How Much Does A Placenta Weigh
How much your placenta weighs depends on how far along you are in your pregnancy. At 10 to 12 weeks of pregnancy, the average placenta weighs nearly 2 ounces. By 18 to 20 weeks, the placenta weighs about 5 ounces.
The placenta continues to grow along with the uterus throughout the second trimester. In most women, growth slows in the third trimester as your baby maxes out the space in the womb. By the time youre full-term, or 39 weeks pregnant, your placenta will weigh about 1.5 pounds .
Elevated Basal Body Temperature
Often more accurate than the rest of the symptoms, basal body temperature should be monitored for months to figure out a noticeable change. Prior to ovulation, the body temperature increases and comes back to normal after your period cycle. However, during pregnancy, the basal body temperature tends to stay elevated throughout. This is due to high levels of progesterone during pregnancy, which causes basal body temperature to rise. If your body temperature has been on the rise for over 20 days post-ovulation, it marks the onset of a new journey.
When To See A Doctor
Even if you dont have a positive pregnancy test, you should see your doctor if your period runs more than a week or two late. Your OB/GYN can run a blood test to check for pregnancy, as well as other blood tests to look for hormone abnormalities such as a thyroid disorder that could mess up your menstrual cycle and even be causing some of your physical and mental symptoms.
From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.
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Treatment For Morning Sickness
Your doctor may prescribe supplements or medications to alleviate nausea and to help you retain foods and fluids. Medications your doctor may prescribe include:
- antihistamines: to help with nausea and motion sickness
- phenothiazine: to help calm severe nausea and vomiting
- metoclopramide : to help the stomach move food into the intestines and help with nausea and vomiting
- antacids: to absorb stomach acid and help prevent acid reflux
Do not take these medications on your own without first talking with your doctor.
Some people find that alternative remedies may also help relieve morning sickness. Make sure you only try these after first discussing them with your doctor. These remedies include:
Tests For False Pregnancy
To determine whether a woman is experiencing a false pregnancy, the doctor will usually evaluate their symptoms, perform a pelvic exam and abdominal ultrasound — the same tests used to feel and visualize the unborn baby during a normal pregnancy.
In a case of false pregnancy, no baby will be seen on the ultrasound, and there won’t be any heartbeat. Sometimes, however, the doctor will find some of the physical changes that occur during pregnancy, such as an enlarged uterus and softened cervix. Urine pregnancy tests will always be negative in these cases, with the exception of rare cancers that produce similar hormones to pregnancy.
Certain medical conditions can mimic the symptoms of pregnancy, including ectopic pregnancy, morbid obesity, and cancer. These conditions may need to be ruled out with tests.
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When The Embryo Implants
In 10 percent of women, implantation doesn’t occur until the first day of their missed period, which means they might not get an accurate reading even until they wait until a day or two after they miss their periods.
So with every additional day you wait, there’s a better chance you’ll have hCG in your system, and the home pregnancy test gets more accurate.
Feeling Sick Or Being Sick In Early Pregnancy
Many people feel sick or vomit in early pregnancy. Most people find they start noticing this around 4 to 6 weeks into their pregnancy. Some only feel slightly queasy and others may be physically sick. And some people have no sickness at all. This is commonly known as morning sickness but it can happen at any time of the day.
Talk to your midwife or GP if you are being sick a lot and you cant keep any food or water down. This is because there is a risk that you may become dehydrated.
Extreme sickness in pregnancy is called hyperemesis gravidarum and can be serious. It is important to seek support if you are worried.
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What Should I Do If I Didn’t Plan To Fall Pregnant
Unplanned pregnancies happen to people of all ages and backgrounds.
If you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, you may choose to:
- continue the pregnancy
- plan for adoption or foster care after the baby is born
- terminate the pregnancy
Pregnancy is an emotional time, especially if your pregnancy was unplanned. It can be helpful to discuss your options with someone you trust, such as your partner, a family member or close friend. Your doctor or local family planning clinic can also give you information and advice.
You dont need to decide what to do right away, but its still a good idea to see your doctor as soon as possible. If you choose to terminate the pregnancy, its best to have the procedure done as soon as possible. If you decide to continue the pregnancy, your doctor can give you information and advice to maximise your health and wellbeing, as well as your babys.
Nausea With Or Without Vomiting
Morning sickness, which can strike at any time of the day or night, is one of the classic symptoms of pregnancy. For some women, the queasiness begins as early as two weeks after conception. Nausea seems to stem at least in part from rapidly rising levels of oestrogen, which causes the stomach to empty more slowly. We still dont really know what causes morning sickness, but fluctuations in oestrogen levels, changes in blood pressure, and all the physical changes of pregnancy are likely major factors . Pregnant women also have a heightened sense of smell, so various odors such as foods cooking, perfume or cigarette smoke may cause waves of nausea in early pregnancy. There are some hints and tips to help combat the effects of morning sickness.
GP Dr Sam Hay says, Its worse when the stomach is completely empty. Having a pack of biscuits by the bed to make sure you are never completely hungry can help.
Eating ginger or drinking ginger tea or ginger beer helps most expecting mums as well. In extreme cases chat to your GP or obstetrician about anti-nausea medications that are completely safe for you to take even during the earliest months of your pregnancy.
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So When Will You Show
When do you start showing in pregnancy? For first-time pregnancies, the baby bump may appear during the second trimester, at 1216 weeks. Those with a narrow body frame and little fat tend to show sooner. For people who are curvy or heavier, the baby bump may be more pronounced late in the second trimester or in the third trimester.
All Day Sickness Nausea And Vomiting During Pregnancy
Morning sickness is probably the best known of the early pregnancy symptoms. Nausea may be more common in the mornings because stomach acids build up overnight, but most women who get morning sickness also feel nauseous at other times of the day.
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When Does The Placenta Take Over
Between weeks 10 to 12 of pregnancy, your placenta takes over from a structure known as the corpus luteum. It’ll sustain your baby for the rest of pregnancy and continue to grow larger as your baby grows.
For most of the first trimester, the corpus luteum performs the placentas essential functions while the organ gets up to the task. The corpus luteum is a collection of cells that produces progesterone and some estrogen. It forms every month after you ovulate in the follicle that released the egg during that cycle.
If youre not pregnant, the corpus luteum disintegrates about 14 days after ovulation, triggering your period. When you are pregnant, the structure continues to grow and produce hormones to support your little embryo until the placenta takes over.
Forming a brand-new organ takes loads of energy and contributes significantly to first trimester pregnancy fatigue. Thats one reason you can expect to feel more energized in the second trimester, after the placenta has formed.
Cramping And Spotting During Early Pregnancy
From weeks 1 to4, everything is still happening on a cellular level. The fertilized egg creates a blastocyst that will develop into the fetuss organs and body parts.
About 10 to 14 days after conception, the blastocyst will implant in the endometrium, which is the lining of the uterus. This can cause implantation bleeding, which may be mistaken for a light period. It does not occur for everyone. If it does occur, it will usually happen around the time you expect your period.
Here are some signs of implantation bleeding:
- Color. The color of each episode may be pink, red, or brown.
- Bleeding. Implantation bleeding is usually much less than your usual period. Its often described as light bleeding that never turns into a flow or enough to need a tampon.
- Pain. Pain is usually milder than your usual menstrual pain. It may involve some cramping. It can be moderate or severe, but its most often mild.
- Episodes. Implantation bleeding is likely to last less than 3 days and does not require treatment. It can sometimes last only a few hours.
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How Can I Find Im Pregnant Within The First Week
Most women want to know when do early pregnancy symptoms start. Early pregnancy symptoms have a lot in common with pre-menstrual syndrome. For this reason most women are not able to detect their pregnancy early. It is only after they miss their periods they realize that they might be pregnant.
Pregnancy symptoms after 4 weeks are what youre waiting to see. Aware women are able to detect changes in their bodies within 6-12 days after conception.
Varicose Veins And Leg Oedema
Varicose veins of the legs are very common in pregnancy due to a combination of factors, including increased volume of circulating blood during pregnancy, and pressure of the pregnant uterus on the larger veins. This increased pressure on the veins can also result in swelling of the legs that can cause pain, feelings of heaviness, cramps and other unusual sensations.
If you have varicose veins, it is recommended that you:
- Wear support stockings.
- Avoid standing for long periods.
- Exercise gently and regularly .
- Lie down to rest with feet elevated, when you can.
- Try massaging your legs.
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Frequent Urination And Incontinence
Besides being acommon gynecological issue, incontinence can also appear during pregnancy. Among common signs and symptoms of pregnancy, there is an increase in urination and possible incontinence. As hormones contribute to an increase in the amount of pumped blood, there is more fluid in the bladder as a consequence.
Pain In Your Boobs Sensitive Breasts
Breast tenderness if one of the earliest and most common signs of pregnancy. It occurs as a result of hormonal changes which start the process of getting your milk ducts ready to feed the baby, Ross says.
Your boobs may feel as sore as they sometimes feel before your period, the Cleveland Clinic notes. But other changes may accompany this soreness: Nipples may darken and enlarge. And some women start busting out of their bra because the hormones enlarge breast tissue.
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Other Skin Effects You Might Experience Instead
As already mentioned, pregnancy acne occurs when your oil glands produce more sebum than normal. Not only can it make your skin look shiny, but it can lead to blemishes, too.
You should continue washing your face twice a day per usual, but you may need to switch to oily skin products for the duration of your pregnancy. Talk with your doctor about safe products for use during pregnancy.
Pregnancy mask is another pregnancy-related skin condition that may affect some women and not others. This condition refers to brown spots on your skin caused by hyperpigmentation from increased melanin production in your skin. These blotches go away after pregnancy when your hormone levels drop, but sun exposure can make them worse. Wear a sunscreen every day to help prevent this.
When Do Good Pregnancy Symptoms Start
Pregnancy has many good symptoms too. If your doctor told you to avoid using makeup, it is for a reason. Pregnancy gives you a natural glow. The hormone progesterone works wonders. It is the same effect that some women see before the onset of period.
Other good symptoms of pregnancy include:
Good pregnancy symptoms start after the first few weeks of pregnancy. The body requires time for shooting the hormones to a higher level.
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When Can You Do A Pregnancy Test
A very sensitive pregnancy test can be used to get an accurate result even before you miss your period.
This means you can get a positive result as early as eight days after conception.
You should try to do a pregnancy test about 21 days after you last had unprotected sex, or from the first day of a missed period.
You can do a pregnancy test on your urine at any time of the day, it doesnt have to be in the morning.
Change In Cervical Mucus
Some of our forum mums find their cervical mucus changes and they seem to have more mucus than usual.
In very early pregnancy, your mucus may seem to be thinnish and slippery for longer than usual and it will then thicken due to the increase in progesterone.
For forum mum Blue_Gecko, this thickened mucus was one of the clearest early signs she was pregnant. The cervical mucus was creamy and quite heavy, she recalls. It felt quite moist down there.
Cervical mucus is usually a pale white/yellow colour but dont worry if you see a brownish discharge: this is also common. Its usually harmless, but if youre worried, have a chat with your GP.
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When Pregnancy Is Unintentional
If you had unprotected sex or a contraceptive failure and fear you could get pregnant, emergency contraception is an option. Commonly called the morning-after pill, medications are available over-the-counter that can prevent pregnancy if taken within five days of having unprotected sex.
The sooner you take these medications, the more effective they are in preventing an unintended pregnancy. These medications do not cause an abortion, but rather prevent a pregnancy from being established.
Slightly Elevated Waking Body Temperature
Fluctuations in body temperature during a womans cycle are extremely subtle with resting, or basal body temperature typically rising just ½ degree F at the time of ovulation. To catch a body temperature that might indicate early pregnancy, then, you have to be taking it every day.
There is no specific temperature that indicates an early pregnancy, states the period-tracking company Clearblue. However, basal body temperature is highest during ovulation and soon starts falling if an egg is not fertilized. If your basal body temperature has risen and stays up for the next 18 days, thats a sign you may be pregnant, the company says.
To track basal body temperature, keep a thermometer on your nightstand because this temperature must be taken every morning, ideally at the same time, before getting out of bed. Record the temperature on a paper chart or a tracking app for easy comparison with prior days.
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Other Early Signs And When They Happen
According to the National Institutes of Health , other early signs and symptoms of pregnancy may include:
Some women also report feeling dizzy or wobbly early on in pregnancy, often when they get up after lying down. This symptom may be due to changes in the blood vessels carrying oxygen to the brain.
Some women cannot explain any specific symptoms or changes in their body, but they intuitively feel that something is different.
They might describe it as not feeling like themselves or feeling as though they are suddenly always a step behind. This may be a sign of fatigue and an indication of hormonal changes.
Most Symptoms Don’t Show Up Until After You Miss A Period
While some pregnancy symptoms start very early, most of the time, you won’t notice anything right away. Anything that happens immediately after having sex, like spotting, increased discharge, or feeling tired or nauseated, is usually unrelated to pregnancy.
Other than a missed period, pregnancy symptoms tend to really kick in around week five or six of pregnancy. One 2018 study of 458 pregnant people found that 72% detected their pregnancy by the sixth week after their last menstrual period.
Symptoms, such as breast tenderness and morning sickness, tend to develop abruptly. Typically this happens about two weeks from when you missed your last period . Occasionally you will hear of someone who has symptoms right around their first missed period, but this timing is less common.
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