During pregnancy, there are significant hormonal changes. These can cause a wide range of symptoms. Some women experience a lot of pregnancy symptoms, while others just have a few.
Missed periods, breast changes, exhaustion, frequent urination, nausea, and vomiting are all early pregnancy symptoms (morning sickness). However, these symptoms could be caused by other things and don’t always signal you’re pregnant, so if you’re worried, take a home pregnancy test and contact your doctor.
Backache, headaches, leg cramps or varicose veins, itch or tingling, constipation, haemorrhoids or indigestion, vaginitis or vaginal discharge, mood swings or depression are just a few of the changes that might occur in your body as you get further along in your pregnancy.
Signs of Pregnancy
Early pregnancy symptoms can include:
- Period was skipped-
A missed menstruation is frequently the first indication of a possible pregnancy. Some women, however, notice light bleeding towards the start of their period.
- Nauseous and vomiting (often referred to as “morning sickness,” but it can strike at any moment)-
Morning sickness is a common ailment among pregnant women, affecting more than half of them. Nausea, vomiting, and a loss of appetite are among the symptoms. Most women who suffer from morning sickness don’t simply have symptoms in the morning; they have them all day.
- Tenderness and expansion of the breasts-
Breasts get larger, bloated, and painful during pregnancy. These changes are comparable to what you might have noticed in the days leading up to your period. The skin around the nipple darkens and the veins in the breast become more visible during pregnancy.
- Fatigue-
Early on in pregnancy, it’s usual to feel exhausted. The enormous surge in the sex hormone progesterone is most likely to blame. Progesterone is necessary to keep a pregnancy going and to help the baby grow, but it also lowers your metabolism.
Anemia, which is most usually caused by iron deficiency, can also cause fatigue during pregnancy. During pregnancy, eating iron-rich foods is critical for preventing iron deficiency anaemia. Taking iron supplements is a medical treatment for anaemia in pregnancy.
- Urinating more frequently than normal, especially late at night
Pregnancy produces a rise in bodily fluid levels as well as a boost in kidney efficiency. The bladder is also pressed against by the swollen uterus. As a result, most pregnant women begin to urinate more frequently within the first few weeks of their pregnancy.
- Cravings for certain foods, a dislike for items you typically enjoy, and a sour or metallic taste that lingers even when you aren’t eating (dysgeusia).
Cravings for certain meals, particularly those that offer energy and calcium, such as milk and other dairy products, are highly prevalent during pregnancy. You can also discover a sudden dislike for things you used to enjoy.
Non-food objects, such as soil or paper, may develop an odd taste for some women. This is known as ‘pica,’ and it could suggest nutrient inadequacy. If you notice any of these symptoms, please consult your doctor.
Some other Pregnancy Symptoms
Many of these symptoms could also be signs of something else. Consult your doctor if you’re unsure.
- Back pain
- Breathlessness
- Constipation
- Headaches caused by haemorrhoids (piles)
- Indigestion and heartburn
- Leg cramps itching skin
- Mood swings (such as unexplained crying)
- Numbness and tingling in your hands
- Discharge from the uterus
- Varicose veins and leg oedema are symptoms of vaginitis (swelling).
Signs of pregnancy and when to get help
If you are concerned or experience any of the following symptoms throughout your pregnancy, you should contact your hospital or care provider:
- Bleeding from the cervix
- Your baby is moving less than normal.
- Severe stomach discomfort
- A nagging pain that won’t go away
- Amniotic fluid spilling (that is, if your waters break)
- Very high body temperature
- Uncontrollable vomiting
- Chronic headache that won’t go away
- Loss of vision or blurred vision