13 Common Early Pregnancy Symptoms | Stages of Pregnancy

{YBA} If you have any of these signs, be sure to take an at home test. If it is positive, it is important that a mother-to-be receive prenatal care early in pregnancy. Your doctor will tell you to take prenatal vitamins with folic acid in them to prevent birth defects in your baby as soon as you know for sure that you’re pregnant.

Please note that pregnancy symptoms differ from woman to woman. while some have few, others have more.

1. Missed Menstrual Period

A missed cycle can be a sign of pregnancy. It is usually the first indicator that conception has occurred, although some women claim to know they are pregnant before they miss a period.

2. Implantation bleeding

Some women have a small amount of vaginal bleeding around 11 or 12 days after conception (close to the time you might notice a missed period). The bleeding may be caused by the fertilized egg burrowing into the blood-rich lining of your uterus — a process that starts just six days after fertilization — but no one knows for sure.

The bleeding is very light (appearing as red spotting or pink or reddish-brown staining) and lasts only a day or two. (Let your practitioner know if you notice any bleeding or spotting, particularly if it’s accompanied by pain, since this can be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy.)

3. Morning Sickness

Nausea can be a sign that a woman is pregnant. Many women say that they’ve had nausea up to two weeks before an expected monthly cycle and before any other symptom. Eating crackers before getting out of the bed in the morning can help and eating several smaller meals instead of larger ones can help

4. Tender, Swollen breasts

One of the early signs of pregnancy is sensitive, sore breasts caused by increasing levels of hormones. The soreness may feel like an exaggerated version of how your breasts feel before your period. Your discomfort should diminish significantly after the first trimester, as your body adjusts to the hormonal changes.

5. Fatigue

Extreme fatigue can be another indicator of pregnancy, especially if other symptoms are present. A nap a day can help a pregnant woman maintain normal daily activities.

6. Frequent Urination

An increased urge to urinate can be an indicator and usually occurs between 6 to 8 weeks out. As difficult as headaches in pregnancy  can be to tolerate, remember that this is a temporary condition and they diminish considerably by the end of the third or fourth month. Most women don’t experience headaches past that point, unless other medical conditions are triggering them.

7. Pregnancy Headaches

Headaches in early pregnancy are a common symptom and begin at about the 6th week. A quick nap can help diminish headaches in pregnancy.

Preeclampsia or toxemia can begin with headache and can be dangerous to a pregnant woman. If you are pregnant and have this symptom, be sure to call your health care provider immediately.

8. Spotting

Spotting is a common symptom in pregnancy. Some women report what seems to be a short light period before the onset of other symptoms. This may be implantation bleeding and not a monthly period at all (when the egg implants itself into the lining of the uterus). If you are pregnant and you experience spotting check in with your doctor as spotting is also an indicator of miscarriage in early pregnancy.

9. Light Headedness

Some pregnant women experience actual fainting and light headedness. Again, this is usually not an issue past the fourth month of pregnancy.

10. Constipation

Hormonal changes can affect the digestive system and cause constipation. Drinking plenty of water and exercising can help. A pregnant woman should ask her doctor for recommended exercises while pregnant.

11. Heartburn

Heartburn can be a symptom in months 1-9. In months 1-4, heartburn is caused by hormonal changes. In months 5-9, the baby can cause pressure on a pregnant woman’s organs. Eating frequent smaller meals and remaining in an upright position at least an hour after eating can help.

In pregnancy, with some fathers-to-be, it is difficult for them to understand the life that is within their mate. It is beneficial for the mother and father to be at the first ultrasound together as it seems to help fathers-to-be form a mental picture when they see movement of their baby on the ultrasound screen. Anticipation soon grows!

12. Increased sensitivity to odors

If you’re newly pregnant, it’s not uncommon to feel repelled by the smell of a bologna sandwich or cup of coffee and for certain aromas to trigger your gag reflex. Though no one knows for sure, this may be a side effect of rapidly increasing amounts of estrogen in your system. You may also find that certain foods you used to enjoy are suddenly completely repulsive to you.

13. Basal body temperature stays high

If you’ve been charting your basal body temperature and you see that your temperature has stayed elevated for 18 days in a row, you’re probably pregnant.

In Conclusion

By the end of the fourth month of pregnancy, most of these pregnancy symptoms subside and the elation and joy overcome most any mother to be. Energy levels return to normal as does the desire for food.