Pregnancy Symptoms

Early pregnancy symptoms are many. However, not all pregnant women experience early pregnancy symptoms until the fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterine wall and that happens several days after pregnancy conception. There is a whole list of first pregnancy symptoms that might be experienced by a woman when she conceives a baby. However, not all of the symptoms of pregnancy are felt by all women. Some pregnant women may experience all or some of the pregnancy symptoms while others might feel none of pregnancy signs.

Signs and Symptoms of Pregnancy

The following pregnancy symptoms may or may not be experienced by a woman who gets pregnant.

Missed Period

If the menstrual periods of a woman are usually regular and she misses a period, that can be one of the first pregnancy symptoms. However, not all occasions of missed periods indicate pregnancy. Periods can also be missed due to some illness, changes in medication, being overweight or underweight, miscalculation of menstrual cycle, pre menopause or menopause (in case a woman is on the verge of crossing the child bearing age) etc. To rule out these possibilities, one must undergo a pregnancy test to establish whether it is actually a pregnancy symptom and whether she is pregnant or not?

Abnormal or Irregular Period

An abnormal period may also be a pregnancy symptom. Any menstrual cycle that feels different in some way than a woman's typical, normal period can be her first pregnancy sign. An abnormal period may last longer or is shorter than usual or it may start earlier or later than expected . There may even be a difference in the amount of flow. Any of such abnormality in period may indicate pregnancy. A pregnancy test is therefore highly advisable if such pregnancy symptom is shown.

Implantation Bleeding and Spotting

Implantation bleeding and spotting is the vaginal discharge that usually contains small amount of pinkish and brownish blood that can, in some cases, be a reddish blood too. A fertilized egg implants in the lining of the uterus about 9 days after ovulation or fertilization. The lining of the uterus is rich in blood and nutrients. Therefore, a few drops of blood could move through the cervix and down the vagina. This blood is known as implantation bleeding and is one of the very common pregnancy symptoms. The blood will not appear red, but rather a darker brown or black due to the time it takes to move from the uterus out of the body.

Morning Sickness

Pregnancy Morning Sickness Most of the times, morning sickness is one of the very common early pregnancy symptoms a woman experiences. However, there are cases where pregnant women do not notice morning sickness until about the sixth week of pregnancy. Some women have nausea and vomiting and others may experience only queasiness. Although named morning sickness, such unpleasant feelings can be experienced any time during the day or night.

Breast Changes

Due to hormonal changes, one of the early pregnancy symptoms include pregnant woman's breast changes. Breast change can be in the form of sore breast or nipple changes and even breast enlargement. When experiencing sore breast, there is a slight tenderness when breasts are touched or severe pain even from wearing a bra. The nipples may become larger and darker. Areolas, or the skin around the nipples can get darker. Sometimes, goose bump or pimple like white areas can also be seen on areola. However, these changes can be a result of hormonal imbalances not related to pregnancy. Therefore, a pregnancy test must be carried out to make sure whether these breast changes are truly the symptoms of pregnancy in a woman or not.

Frequent Urination

An urge to urinate more than normal may also be one of the pregnancy symptoms. It is because when the embryo implants, it begins producing the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is a cause of frequent urination. It is also because extra blood and fluid used in pregnancy that is excreted through the kidneys. In fact, frequent urination is a regular feature during pregnancy as a whole. As the pregnancy progresses the baby grows large enough to put pressure on mother's bladder.

Strange Food Cravings

Although cravings for particular types of foods like pickles, ice creams or sweets is not one of the sure shot pregnancy symptoms, many researches have found that about 68% of pregnant women have a craving at some point during pregnancy. Most of these women have these food cravings as the first symptom of pregnancy. Food cravings can even be a sign of some nutrients that the body lacks. If cravings are accompanied by some of the other pregnancy symptoms, one must surely check the pregnancy status. Some women may even notice a sense of taste changes. Some pregnant women start having metallic taste in their mouth while others could not tolerate the taste of coffee, tea, or a food they had liked earlier. This is also a very strong pregnancy symptom in some cases.

Pregnancy Fatigue

Pregnancy fatigue may be an early pregnancy symptom. Pregnancy fatigue is not like the usual fatigue that has the feeling of being a bit groggy when the person wakes up. High levels of the hormone progesterone can make the pregnant woman feel tired like anything. Some of the pregnant women in their early pregnancy feel like falling asleep all the time. Pregnancy fatigue can remain through the whole of the first trimester and starts disappearing in second trimester. Most of the pregnant women again feel tired in the last trimester. However, this fatigue is not as severe as in early pregnancy.

Home Pregnancy Test

Home Pregnancy Test All the above mentioned pregnancy symptoms are such that can be experienced in conditions other than pregnancy too. As such, whenever a woman feels these signs and symptoms of pregnancy, she must opt for a home pregnancy test which, if positive, will establish that these signs are actually early pregnancy symptoms. A home pregnancy test measures the presence of the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) in the urine of the pregnant woman. Usually, home-pregnancy tests are able to pick up the hCG in urine by the first day of a missed period. However, a negative home pregnancy test does not rule out the possibility of pregnancy. It may be due to the fact that the levels of hCG have not yet reached a level where they can be detected by a test, even by the day when menstrual period is due. Therefore, a proper pregnancy test conducted by a doctor is essential to establish whether the so called pregnancy symptoms actually are the signs of pregnancy or not!