| Whether you are trying to get pregnant, or think | | | | This is a result of rapidly rising HCG levels, very |
| you may already be pregnant, it can be | | | | high progesterone levels and a higher than normal |
| extremely frustrating waiting to find out one way | | | | body temperature. Combine all that with frequent |
| or the other! Lots of women cannot bear the | | | | toilet trips and nausea and trying to hold down a |
| wait between ovulation and menstruation and | | | | job and it is no wonder pregnant women feel |
| want to find out if they are pregnant sooner | | | | exhausted! |
| rather than later. | | | | ·Missed Period/ Cramping/ Backache/ |
| Fortunately many over-the-counter pregnancy | | | | Headaches |
| tests can be taken on or after the day that your | | | | For most women this can be the first indication |
| period was due - and some newer generation | | | | that they are pregnant but for the first few |
| tests can even be taken a few days before | | | | weeks of pregnancy you may experience |
| menstruation. But, if you are really impatient to | | | | cramping and have a feeling your period will arrive |
| get results, you may be surprised to know that | | | | at any moment. Often the cramping is |
| your body can be an excellent indicator if you | | | | accompanied by back pain. |
| monitor yourself carefully! | | | | Obviously, any cramping and bleeding, even if it is |
| Many women experience some signs of | | | | light, should be reported to your doctor. Pregnant |
| pregnancy in the week before their period is due. | | | | women also often experience more headaches |
| Although these symptoms can mimic | | | | than normal and again this can be a result of |
| pre-menstrual symptoms, sometimes they are a | | | | massive hormonal changes. |
| little more severe. So you may feel you have a | | | | ·Light Bleeding/ Spotting |
| particularly bad dose of PMT and later realise that | | | | About 8-10 days after ovulation some women |
| you were in fact pregnant! | | | | experience some light bleeding which coincides |
| Some women experience pregnancy symptoms | | | | with the time a period was due. Sometimes this |
| within just a few days of conception; others | | | | can be mistaken for a light period. This bleeding is |
| experience nothing at all until a few weeks into | | | | often implantation bleeding which is a result of the |
| the pregnancy. | | | | egg implanting in the uterus. |
| Conception usually occurs within 8-10 days of | | | | ·Dizziness/ Fainting |
| ovulation and at this point your body starts to | | | | Because pregnancy affects the sense of taste |
| react to HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin), | | | | and smell lots of pregnant women unintentionally |
| the pregnancy hormone. This is the hormone that | | | | avoid food and skip meals. This causes low blood |
| pregnancy tests detect in a positive test. And it is | | | | sugar levels which can lead to dizzy spells and |
| the rapidly rising levels of HCG which cause the | | | | fainting. |
| symptoms of pregnancy. | | | | If you are standing for a long period of time the |
| If you do suspect that you may be pregnant and | | | | increased pressure of the uterus pressing on |
| are suffering from some or all of the symptoms | | | | major arteries in your legs can lead to a fall in |
| outlined below, see your GP as soon as possible. It | | | | blood pressure which can also make you feel |
| is important to receive medical care and to get a | | | | dizzy or faint. |
| booking in appointment at hospital so that you can | | | | ·Constipation |
| receive appropriate ante-natal care. | | | | In order to absorb all the nutrients that your |
| So what are the early signs of pregnancy? | | | | developing baby requires, pregnancy hormones |
| ·Nausea/ Vomiting | | | | slow down your metabolism and this can lead to |
| Otherwise known as "Morning Sickness", this can | | | | constipation. Try eating plenty of fresh fruit and |
| occur very early on in pregnancy, even before | | | | vegetables and drinking lots of water to help |
| you realise that you are pregnant. Many women | | | | avoid constipation. |
| think they may have a touch of food poisoning or | | | | ·Irritability |
| are coming down with a cold! Although called | | | | With lots of pregnancy hormones raging through |
| morning sickness, it can occur at any time and | | | | your body, as well as coping with sickness and |
| can come in bouts or last all day and night! Eating | | | | tiredness, is it any wonder pregnant women get |
| little and often can help relieve it and you might | | | | easily irritated during early pregnancy? If you find |
| find that dry crackers are very effective. The | | | | yourself getting stressed and losing your temper |
| nausea often gets worse when you are hungry | | | | try to take some gentle exercise, more rest and |
| so it can be useful to keep some snack food with | | | | eat a healthy, balanced diet - if you can face it! |
| you at all times. The gag reflex is often easily | | | | ·Heartburn/ Indigestion |
| triggered and simple acts like brushing your teeth | | | | Although heartburn and indigestion are usually |
| can leave you hanging over the toilet bowl! | | | | associated with the later stages of pregnancy, |
| ·Enhanced Sense of Smell and Taste | | | | they can also occur early on for some women. |
| Lots of women become more sensitive to | | | | HCG slows down digestion meaning that your |
| everyday smells and common foodstuffs, such as | | | | stomach remains full for longer. Stomach acid can |
| tea, coffee and toast, can trigger nausea. Your | | | | then make its way into your oesophagus and |
| sense of taste may change dramatically and you | | | | even to the back of your throat causing |
| may find you can no longer bear to drink or eat | | | | discomfort and even nausea. It can often be |
| foods that you would normally enjoy! You may | | | | relieved with medication, so ask your doctor for |
| also notice a metallic taste in your mouth. | | | | some antacids suitable during pregnancy. Avoid |
| ·Frequent Urination | | | | eating heavy or spicy meals late in the evening as |
| This can happen as early as 1 week into the | | | | these can aggravate the problem! |
| pregnancy. You may find you are running to the | | | | ·Changes in Complexion |
| toilet a lot more often than normal and maybe | | | | You might notice your skin breaks out in spots as |
| even during the night. As the uterus rapidly | | | | a result of all the pregnancy hormones coursing |
| enlarges after implantation, it presses on your | | | | through your body but this often settles down by |
| bladder making you feel like you need to urinate. | | | | the second trimester! Any moles or liver spots |
| Often you will rush to the toilet only to pass a | | | | may also darken due to increased skin |
| tiny trickle of urine! | | | | pigmentation. |
| Urine may also darken and have a stronger smell | | | | ·Increased Cervical Mucous |
| than normal so you should try to drink plenty of | | | | Many pregnant women notice that they pass |
| water. If you are concerned or experiencing pain | | | | more cervical mucous than normal and that it is |
| speak to your GP in case you have a urinary | | | | thick and white. This is normal in pregnancy. But if |
| tract infection. | | | | you notice an unusual smell or itching alongside it, |
| ·Breast Tenderness | | | | consult your GP as Thrush is also a common |
| It is very common for women to report that | | | | pregnancy complaint! |
| their breasts enlarge and become extremely | | | | ·Weight Loss |
| tender very early on in pregnancy. Nipples also | | | | Perhaps surprisingly you may lose weight during |
| become very sensitive and enlarged and will | | | | the first trimester of pregnancy. However, |
| darken in colour. Breast veins also become more | | | | considering that most women try to eat more |
| noticeable - all in preparation for breastfeeding! | | | | healthily, cut out alcohol and eat less due to a |
| Little bumps, Montgomery's tubercles, also appear | | | | decreased appetite, it is completely normal! Couple |
| on the areola (the area surrounding the nipple) | | | | that with a bigger bosom than usual and you may |
| that will help to lubricate the breast during | | | | be complimented on how wonderful you are |
| breastfeeding. | | | | looking - often by unsuspecting individuals who are |
| ·Tiredness | | | | unaware of your pregnancy. Make the most of it |
| You may feel absolutely exhausted very early on | | | | while you can! |
| in pregnancy and throughout the first trimester. | | | | Enjoy your precious nine months! |