The Pregnancy Symptoms Guide

The Pregnancy Symptoms Guide

The rapid changes of the body hormones after a woman had missed her monthly period are similar to pregnancy symptoms. These symptoms vary, so if it is your first pregnancy, you might think it’s fever, but it’s not. Most women experience many of these symptoms of pregnancy, while others are few.

An early sign of pregnancy symptoms is followed by a woman missing her monthly period, rapid breast change, and frequent urination. Others include tiredness, nausea, and vomiting, also known as morning sickness.

However, when you experience these symptoms do not mean you are 100% pregnant because these symptoms can also be caused by other factors such as a missed period (amenorrhea), morning sickness, and tiredness can also be caused by stress or illness. To be sure of your pregnancy status, go for pregnancy test confirmation.

As the months go by, rapid changes may occur in your body in the last weeks of your pregnancy. This range of changes includes headaches, backaches, leg cramps, and varicose veins. Others include itching, constipation, indigestion, vaginal discharge, and depression. During this period, if you have any complications such as vaginal bleeding, severe pains, and high temperatures, make sure you call for your doctors as these are signs of pregnancy dangers.

The Early Pregnancy symptoms You Most Know

The following are early signs of pregnancy any pregnant woman will experience:

  • Missed period
  • Nausea and vomiting (morning sickness)
  • Breast tenderness and enlargement
  • Fatigue
  • Passing urine more frequently than usual, particularly at night
  • Cravings for some foods you usually like and a sour or metallic taste persist even when you’re not eating (dysgeusia).

Missed Period

A woman missing her period is always the first symptom sign of pregnancy. This looks complicated sometimes because some women experience minor bleeding around their expected period. This is called implantation bleeding, which occurs when the embryo first attaches itself to the womb lining.

Nausea and Vomiting

Almost all pregnant women suffer from this condition called morning. The signs of these symptoms include nausea or vomiting and loss of appetite for food. Some women may only experience it in the morning while others throughout the entire day. Morning sickness begins around the 4th to 6th week of pregnancy and may end by week 12. However, it can continue for a long time or return at around 32 weeks.

Breast Changes

Your breast becomes fuller, swollen, and heavier. These changes are closed to those who might have noticed in the few days before your last period. During pregnancy, you will see that the nipple becomes darker and the veins in your breast become more pronounced.

Fatigue and Tiredness

Feeling frequent fatigue is prone to a common symptom of early pregnancy. Pregnant women get tired or more often. This is usually caused by a rapid increase in the sex hormone known as progesterone. Progesterone helps to protect the pregnancy and helps the baby to grow, and also slows down metabolism. Your body energy level may also pump up again around the week 4 t- week of pregnancy when the placenta is well established.

During pregnancy, tiredness is standard; all pregnant women suffer from these early signs of pregnancy. Pregnancy tiredness is caused by anemia due to iron deficiency in the body. Pregnant women are to eat foods rich in iron; this will help prevent deficiency anemia during pregnancy.

Pregnancy Frequent Urination

During pregnancy, there is an increase in levels of body fluids and higher kidney efficiency. The swelling womb (uterus) also rests against the bladder. As a result, most women start passing urine more frequently, unlike usual, especially at night during the first few weeks before pregnancy.

Food Cravings

In their pregnancy month, most women’s appetite increases for a particular food, particularly foods that give energy and calcium, such as milk and all forms of dairy products. Pregnant mothers may also develop a sudden distaste for food they usually liked. However, whichever way you find your eating habits, never forget to contact your doctor for any assistance.

Late Signs Of Pregnancy Symptoms You Most Know

Many of these symptoms can also be indicative of other factors:

  • Backache
  • Headaches
  • Constipation
  • Itchy skin (itching all over the body)
  • Leg cramps
  • Mood changes (such as unexplained crying)
  • Vaginal discharge
  • Vaginitis
  • Varicose veins and leg edema (swelling)

Backache

This late pregnancy symptom does not affect the baby except for the mother, who will feel the pains. Backache is occurring due to the loosening of ligaments and change in posture due to the growing baby. To reduce backache during pregnancy, always wear flat heels and sit only on chairs with good back support. Swimming can also help reduce back pain during pregnancy. You can as well register for physiotherapy and acupuncture classes.

Headaches

Severe headaches are always associated with pre-eclampsia, which can affect the kidneys, causing high blood pressure and a decrease in the volume of blood supplying to your baby. During pregnancy, any woman having a severe headache that cannot be relieved by paracetamol or panadol is advised to call for the help of a doctor that can examine the condition on time before it affects you and your baby.

Itchy Skin

Itching of the skin is a rare symptom of pregnancy. Not all women experience this, but when it occurs, it may be a result of severe liver disease infection. Such a woman experiencing itchy skin is advised to run a blood test to know the cause.

Constipation

This is an infrequent hard bowel movement that is difficult to pass out. This symptom is usually caused by pregnancy hormones slowing down the gastro intestine movement or caused by the pressure of the growing uterus in the rectum.

Pregnant women who are experiencing constipation are advised to:

  • Drink enough water every day
  • Eat food that contains fiber (dietary such as wheat, vegetables, and fresh fruit)
  • Engage in pregnancy exercises such as taking a walk, swimming, or yoga

After doing all of these yet you still feel the signs of constipation, then call for the help of a medical expert for safer precaution.

Mood Changes

Most newly pregnant women’s mood changes are different from usual before their pregnancy during pregnancy period. Some of these mood changes include irritability, feelings of joy, and depression. All of these behaviors result from pregnancy hormones influencing chemicals in the brain resulting in mood changes in late pregnancy months.

There is no side effect of irritability and feeling of joy. But any woman experiencing depression can seek the help of medical expertise.

Leg Cramps

This is usually experienced by most pregnant women, mostly at night during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. This symptom of pregnancy is caused due to accumulation of acids that cause involuntary contractions of the affected muscles.

If you are among the case of pregnant women suffering from leg cramps, it is necessary:

  • You walk around
  • Stretch and massage the affected muscles to spread the buildup of acids

Vaginal Discharge

During pregnancy, virginal discharge is common. It’s usually associated with symptoms of itchy, pain, a foul odor, or pain in passing urine. Vaginal discharge is caused as a result of infection, and should in case you experience such, call your doctor for immediate treatment.

Vaginitis Pregnancy Symptoms

Many women suffer from vaginitis, which is caused a result of inflammation of the vagina. These pregnancy symptoms occur more often during pregnancy months.

Causes of vaginitis include the following:

  • Vaginal thrush (vaginal candidiasis)
  • Chlamydia
  • Bacterial vaginosis
  • Trichomoniasis

Vaginal Thrush

This is not harmful to the unborn child but can be passed on to the baby during childbirth. Any woman suffering from vaginal candidiasis should seek medical professionals that recommend one weekly imidazole cream or pessaries.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is an infection of the neck of the uterus. This symptom can be transferred from sex partners. This can also be assigned to the baby at birth and causes severe lung infection.

Bacterial Vaginosis

This cannot be detected by a woman carrying her first pregnancy because it is usually associated with premature birth. Mothers who had once had premature birth can go for screening and treating bacterial vaginosis early in pregnancy to reduce the risk of avoiding another premature birth.

Trichomoniasis

There are no concrete facts whether trichomoniasis causes premature birth and other pregnancy complications. But if you are experiencing trichomoniasis symptoms during pregnancy, it is advised that you see your doctor for a diagnosis. If detected to be positive in early pregnancy, a medical expert may prescribe antibiotics (imidazoles). While in mid and late pregnancy weeks, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics (metronidazole). Also, ensure to treat your partner as well.

Varicose Veins and Leg Oedema (Swelling)

This is a common symptom experienced by most pregnant women, resulting from increased blood circulation during pregnancy and pressure of the pregnant uterus on the more prominent veins. The increased pressure exerted on the veins may result in the swelling of the legs that causes pains, feeling of heaviness, cramps (particularly at night), and other unusual sensations. During pregnancy, any woman experiencing varicose veins are advised to:

  • Never to stand for long periods.
  • Wearing supporting stockings
  • Always try to massaging the affected leg
  • Doing exercises such as walking or swimming
  • Lie down with your feet elevated when possible.
  • Complain to your pregnancy check expert about it.

When Do You Call For a Doctor or Hospital?

Taking precautions as a pregnant woman is essential to avoid any pregnancy complications. Ensure to call for your doctor or seek medical help if you notice any of the problems listed below

  • Waters break
  • Vaginal bleeding
  • A high temperature
  • Frequent vomiting that never stops
  • A headache that will not go away
  • Less movement of your baby than usual
  • Pain’s that doesn’t go away
  • Vision loss or blurred vision
  • Widespread itching of the skin
  • Sudden swelling of face, hands, and feet

Early Pregnancy Symptoms To Remember

Early pregnancy symptoms include missed periods, breast changes, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and frequent urination.

Most of the symptoms can also be caused by other factors such as illness or stress. If you feel pregnant, do a home pregnancy test or see your doctor as fast as possible.