Unusual Feelings And Emotions
If your emotions feel a little out of balance in early pregnancy, the reason is once again hormones. Its most common in the first trimester, so the feeling of being on an emotional roller coaster will likely settle down after a little while.
As with other early pregnancy symptoms, you may find that staying active, eating a healthy diet, and maintaining a social life can help you deal with these symptoms.
Are You Really Pregnant
Unfortunately, these signs and symptoms arent unique to pregnancy. Some can indicate that youre getting sick or that your period is about to start. On the other hand, you could be pregnant without experiencing any of these signs and symptoms. Nevertheless, if you miss a period or notice any of these symptoms and pregnancy is a possibility, you might want to take a pregnancy test. Mosaic offers free pregnancy testing at our location in Lansdowne and our advocates are available to provide help in the event that you test positive.
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Note: Content for this page was collected and compiled from the Mayo Clinic and Web MD.
What Can I Do Now That I Am Having Early Pregnancy Symptoms
If you started experiencing some of these early pregnancy sings or symptoms before you’ve missed your period, don’t buy the baby announcements just yet. In the meantime, before you are able to know for certain that you are pregnant, you should still be taking care of yourself like you are pregnant. This means that you should get enough sleep, stay hydrated, take your prenatal vitamins, stop smoking, stop drinking, and make a conscious decision to be healthier for your potential baby.
- Related Read: What To Do When You Find Out You’re Pregnant
One thing that I have to remind you NOT to do now is compare yourself to other women. Like I mentioned earlier, every woman is unique. Your body will respond to pregnancy hormones differently than the woman next door. You may feel completely different signs of early pregnancy than she doesor you might experience none at all! Whatever you do, don’t upset yourself by analyzing every sign, symptom, and feeling compared to every pregnant Jane Doe that you run into.
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Faster Heartbeat In Pregnancy
Your heart starts to beat faster in early pregnancy and continues to accelerate throughout. This is due to an increase in the amount of blood in your body, which is used to help your baby grow and develop. Your heart has to pump faster to move the extra blood around your body. By the end of the second trimester, the average pulse rate has increased by 10 to 20 beats per minute, says Dr Lee.
Tips
- Eat a healthy diet, keep exercising regularly, and avoid caffeine.
- If you experience palpitations frequently, consult your doctor.
What Are The First Symptoms Of Pregnancy
Missing a period is usually the first signal of a new pregnancy, although women with irregular periods may not initially recognize a missed period as pregnancy. During this time, many women experience a need to urinate frequently, extreme fatigue, nausea and/or vomiting, and increased breast tenderness. All of these symptoms can be normal. Most over-the-counter pregnancy tests are sensitive 9-12 days after conception, and they are readily available at most drug stores. Performing these tests early helps to allay confusion and guesswork. A serum pregnancy test can detect pregnancy 8-11 days after conception.
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What Can Cause A Delay In Your Period
Unfortunately, even a missed period is not a 100% sign that you are pregnant. A delay in your period can be caused by changes in your weight, eating habits, prescription or recreational drug use, or even chronic illnesses such as polycystic ovary syndrome, thyroid disorder, and diabetes.
You may even skip your period all together and not be pregnant. Sometimes hormonal changes, recently stopping birth control, and stress factors can lead to a missed period this month. If any of these possibilities apply to you, wait a few days after your missed period and take a home pregnancy test. If you still don’t have answers, you can seek care from your provider to see what’s going on.
Do Ocular Changes Occur In Pregnancy
Physiologic changes of pregnancy create stress to all of the mother’s body systems, including the eye and visual system. Pregnant women often report dry eyes, which is thought to be due disruption of the lacrimal acinar cells by pregnancy-enhanced hormones. Some women also find it difficult to wear contact lenses while pregnant as a result of corneal thickening and an increase in curvature. These changes can also affect the corneal refractive index. It is important to advise women these changes are transient, and they should wait several weeks postpartum before seeking a new prescription for glasses or fittings for new contact lenses.
Pregnancy can also impact preexisting ocular diseases. The risk of development and progression of diabetic retinopathy is most common in this setting. Although diabetic retinopathy is associated with a high rate of postpartum regression, it is important to counsel women about the risk.
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Early Signs Of Pregnancy Before A Missed Period
Although a pregnancy test is going to be your best indicator to whether your HCG levels are high enough to make an appointment with your OBGYN, there are other signs and symptoms of pregnancy before a missed period. If you are impatient, like me, pay attention to the early signs of pregnancy that you might be able to notice before you can take an accurate pregnancy test.
You probably will not be experiencing all of these symptoms at once. Before I knew I was pregnant, I only felt a handful of early pregnancy signs and symptoms. Once the first trimester is in full swing, there will be a whole other list of ailments that you might have to look forward to. But for now, if you have two or three of these early signs of pregnancy before you miss your period, you can take it as a possible sign of pregnancy!
Please note: I am not a doctor and I am not giving medical advice. Information on this website is not intended to diagnose, or treat any form of any disease. This article is for informational and entertainment purposes only. I am only telling you what my experiences are. Please refer to my Disclaimer Page for more information
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Spotting And Cramping During Pregnancy
You may feel an odd, rather vague feeling of mild period-like cramping very early on after conception as the fertilised egg attaches itself to wall of the womb. This is known as implantation bleeding that occurs anywhere from six to 12 days after the egg is fertilised, says Dr Henderson.
Tips
- Unlike a normal period, the bleeding and cramps are mild. To treat cramps, use paracetamol at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time.
- If you develop heavier bleeding early in pregnancy, seek advice from your doctor.
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Early Signs Of Pregnancy To Look Out For
Should you take a test? We reveal the tell-tale early signs of pregnancy.
Suspecting or hoping you could be pregnant? While a missed period followed by a pregnancy test is the only sure-fire way of finding out if youre definitely expecting a baby, there are a few hormonal changes that might indicate early signs of pregnancy.
Pregnancy tests are most reliable from the first day of your missed period, although some tests can be used as early as five days before your period is due.
If its too soon to take a pregnancy test, GP Dr Roger Henderson, and Dr Deborah Lee, of Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, share the early signs of pregnancy to look out for:
Can I Take A Home Pregnancy Test Before I Start Feeling Early Pregnancy Symptoms
YES! Although I recommend waiting to take a test until after you’ve missed your period, you do not have to wait until you start feeling pregnant! Some women never feel any different until they notice their belly growing. Crazy, I know. You don’t have to be nauseated, fatigued, or bloated before you decide that it’s time to take a test!
On the other side of the coin, many women wonder How long after I start feeling pregnancy symptoms can I take a home pregnancy test?. Well, that’s a little more complicated. You may start to feel symptoms well before you can get a positive result when you pee on a stick. Even if you are feeling every early pregnancy symptom in the book, you will probably do well to wait until after you’ve missed your period before you take a home pregnancy test to confirm it.
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How Do People Get Pregnant
Pregnancy is actually a pretty complicated process that has several steps. It all starts with sperm cells and an egg.
Sperm are microscopic cells that are made in testicles. Sperm mixes with other fluids to make semen , which comes out of the penis during ejaculation. Millions and millions of sperm come out every time you ejaculate but it only takes 1 sperm cell to meet with an egg for pregnancy to happen.
Eggs live in ovaries, and the hormones that control your menstrual cycle cause a few eggs to mature every month. When your egg is mature, it means its ready to be fertilized by a sperm cell. These hormones also make the lining of your uterus thick and spongy, which gets your body ready for pregnancy.
About halfway through your menstrual cycle, one mature egg leaves the ovary called ovulation and travels through the fallopian tube towards your uterus.
The egg hangs out for about 12-24 hours, slowly moving through the fallopian tube, to see if any sperm are around.
If semen gets in your vagina, sperm cells can swim up through the cervix. The sperm and uterus work together to move the sperm towards the fallopian tubes. If an egg is moving through your fallopian tubes at the same time, the sperm and egg can join together. The sperm has up to six days to join with an egg before it dies.
The ball of cells floats in the uterus for another 23 days. If the ball of cells attaches to the lining of your uterus, its called implantation when pregnancy officially begins.
Is Cramping During Pregnancy Normal
Early in pregnancy, uterine cramping can indicate normal changes of pregnancy initiated by hormonal changes later in pregnancy, it can indicate a growing uterus. Cramping that is different from previous pregnancies, worsening cramping, or cramping associated with any vaginal bleeding may be a sign of ectopic pregnancy, threatened abortion, or missed abortion.
Other physical effects that are normal during pregnancy, and not necessarily signs of disease, include nausea, vomiting, increase in abdominal girth, changes in bowel habits, increased urinary frequency, palpitations or more rapid heartbeat, upheaving of the chest , heart murmurs, swelling of the ankles, and shortness of breath.
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What Are The Earliest Signs Of Pregnancy
The earliest pregnancy symptoms in the order of appearance are: implantation bleeding, implantation cramps, nausea and vomiting, tiredness and fatigue, positive blood pregnancy test, positive urine home pregnancy test, elevated basal body temperature chart, a missed menstrual period.
For most women, the very first early pregnancy sign is a missed period. Pregnancy symptoms differ from one woman to another woman and also from one pregnancy to another. Some women have many symptoms, and others have none. Many women typically report no pregnancy signs and symptoms for many weeks after a missed period, while others have symptoms much earlier.
Cervical Mucus / Vaginal Discharge
If you’ve been trying to conceive, I would make the bet that you’ve either heard word about or google searched cervical mucus a number of times. Cervical mucus and vaginal discharge are important parts in trying to conceive and can be a definitive sign of ovulation as well as pregnancy.
If you did not get pregnant this month, your cervical mucus will usually completely dry up before your period is due. On the other hand, if you are pregnant, then your cervical mucus will likely increase before your missed period. An increase in cervical mucus can be a very early and very clear sign of pregnancy before your missed period.
During early pregnancy, your cervical mucus may become thick and creamy with the important job of protecting your pregnancy by keeping out infections. Start studying your toilet paper and you just might find out your pregnant before you can take a home pregnancy test!
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What Causes Uterine Factor Infertility
Absolute uterine factor infertility happens when the uterus is not present, the uterus is underdeveloped, or the uterus is present but is nonfunctional. There are two main causes of absolute uterine factor infertility. These causes include:
- Being born without a functioning uterus.
- Having the uterus removed .
Being born without a uterus.
This is a rare congenital condition called Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome . This condition causes parts of the female reproductive system to be underdeveloped meaning the vagina can be shorter than normal or the uterus may not be the correct shape and size. In severe cases, theres no uterus present at birth. In MRKH, the ovaries are present and functioning, so patients may still have mood changes and other signs of a menstrual cycle, but they will not have bleeding. While the ovaries arent affected, MRKH is associated with kidney and skeletal problems. MRKH is often diagnosed during the teen years when menstrual cycles dont start as expected.
Having the uterus removed .
Having the uterus surgically removed during childbearing years can happen for a variety of reasons. These reasons can include:
Sour Or Metallic Taste
Forum mum sealeyB says she had a really metallic taste in her mouth very soon after ovulation and it didnt go for 2 weeks. And shes definitely not alone in experiencing this early pregnancy symptom.
Experiencing strange tastes, known as dysgeusia, is one of the lesser-known but actually quite common early pregnancy signs, says Dr. Amin Gorgy. And, once again, pregnancy hormones are the culprit.
The metallic taste symptom can vary in its intensity but its definitely sour. Its as if I have sucked 2p pieces! says forum mum-to-be Deli3.
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High Blood Pressure And Dizziness During Early Pregnancy
In most cases, high or normal blood pressure will drop in the early stages of pregnancy. This may also cause feelings of dizziness since your blood vessels are dilated.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, as a result of pregnancy is more difficult to determine. Almost all cases of hypertension within the first 20 weeks indicate underlying problems. It may develop during early pregnancy, but it may also be present beforehand.
A medical professional will take your blood pressure during your first doctors visit to help establish a baseline for a normal blood pressure reading.
Food And Odor Aversions Or Cravings
Aversions to certain foods or odors are caused by your bodys hormonal changes during the first trimester of pregnancy. You may start to despise the way your favorite dinner smells or tastes, or, on the flip side, you may crave certain snacks, meals, beverages or food combinations.
When it comes to cravings or aversions, listen to your body. Its okay to occasionally indulge in late-night ice cream runsjust don’t overdo it. Talk to your OBGYN if youre unable to stomach major food groups like vegetables or whole grains. The two of you can discuss foods that can easily be substituted in.
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Weight Gain During Early Pregnancy
Weight gain becomes more common toward the end of your first trimester. You may find yourself gaining about 1 to 4 pounds in the first few months.
Calorie recommendations for early pregnancy wont change much from your usual diet, but they will increase as pregnancy progresses.
In the later stages, pregnancy weight often shows up in the:
- breasts
- uterus
Hormones can cause the valve between your stomach and esophagus to relax. This allows stomach acid to leak, causing heartburn.
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Many women wonder how soon you can feel pregnancy symptoms, and whether you can feel implantation or conception. The simple answer: you can get early pregnancy symptoms and signs even before you have a missed period, and you may feel pregnancy signs and symptoms right after implantation.
Check out your Fertility Knowledge, and how much you know about fertility
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Early Pregnancy Symptoms With Twins
Wondering if there could be twins in there? Usually women who are pregnant with twins find out at the first ultrasound appointmentoften around 8 weeks pregnantwhen the doctor sees two sacs. Before that, though, there are some early pregnancy symptoms that could signal that there is more than one baby in there.
- Elevated hCG level: A pregnancy blood test is more sensitive than a urine test. It doesnt just tell you pregnant or not, it gives your doctor an actual hCG level. And if yours is higher than usual for a woman as far along as you are, it could be an early sign of pregnancy with twins.
- Early showing or weight gain: Twin parents sometimes will show earlier or have a bigger bump than people with just one bun in the oven will.
- Stronger early pregnancy symptoms: A higher hCG level can sometimes mean more severe morning sickness or fatigue. In fact, hyperemesis gravidarum a pregnancy condition characterized by debilitating nausea and vomitingis more common in twin and multiples pregnancies.
Theres no way to know for sure your early pregnancy symptoms mean youre carrying twins or other multiples. The only definite way to tell is to see it on the ultrasound screenand what a sweet surprise that is!
