Pregnancy Symptoms

Helen Fri Oct 17, 2008 3:50 pm

Many women have typical early pregnancy symptoms even before they miss their first period. Most of these typical pregnancy symptoms and signs are directly related to the pregnancy hormone hCG. Small amounts of hCG begin to enter the blood stream several days after implantation, approximately 8-10 days after ovulation. The majority of pregnancy symptoms do not appear until the hCG has reached sufficient levels, about 1-2 weeks after you miss your period, 3-4 weeks after ovulation, or 2-3 weeks after implantation. Although the only thing that can really confirm a pregnancy is a positive pregnancy test, the first symptoms and the time of their appearance are listed here:

Some women experience a temperature drop on the day of implantation

Implantation bleeding or spotting (slight staining of a pink or brown color about 8-10 days after ovulation)

Lower abdominal cramps

A positive blood HCG pregnancy test (about 10 days after ovulation)

A positive urine pregnancy test (as early as 10-14 days after ovulation or 3-4 days after implantation)

An elevated BBT curve for 15+ days without a menstrual period

A missed menstrual period (amenorrhea)

Nausea (as early as 2-4 weeks after ovulation)

Nipple or breast tenderness (about 3-4 weeks after conception)

Fatigue (3-10 weeks after conception)

Vomiting (3-10 weeks after conception)

Food cravings (1-2 months after conception)

Frequent urination (typically after 1-2 months)

Softening of cervix (generally not before 6 weeks after your last menstrual period)

Constipation (later in pregnancy)

Lower back pain (later in pregnancy)

Darkening of nipples (after 14 weeks)

Fetal heart beat on sonogram (8-9 weeks after conception)

Fetal movement (16+ weeks after conception)

Pregnancy causes the uterus to swell and start to enlarge to make room for the growing fetus immediately. The uterus will then put pressure on your bladder which makes you feel the need for more frequent urination. Many women start to feel this symptom within a week or two after pregnancy has occurred.

Nausea and vomiting may come as early as two weeks into the pregnancy. Many women experience illness in the morning (morning sickness), some in the afternoon or evening, others experience nausea throughout the entire day. Eating small frequent meals, and snacking on saltine crackers should help give some kind of relief. Eating a protein/carbohydrate at bedtime (for example an apple and a glass of milk) tends to lessen the nausea that occurs in the morning.

Breast tenderness may occur after three to four weeks. Breasts may be very swollen, tender and start to enlarge. The nipples may start to darken in color, become more erect and be extremely sensitive. These symptoms are due to the increasing amount of hCG hormone that begins at implantation.

When pregnant your body goes through some major hormonal changes that can cause you to feel sluggish and tired. hCG levels alone go from 0 - 250,000 mIU/ml in just twelve weeks. Your temperature will also tend to run higher because of the amount of progesterone circulating through your body, which can further serve to make you feel a little sluggish.

Light bleeding or spotting may occur approximately 4 - 10 days after ovulation. It can even occur around the same time you would have expected your menstrual period. Some women experience this spotting and assume they have started their period when in fact they are actually pregnant. The spotting is caused from implantation when the fertilized egg burrows into the endometrial lining.

Dizziness and fainting are also symptoms you may experience while pregnant. The growing uterus compresses major arteries in your legs which causes your blood pressure to drop and can make you feel lightheaded or faint. Skipping meals or going too long without eating may also cause you to feel dizzy or faint. Not eating frequently enough causes low blood sugar and since blood sugar is the primary source of food for your baby it will be depleted much more quickly.

Pregnancy hormones can cause constipation as they serve to slow down bowel functions to provide maximum absorption time of vitamins and nutrients. This symptom will typically worsen as the pregnancy progresses.

Rapidly changing hormone levels are also known to cause irritability. This symptom should decrease soon into the second trimester but until that time a healthy diet, moderate exercise and plenty of sleep should help lessen the crankiness somewhat.

As the uterus grows it becomes very swollen and starts to push upward which can cause heartburn. Increasing levels of hCG will also slow down digestion making your stomach not empty as fast which increases the stomach acid.

The degree of pregnancy symptoms and their onset will vary from woman to women. Many women experience symptoms within days of conception while others take a few weeks before pregnancy symptoms kick in, and a few will actually feel no discomfort at all. The early pregnancy symptoms listed above can generally be felt once implantation occurs (4 - 10 days after ovulation) and will generally lessen after the first trimester.

Many early pregnancy symptoms are very similar to those that occur right before menstruating, however, combined with high temperatures and a longer luteal phase - they are key indications that you have achieved pregnancy success! After your precious baby arrives, you will soon forget the bouts of nausea and the discomfort you experienced during your pregnancy.