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You may be pregnant. Perhaps you begin to notice symptoms that give you a clue: abnormal tiredness, heaviness in the stomach, nausea… or your period has not come.
I am going to talk to you about the first symptoms that you will notice when you get pregnant, what you should do if you notice them and some home methods to know if you should prepare yourself for the arrival of a new member of the family.
Do you want to know the most common symptoms of pregnancy?
MOST COMMON PREGNANCY SYMPTOMS
The symptoms you will see below are those that occur most frequently in early pregnancy.
However, each woman and each pregnancy is a world of its own. So you may notice all of them, some, or even none of them and that does not have to be an indication that there is a problem with the pregnancy.
Pregnancy without symptoms
It is possible to be pregnant and not have any symptoms during the entire pregnancy. You may hear that the absence of symptoms means that something is wrong, but this is not the case. Some women have pregnancies without symptoms and it is perfectly normal. Rare and unusual, but still in the realm of possibility.
MENSTRUAL DELAY
It’s probably the first thing you’ll notice . If your menstruation is very regular, it is a very clear symptom to begin to suspect. If it is more or less common for it to be delayed, it may take a few more days to realize it.
However, there may be other factors that influence the regularity of your cycle . Your period may not come, or it may be delayed:
- As a result of stressful situations.
- With very sudden changes in temperature (waves of heat or cold).
- Even changes in diet (especially fasting).
Although there is some myth about it, the reality is that menstruation stops during pregnancy : that is, you will never have a period while you are pregnant.
SPOTTING
It is another of the first symptoms that could indicate that you are pregnant
One to two weeks after becoming pregnant, you may experience small pinkish or brownish spotting known as implantation bleeding . This bleeding is due to the implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterus.
It is something normal that in principle should not worry you , unless it lasts more than 2-3 days or the bleeding is abundant and/or intense red. In these cases or if you have doubts, consult your doctor.
Can implantation bleeding and miscarriage be confused?
Although rare, a miscarriage can occur on the dates that implantation bleeding would occur. To distinguish them, the main thing is to look at the color: if the blood is intense red, as well as very abundant, you should go to the hospital.
Also, if the bleeding occurs later in the pregnancy, it could be a symptom of a miscarriage, so you should see your doctor as soon as possible.
ABDOMINAL PAIN
It can arise in the early stages of pregnancy, and it is also possible that you confuse it with pre- or menstrual cramps.
Can menstrual pain be differentiated from pregnancy?
It is not easy to tell if abdominal pain is due to pregnancy or menstruation. Still, the pain of pregnancy stops with some postures or at rest.
In the first months it is caused by hormonal changes, and also by changes in the anatomy of the abdomen and pelvis.
Later we will talk about the growth of the uterus, the movement of the fetus, the compression of the abdominal organs… all this causes small cramps that can accompany you, with greater or lesser intensity, until the moment of delivery.
Without wanting to alarm you, abdominal pain can be a symptom of ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage. As always, if the pain is very sharp, persistent and does not go away, go to the doctor.
BREAST TENDERNESS AND SWELLING
It is another of the typical symptoms of menstruation, so you may not pay much attention to it at first.
However, your hormones are revolutionized and soon you will not be able to ignore that your breasts are sensitive and somewhat sore.
They are especially annoying when sleeping and exercising, so you should look for a special bra for these months. As the breasts grow a lot in these months, it is better to use a model without underwire so that it does not stick to you. Normally, the most comfortable ones tend to be those that hold well without compressing the chest too much.
Are breast pain products helpful?
In general, medical professionals advise against the use of products for sore breasts because they have little (or no) effectiveness and can irritate the skin. In addition, they may contain products not recommended to be exposed to during pregnancy.
As the months go by, other symptoms may appear, such as:
- Darkening and increase in the size of the areolas, which will make it easier for the baby to find them after delivery to start suckling.
- Appearance of small bumps.
- Breast enlargement.
NAUSEA AND HEAVINESS IN THE STOMACH
Morning sickness is a classic symptom of pregnancy, especially in movies , where after a bad awakening, the protagonist is asked “aren’t you pregnant?”
The topic is for a reason, since the changes in the body -hormones, stretching of the uterus and relaxation of the muscles of the digestive tract- make the stomach suffer and cause discomfort ranging from a little dizziness to vomiting at any time of the day. Up to 80% of pregnant women suffer from this famous nausea .
Weight loss in early pregnancy
It is perfectly normal to lose weight in early pregnancy. Even if vomiting doesn’t occur, nausea can make you want to eat less.
These symptoms usually go away with the first trimester, but in the meantime, you can drink plenty of fluids, don’t go for long hours without eating anything, and avoid large meals all at once—small snacks are much better.
ABNORMAL TIREDNESS
The scientific explanation is that progesterone increases with pregnancy, and that makes you much more tired than usual. Come on, it is possible that you become the typical pregnant woman who falls asleep at the drop of a hat, at least until you get used to the new situation.
Realize that your body is under significant stress: not just progesterone, but blood sugar drops and blood pressure drops, and it shows in your energy.
As much as possible, pay attention to your body : if it asks for rest, give it to it. Increasing carbohydrates in the diet can also help (in moderation).
FREQUENT URINATION
In the coming months you will go to the bathroom a lot, for a simple physical reason. The flow of blood circulating through your body is much higher than usual, so the kidneys have extra work.
In addition, the uterus is starting to grow, compressing the bladder and preventing it from filling completely, so you will have to empty it more often than usual.
INCREASED SENSITIVITY TO ODORS
That cologne that you liked so much suddenly repels you, and your sense of smell seems to have become a superpower, because you notice everything.
Once again, hormones have the explanation, and some say that it is the body itself telling you what it needs: for example, maybe you don’t like that delicious aroma of coffee in the morning so much, because you should avoid taking too much caffeine in your diet.
When does it appear and how long does it last?
Hyperosmia or increased sensitivity of smell, is usually related to the onset of nausea and usually occurs at the beginning of pregnancy. It usually disappears after a few weeks, being very infrequent around week 18-20.
CHANGES IN THE VAGINA AND CERVIX
It is very difficult for you to see them, but all these changes take place at the beginning of pregnancy.
Decades ago, they were observed to know whether or not there was a pregnancy, they are the Goodell sign and the Chadwick sign.
The first refers to the softening of the cervix, which is at the bottom of the vagina and can be felt as a hardened mass, which, at the beginning of pregnancy, softens.
The second is related to the increased vascularization of the vagina and it may be somewhat easier to detect it. This increased blood flow causes the walls inside the vagina, and even the labia, to turn a bluish or purplish color.
LESS COMMON PREGNANCY SYMPTOMS
ABDOMINAL SWELLING
It’s easy to confuse it with premenstrual syndrome, but it’s actually your body getting ready to deal with all the changes that lie ahead. In addition, progesterone reduces intestinal motility, causing constipation and increased gas.
CHANGES IN THE SENSE OF TASTE
Smell and taste are closely related, so it is normal that you do not feel like eating your favorite dishes and enjoy flavors that you did not want before. The topic of “cravings” is born from there and has its share of reality.
What has no scientific basis is the myth that if you leave a craving unfulfilled, the baby will be born with a spot on the skin or similar nonsense.
SUDDEN MOOD SWINGS
Oh the hormones! They are many things at once, and sometimes they overwhelm. Changes that we do not understand and do not know how to rationalize, and that can change our mood without warning.
The best thing is to laugh a little and not dramatize, knowing that there is an explanation .
And of course, never blame the pregnant woman, who is adapting to the new situation in the best possible way.
DIZZINESS
The change in blood pressure and the increase in the frequency of breathing cause some women to experience dizziness and even fainting.
FREQUENT FORGETFULNESS
It will not be uncommon for you to feel small forgetfulness, they will be common during pregnancy and until your little one turns 2 years old. This is due to a reduction in the gray matter of your brain.
It is not very well known why or for what this happens, but all the hypotheses relate it to a mechanism of adaptation to new social demands. These could promote an adequate maternal role and an optimal bond with the baby that facilitates their cognitive and social development.
WHEN TO DO THE PREGNANCY TEST
Normally, you wait about 5 days after your missed period to take a pregnancy test. First, because it is the most obvious sign that indicates that we may be pregnant, and second, because at that point you will already be producing the hCG hormone in sufficient quantities to be detected.
hCG, or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, is the “pregnancy hormone” and begins to be produced as soon as the fertilized egg settles in the uterus. In a few days you will have it in your blood and urine, in sufficient quantities to be detected without error.
If you are in a very, very big rush, keep in mind that pharmacy pregnancy tests have different sensitivities depending on the brand. Its sensitivity depends on how much hCG, the pregnancy hormone, must be in the urine to be able to detect it.
Most tests detect a concentration of 10 mIU/ml, although there are ultra-sensitive ones, which are capable of detecting lower hormone concentrations (5 mIU/ml).
HOW TO CALCULATE HOW MANY WEEKS PREGNANT YOU ARE
If the result of the pregnancy test is positive, it is important that you know how many weeks you are. It will also be useful for you to know what day you will give birth and how your body and your baby will evolve throughout this adventure that has just begun.
WHAT TO DO IF THE PREGNANCY TEST IS POSITIVE
If your test has come out positive, the next thing is to make an appointment with your midwife or your doctor so that they schedule all the check-up tests that you will need throughout the pregnancy and that they inform you about how to carry out your pregnancy in the healthiest way.
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