any unusual pregnancy symptoms appear, you can call your doctor. The pregnancy symptoms week by week during this time will vary slightly from woman to woman, with some experiencing the symptoms at slightly different times and others not seeing some of the pregnancy signs at all.

The Middle Trimester
Most women find these three months to be the most comfortable and enjoyable of the entire pregnancy term. Your abdomen is growing sufficiently so you can flaunt your pregnant status with pride, but the week by week pregnancy symptoms that appeared during the first trimester often ease up or even disappear during this time. This is a good point to get as much rest as you possibly can, since the next phase of pregnancy will see the reappearance of many physical symptoms as well as the surfacing of brand new ones.

The Last Trimester
Once again the pregnancy symptoms week by week will begin to fluctuate, as your abdomen grows to a challenging size and the hormones kick in once again to prepare your body for the work of labor and delivery. Fatigue becomes a problem as sleep is an elusive prospect during this time; partly because an extended belly makes comfort almost impossible, and partly because the anxiety and excitement over what is to come is making it hard to relax. Increased urination comes back as well, this time because of the enlarged abdomen instead of simple hormone fluctuations. All of the pregnancy symptoms week by week are getting the body ready for the safe and healthy delivery of your healthy baby very soon.

Pregnancy is a time of many changes for your body. By keeping track of pregnancy symptoms week by week and alerting your doctor to any unusual pregnancy symptoms, you can survive your pregnancy months with as much confidence and peace of mind as possible.

Some Early Pregnancy Symptoms You Might not Think About

Many women don’t think about the possibility of being pregnant until after the period is missed and the test is taken. At that time, many early pregnancy symptoms may begin to make an appearance to confirm what is already known through the body’s own response to the many changes taking place. Some of these early pregnancy symptoms may appear long before the period is missed. However, many women won’t notice the signs at first, because they are not obtrusive enough to warrant much attention. By the time a woman hits the sixth or seventh week of pregnancy however, these early signs might be difficult to ignore.

What’s up with Food?
Food aversions and cravings are common early pregnancy symptoms, but many women are surprised by how early these signs appear. When you look at charts of pregnancy symptoms week by week, these symptoms often show up much later in the term. However, challenges with different types of food can begin very early in the first trimester and will sometimes continue on throughout the pregnancy. In some cases, the aversions or craving may fluctuate slightly, so a woman who is craving one type of food during the first few months may switch to a completely different craving later on.

One of the reasons for these early pregnancy symptoms is hormones. The fluctuations in hormones can sensitize the nose to a variety of odors, and the odors are often the cause of the food aversion. The best way to deal with these early pregnancy symptoms is to take your prenatal vitamin on schedule every day to ensure that your body is getting the nutrients it needs throughout your pregnancy. Then try to cater to your aversions and cravings as much as possible while sticking to a healthy diet as much as possible.

Oh, My Aching Back!
Most women won’t think about back problems as early pregnancy symptoms; after all, that extra weight hasn’t started packing it on just yet! Many books that talk about pregnancy symptoms week by week will also list low back pain in the later months of pregnancy as the growing baby begins to put a strain on the mother’s body. However, many women do experience low back pain as one of the early pregnancy symptoms as well. Once again, you can blame hormones for this discomfort as they prepare your joints and ligaments for the delivery of your baby at the end of your term.

There are many early pregnancy symptoms that can occur in the first few months. Some are well known, like morning sickness, fatigue and swollen breasts. Others make an appearance before many women expect them, like food aversions and low back pain. If you are ever concerned about any of the early pregnancy symptoms you experience, talk to your doctor.

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