Early Changes To Breasts: Tingling Aching Growing
Breast changes can occur between weeks 4 and 6. Youre likely to develop tender and swollen breasts due to hormone changes. This will likely go away after a few weeks when your body has adjusted to the hormones.
Nipple and breast changes can also occur around week 11. Hormones continue to cause your breasts to grow. The areola the area around the nipple may change to a darker color and grow larger.
If youve had bouts with acne before your pregnancy, you may experience breakouts again.
Take A Pregnancy Test
If youre still not too sure whether the cause pf your missed period and bloating are lifestyle changes, the best way to determine whether youre experiencing the very early symptoms of pregnancy would be to take a pregnancy test at home.
Such tests can be purchased in any pharmacy or even online, if youd like to avoid buying yours in person. However, bear in mind that home pregnancy tests can show false results, especially in the early stages of pregnancy.
Is Bloating Or Gas An Early Sign Of Pregnancy
One of the very early signs of pregnancy in the first week is bloating. Even though it can be hard for many women to distinguish early pregnancy bloating and period bloating, most of them find it normal to be bloated during these times.
But what causes gas after conception? Is being bloated before period a sign of pregnancy? Not always, but if accompanied by other pregnancy symptoms, it is likely to be a sign that will be followed by a positive pregnancy test.
High levels of progesterone after ovulation reduce contractions in the gut leading to bloating and accumulation of gas.
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Certain Foods And Drinks
Some foods and drinks can also lead to symptoms of bloating:
- legumes: most beans contain sugars called alpha-galactosides that belong to a group of carbs called FODMAPs, as well as a lot of fibre, which can cause discomfort and bloating in sensitive people, especially those who are not used to eating a lot of it
- cruciferous vegetables: vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower also contain FODMAPs which can lead to bloating
- carbonated drinks: soda and other fizzy drinks contain high amounts of carbon dioxide that can get trapped in your digestive system and cause bloating
- onions and garlic: onions are a common cause of bloating due to soluble fibres called fructans
- apples: despite being extremely healthy, apples can cause bloating because they contain fructose and high amounts of fibre
- beer: beer is another carbonated drink that also contains fermentable carbs, and this combination of gas and carbs increases the chances of bloating.
Those are of course only some foods and beverages that could lead to bloating. As each person is different, the items mentioned above might not be the cause of bloating in your case at all, while some other unexpected foods and drinks might make the situation worse.
If youre trying to detect and eliminate such foods, its best to keep a food diary which will help you identify any problem foods and drinks and get the situation under control.
Out Of This World Cravings
Eclectic food combos, tropical fruits you ate years ago while on vacation, or a late-night treat all might appeal to you now. Food cravings are as varied as pregnant women themselves. All over the world, women have the weirdest cravings.
What brings about these cravings? Doctors suggest its your bodys way of asking for a nutrient it needs. So, its really not that ice cream your body wants, rather something in it, like calcium .
The thing with cravings is that you can easily replace good nutritious meals with what you crave. Unfortunately, this can mean both you and your baby get empty calories in place of the nutrition you require. Plus you may gain lots of weight.
If you crave non-food items like paper, clay, or chalk, please see your womens health provider. Your body may be lacking important nutrients and whatever you are consuming can hurt your baby.
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Drink Plenty Of Fluids
Water is your best bet. Aim for eight to 10 glasses every day, but other fluids count too.
If your gas is causing pain or extreme bloating, you may have irritable bowel syndrome , in which case make sure any juice you drink is low in certain types of gas and bloating-promoting sugars called FODMAPs.
Cranberry, grape, pineapple, and orange juice are all considered low-FODMAP juices.
Be sure to monitor sugar intake when drinking juices and sodas, especially if youre at an increased risk for developing gestational diabetes.
Also, many varieties of carbonated drinks can lead to more gas.
Causes Of Gas In Pregnancy
When youre pregnant, signs like missed periods, breast tenderness, fatigue, and nausea may not be surprising to you. However, during pregnancygas can come as an unpleasant surprise. It’s one of the unexpected signs of pregnancy. If you have excessive bloating in addition to morning sickness in early pregnancy, youre not alone.
Gas is a common symptom in pregnancy, showing up around week 11 and lasting for the better part of the pregnancy. The good thing is that the condition is manageable and will be over sooner than you think.
Your body undergoes many changes throughout pregnancy, including physical and hormonal changes that lead to excess gas. You may also experience gas pain that ranges from slight discomfort to unbearable pain throughout the back, abdomen, and chest. Bloating and cramps in the stomach and intestines may also be present.
Early Pregnancy: In the first trimester, you will notice many drastic hormonal changes as progesterone and estrogen increase in your body. Their work is to thicken the uterus lining to make the environment comfortable for the growing baby. These are some changes caused by hormones:
- Progesterone helps the muscles to relax, including those that support the intestines. As this happens, the digestive system significantly slows down in its functions.
- High estrogen levels cause the body to retain gas and water in significantly higher amounts than usual. The result is that you may feel pain and discomfort in the abdomen.
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What Are The Symptoms Or Signs Of Pregnancy
What the patient has been describing are all the symptoms typical of the first weeks of pregnancy, which are summarised here:
- Breast pain and tenderness. The breasts are lumpier, more sensitive, and sometimes they even hurt when they touch the bra. This can also be PMS.
- Abdominal pain. Increased gas may accentuate the abdominal discomfort of pregnancy. The patient may confuse this with colicky pain from her period. Abdominal pain during pregnancy is more intense at the end of the day and is difficult to relieve.
- Irritability and sleepiness. These two symptoms can also occur in PMS, but are usually not as marked.
- Sensation of nausea and vomiting. Stomach discomfort can translate into feelings of nausea, even vomiting, and certain smells or tastes can become unbearable even though they were not before the pregnancy.
- Constipation and bloating. Increased progesterone is also associated with a slowing of bowel movements, which can lead to pronounced constipation and increased flatulence. Gas may aggravate the mother-to-be’s feeling of nausea and gastric distress.
- More migraines. Some women who suffer from migraines may also be more affected during this stage of pregnancy, mainly due to the high levels of progesterone circulating in their bodies.
What Are Five Common Signs Of Pregnancy
There are several signs of early pregnancy that you could experience. Not everyone will have all of these symptoms, and some women may not feel any of these things. Pregnancy symptoms throughout the entire pregnancy can vary dramatically between women. Its important not to compare your pregnancy to someone elses.
Common early pregnancy symptoms can include:
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How Soon Can I Take A Pregnancy Test
Pregnancy tests work by detecting a certain level of human chorionic gonadotrophin in your pee. You can take a pregnancy test as soon as youve missed your period. However, its best to wait at least one week after youve missed your period to get the most accurate results. While some tests claim to give you accurate results before a missed period, taking a test too soon can result in a false negative .
Your healthcare provider can take a blood sample to test for pregnancy as early as one week before a missed period.
How Does The Stomach Feel In Early Pregnancy
Pregnancy begins when a fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus, and pregnancy symptoms may begin in some people as early as a week after implantation. Other people may have no signs other than a missed period until a few months into the pregnancy.
In many women, a missed period is the first sign of pregnancy but the only way to know for sure if you are pregnant is to take a pregnancy test.
There may be a number of stomach or abdominal symptoms that occur during the first trimester, such as:
- Nausea/morning sickness
- Usually occurs about 2 to 8 weeks after conception
- Morning sickness occurs most frequently during the first trimester and then goes away, but may continue throughout pregnancy for some women
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Nose Bleeds & Nasal Stuffiness
Your nose is so far away from your uterus, how could it be involved? But nose bleeds and stuffiness can be very common. You can try to treat the symptoms with natural remedies like a humidifier or using a Neti pot to rinse your nasal passage with saltwater.
If that doesnt help, talk to your doctor or midwife for other options. There might be other ways to naturally put moisture back into your nose. This is one of the most common reasons for nose bleeds, which can be quite alarming, particularly in their suddenness.
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Raised Body Temperature During Early Pregnancy
A higher basal body temperature may also be a sign of pregnancy. Your bodys core temperature may also increase more easily during exercise or in hot weather. During this time, youll need to make sure to drink more water and exercise cautiously.
Fatigue can develop any time during pregnancy. This symptom is common in early pregnancy. Your progesterone levels will soar, which can make you feel sleepy.
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Other Possible Causes Of Bloating
While bloating is a common symptom of pregnancy in the first week to two, there is a chance your symptoms are caused by something else. Here are other reasons for stomach gas after implantation.
Also, gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, often brings about abundance in stomach gas and flatulence.
If your bloating is severe and lasts more than 3 days, see a doctor. The gas may not be a pregnancy sign or symptom in the first week or two weeks. Rather, it could be an indication of another illness.
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What Causes Pregnancy Bloating
It might seem as though your jeans start to feel snug as soon as the pregnancy test comes back positive and you can thank the pregnancy hormone progesterone for that puffy phenomenon.
While progesterone is essential for maintaining a healthy pregnancy , it also triggers that oh-so-delightful trio: bloating, burping and passing gas.
Why? Progesterone causes the smooth muscle tissue in your body to relax. This slows down digestion, giving the nutrients from food you eat more time to enter your bloodstream and reach your baby. That’s the good news.
The bad news is this slower digestion when you’re pregnant can cause you to feel bloated and bring on a cramp or two .
Whats more, your expanding uterus places increasing pressure on your rectum, which can wreak havoc on muscle control and lead to the passing of some serious wind.
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Light Bleeding Or Spotting
Implantation bleeding is the light vaginal bleeding that typically occurs about 10 to 14 days after conception. It shouldnt cause anything more than mild spotting, which you may notice in your underwear. Implantation bleeding can also be accompanied by mild cramps that resemble the cramps of menstruation.
If the bleeding is heavy or if the cramping is severe, contact a health care provider for advice.
Along with light bleeding, some people notice white, milky vaginal discharge. This is completely normal and is the result of increased development in the lining of the vagina. The discharge may continue throughout pregnancy and does not usually have any other symptoms. Seek a health care providers opinion if the discharge smells bad or is accompanied by itching. You may need to be treated for a bacterial or yeast infection.
Other Ways To Relieve Gas During Pregnancy
In addition to adjusting your diet, here are more ways to relieve gas during pregnancy:
- Don’t eat big meals. Instead, eat several small meals throughout the day.
- Take your time and chew thoroughly. Don’t talk while you’re eating.
- Limit how much you drink during meals. Drink regularly throughout the day instead.
- Drink from a cup or a glass not from a bottle or through a straw and don’t gulp.
- Don’t drink carbonated beverages.
- Don’t drink anything sweetened with the artificial sweetener sorbitol.
- Don’t chew gum or suck on hard candies.
- Sit up while you’re eating or drinking, even if you’re just having a small snack.
- Get moving. Even a brisk walk can help a sluggish digestive tract.
- Prevent or treat constipation it can add to flatulence and a feeling of bloating.
- Don’t smoke. Smoking during pregnancy not only contributes to many serious health problems, it also boosts stomach acidity.
- Try prenatal yoga to learn relaxation and good breathing techniques. Some people tend to swallow more air when they’re excited or anxious.
If these tips don’t help, ask your healthcare provider whether you can take an over-the-counter gas remedy that contains simethicone.
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Treating Gas Pain During Pregnancy
Having gas during pregnancy can be more painful because of your growing uterus and the extra amount of gas.
As your uterus puts pressure on your bones and organs, it also puts pressure on your intestines. This can make it painful when gas is building and traveling through your intestines. Some of the symptoms of gas during pregnancy are:
If you experience frequent pain with gassiness, try these tips to find relief:
- Lie down on your side
- Lie down on your back with one leg raised
- Change into looser clothing that doesnt press on your belly
- Refrain from chewing gum or smoking
- Try to de-stress
Chewing gum and smoking both draw air into your stomach, which can increase gassiness during early pregnancy. If youre pregnant and feeling a lot of painful gas, reducing these things can help alleviate some of that pain.
Lying on your back with one knee raised can help you pass gas that is painful. If its too painful to lie on your back, try lying on your side. Breathe deeply and slowly to help your bodys digestion move more efficiently and pass painful gas. This can sometimes help early pregnancy bloating.
Stress can make you unconsciously hold back your gas, as your intestinal muscles are sphincters that open when youre relaxed. Stress can also cause bloating during pregnancy. Take yoga classes, meditate, or journal about the mental and physical stressors in your life, and talk to your doctor about other ways you can find relaxation during your pregnancy.
- Round ligament pain
Pregnancy Sign: Lower Pelvic Cramping
Pelvic cramping as an early pregnancy sign? Yep, it can be, according to Nordahl. That might seem counterintuitive, as cramps are super-typical symptoms of Aunt Flow. You were probably hoping that being pregnant meant you could kiss cramps goodbye, but sadly thats not the case. Light cramps can be caused by early pregnancy hormonal shifts and implantation of the fertilized egg on your uterine lining.
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Check For Other Signs Of Pregnancy
This is actually not the last step, but in case your home pregnancy test is negative and your period is still running late, pay attention to the other symptoms of early pregnancy described below. If you start noticing any of them, take another pregnancy test and see your doctor as soon as possible to avoid further confusion.
