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