Whether you have been trying for days, months, or even years to get pregnant, trying to distinguish those first signs of pregnancy have caused many a woman to overanalyze even the tiniest twinge or feeling before even missing a period. Mother Nature doesn’t help out too much by making the most recognizable pregnancy symptoms like bloating, fatigue, breast tenderness similar to your average bad bout of PMS. Before running out to buy five boxes of pregnancy tests, see if you match up with some of these common early signs of pregnancy:
Breast Tenderness: One of the very first symptoms you can feel, and perhaps see, are a tingly, sore or full feeling in your breasts. This is due to raising estrogen and progesterone levels that can occur as little as two weeks after fertilization. Breast tenderness is a symptom that can stay throughout pregnancy since those hormones are preparing you for the milk-making machine you will become.
Bleeding and Cramping: A small amount of vaginal bleeding and cramping can occur for some women when the fertilized egg implants itself onto the side of the uterus, about 10 to 14 days after ovulation. Cramping may continue with some women for the first few weeks of their pregnancy but subside shortly into the first trimester. Since only a small percentage of women experience implantation bleeding and cramping, it is still possible to be pregnant if you do not have this particular symptom.
Nausea and Heightened Sense of Smell: Morning sickness is probably the most recognizable symptom of pregnancy however you don’t only have to be sick in the morning to be pregnant. The rapid rise in progesterone in your system at about 2 weeks after fertilization will slow down your digestive track, causing the stomach to empty more slowly and making you bloated and sick at any time of the day. Your sense of smell may become heightened and intensify what used to be mild odors, making you even sicker.
Fatigue: Sleepiness can hit you right away with pregnancy and last all the way until delivery day. Your body is working double overtime in order to support yourself though most of it is going to that new being growing inside of you. Again, it’s progesterone to blame, along with lower blood sugar, lower blood pressure and increased blood production that will take away your pep and have you going to bed before the sun sets.
Headaches: That quick increase in blood circulation throughout your body can sometimes go straight to your head in the most painful way. Many women are plagued by an increase in frequent, mild headaches in the first trimester.
Frequent Urination: About two weeks after fertilization, you may start to feel like you have to run to the bathroom all the time. This is due to an increase in the hormone hCG that increases blood flow down below to your kidneys, which is a good thing since it will help you to more efficiently rid your body of yours and baby’s waste. Also, your uterus is starting to grow and will increasingly put more pressure on your bladder.
Raised Basal Body Temperature: You may only notice this symptom if you have been charting your temperatures all month to determine ovulation in the quest to get pregnant. After ovulation, your temperature will increase slightly and if you are pregnant, it will remain at this higher level through the next two weeks and ultimately throughout your pregnancy.
Missed Period: Usually the foolproof sign for most women, although other factors such as stress, poor diet, or change in environment can sometimes cause a delay in your monthly visitor.
None of these symptoms are completely unique to pregnancy. If you have any of these signs on the list, you may want to go out and get yourself a home pregnancy test. If it comes out positive make sure to make an appointment with your primary care physician for a blood or urine test so you can know for sure.
great blog thank you