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Aches And Pains In Early Pregnancy
Aches and pains in early pregnancy and what these pregnancy signs meanDiscomforts in early pregnancy are common and can really put a damper on your first trimester. The good news is your body's working really hard in these 12 weeks and things will get easier. In the meantime, keep an eye out for our guides to alleviating pregnancy symptoms:
Morning sicknessMorning sickness affects around 70% of women. Serious morning sickness can be debilitating and is known as Hyperemesis Gravida. It's rare but needs medical treatment so if you suspect you have something more than your average morning sickness, see your doctor.
Sore breasts & nipplesThanks to pregnancy hormones your breasts begin growing from very early in pregnancy. This can make them tender. At first your breasts may simply feel sore or heavy, or they may tingle but later you may find that the skin, and especially your nipples, become more sensitive than usual and normal underwear may irritate it. If so, you will find moving to natural fabrics, such as cotton, will help (as manmade fabrics are more likely to cause irritation). Because of this sensitivity, you may notice your nipples hurting in the cold and taking longer to warm up.
Period-like crampingMild stomach cramps in early pregnancy are very common. Usually milder than period cramps, it may feel as though there is a slight tugging or pulling in your abdomen. Cramping is caused by your uterus beginning to stretch and is usually nothing at all to worry about. If your stomach cramps are different to those described here, check what your symptoms mean. Read more on pregnancy bleeding, spotting and pregnancy stomach cramps.
Indigestion, wind and bloatingWind for pregnant women is no joke. From the earliest days of pregnancy your digestive system is affected and you may notice you produce far more wind than usual, which can be uncomfortable and painful at times, particularly if the wind is trapped. Many pregnant women find that their sleep disturbed by uncomfortable wind. There are some small lifestyle changes that can make a difference, though. And keep an eye on what you eat.
Constipation and pilesAnother common affect of pregnancy on your digestive system is constipation. Constipation can also cause or aggravate haemorrhoids, or piles- abnormally swollen veins in your anus - another frequent pregnancy nuisance.
You can do a lot to deal with constipation using your diet. You can find out more about pregnancy constipation and more about coping with haemorrhoids through our pregnancy articles.
DiarrhoeaHormonal changes may have the opposite effect on your bowels, as they, along with pressure put on the bowels from the womb, lead to diarrhoea. Diarrhoea can also be caused by an infection, so if it's making you feel very unwell, or it persists for a few days it's a good idea to see your doctor. Find out more about the particularly nasty stomach bug that pregnant women are particularly prone to.
Blocked nose and earsAnother effect of pregnancy hormones is swelling in your nasal and oral passages, which leads to them becoming blocked more easily. Steam inhalation is one of the best solutions, and you can help prevent the problem by keeping the air of your home moist, by drying laundry indoors, keeping bowls of water on the radiators and so on. If you're suffering badly and want to take medication speak to your GP, but you can get nasal sprays and decongestants that are safe to take during pregnancy.
BackacheVery common by the third trimester, backache can also affect your first three months of pregnancy, particularly if this isn't your first baby. In the first couple of weeks of pregnancy you may experience an aching back, similar to that which frequently accompanies menstruation. After this the weight of your growing uterus can put pressure on your lower back, causing backache. If this is your second baby you are more likely to get backache in your first trimester because your abdominal muscles - already weakened in your last pregnancy - are likely to be more flexible this time around. Your abdominals usually offer key support to many movements and when they can't work as hard it means extra work for your lower back.
If you usually calm backache with a relaxing bath then make sure that you don't run one that's too hot, your skin shouldn't tun red when you get in.
HeadachesMany women aren't affected by pregnancy headaches at all, but some women do suffer from more frequent headaches and some may even experience migraines for the first time when pregnant. Headaches relating to pregnancy happen because during pregnancy the volume of blood pumped around your body increases significantly, and this extra blood can put pressure on the brain.
If you are suffering from migraines be sure to check with your doctor which medications are safe to take. If you have a simple headache you may be able to cope without medication and/ or sleep it off. If you feel you do need to take something, the occasional paracetamol is considered safe throughout pregnancy, however, if you can avoid taking medication then all the better, particularly in the first trimester.
General aches and painsGeneral aches and pains are quite common during early pregnancy, not least because early pregnancy is so physically draining and many women feel completely exhausted and may be having trouble sleeping.
Aching limbsWhatever aches and pains you experience as early pregnancy signs, remember you're better off avoiding medication in these critical first twelve weeks if you can. There are alternative suggestions for dealing with common discomforts, but you are often best consulting your doctor about your particular circumstances.
Read more on early pregnancy on our pregnancy listings.Read more about pregnancy symptoms: Vision changes in pregnancy.
15 Early Signs And Symptoms Of Pregnancy
While pregnancy tests and ultrasounds are the only way to know if you're pregnant, you can look for other signs and symptoms like morning sickness, fatigue, and more.
Though it may sound odd, your first week of pregnancy is based on the date of your last menstrual period. Your last menstrual period is considered week 1 of pregnancy, even if you weren't pregnant yet.
The expected delivery date is calculated using the first day of your last period. For that reason, you may not have symptoms during the first few weeks of your 40-week pregnancy.
Here are 15 signs and symptoms of early pregnancy.
About 10 to 14 days (week 4) after conception, you may experience implantation bleeding, which may be mistaken for a light period. It does not occur for everyone. If it does occur, it will usually happen around the time you expect your period.
Signs of implantation bleeding include:
If you think you may be experiencing implantation bleeding:
After implantation, your body starts making the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which helps maintain the pregnancy. It also tells the ovaries to stop releasing mature eggs each month.
You will likely miss your next period 4 weeks after conception. If you typically have an irregular period, you'll want to take a pregnancy test to confirm.
Most home tests can detect hCG as soon as 7 days after a missed period. A pregnancy test detects hCG levels in your urine and shows if you are pregnant.
When you're pregnant, your basal body temperature may be higher. Your core temperature may increase more easily with exercise or in hot weather. During this time, make sure to drink more water and exercise cautiously.
Fatigue can develop anytime during pregnancy. This symptom is common in early pregnancy. Rising progesterone levels can make you feel sleepy.
Your heart may begin pumping faster and harder around weeks 8 to 10. Palpitations and arrhythmias are common in pregnancy and are usually due to hormones.
Your blood flow can increase by around 50% during pregnancy. This adds to your heart's workload.
It's best to discuss any underlying heart conditions or medications you take with your medical team.
Breast changes can occur between weeks 4 and 6. You're likely to develop tender and swollen breasts due to hormone changes. This will likely go away after a few weeks when your body has adjusted to the hormones.
Nipple and breast changes can also occur around week 11. Hormones continue to cause your breasts to grow. The areola — the area around the nipple — may grow darker and larger.
During pregnancy, your body pumps more blood, which causes the kidneys to process more fluid than usual, leading to more fluid in your bladder.
Hormones also play a large role in bladder health. During pregnancy, you may run to the bathroom more frequently or accidentally leak.
Bloating may occur during early pregnancy due to hormone changes, which can also slow down your digestive system. You could feel constipated and blocked as a result.
Although it's called morning sickness, it can occur anytime during the day or night. It's unclear exactly what causes nausea and morning sickness, but hormones may play a role.
Many people experience mild to severe morning sickness during the first trimester of pregnancy. It may become more intense toward the end of the first trimester but often becomes less severe as you enter the second trimester.
In most cases, blood pressure will drop in the early stages of pregnancy. This may also cause feelings of dizziness since your blood vessels are dilated.
High blood pressure (hypertension) due to pregnancy is more difficult to determine. Almost all cases of hypertension within the first 20 weeks indicate underlying problems. It may develop during early pregnancy but may also be present beforehand.
A medical professional will likely take your blood pressure during your first doctor visit to help establish a baseline blood pressure reading.
There's little scientific evidence about smell sensitivity during the first trimester. However, it might be important since smell sensitivity may trigger nausea and vomiting. It may also cause a strong distaste for certain foods.
You may experience either a heightened or lessened sense of smell during pregnancy, according to older research from 2017. This is especially common during the first and third trimesters. Heightened smell is more common than lessened smell. Some smells that never bothered you before may become less pleasing or even trigger nausea.
Your sense of smell usually returns to how it was before your pregnancy, after delivery, or within 6 to 12 weeks postpartum.
Weight gain can become more common at the end of your first trimester. You may gain about 1 to 5 pounds in the first few months.
Calorie recommendations for early pregnancy won't change much from your usual diet but can increase as pregnancy progresses.
Hormones can cause the valve between your stomach and esophagus to relax. This allows stomach acid to leak, causing heartburn.
Many people may begin saying you have the "pregnancy glow." Increased blood volume and higher hormone levels push more blood through your vessels. This causes the body's oil glands to work overtime.
The increased activity of your body's oil glands gives your skin a flushed, glossy appearance. On the other hand, you may also develop acne.
When you think you may be pregnant, you want answers right away. Here's what to expect when you find out if you are pregnant.
When should I take a pregnancy test?
If you think you might be pregnant, the best time to take a home pregnancy test is 1 week after you first miss a period.
A blood test can often reveal a pregnancy much earlier, but it must be done at a doctor's office or clinical setting.
How quickly can I know if I'm pregnant?
Using an at-home pregnancy test, you can generally know if you're pregnant 1 week after you've missed a period.
While you can take a test earlier than this if you want, you risk getting a false negative result. If you take the test too early, there may not be enough hCG in your urine yet for the test to detect it.
Also, every person's body is a bit different. One person may get a positive result as early as a day after their period, while another person's positive results may not show up for another week.
Blood tests can often detect hCG earlier in a pregnancy than urine tests. Blood tests can give a positive result as early as 6 to 8 days after ovulation, while urine tests do so about 3 weeks after ovulation.
A medical professional usually does blood tests.
Pregnancy symptoms like nausea, fatigue, and breast tenderness sometimes occur even before you miss a period. These symptoms may give you the idea that you're pregnant, but only a test will tell for sure.
When should I make a doctor's appointment?
If you get a positive result on a home pregnancy test, you should call a doctor right away, according to the Office on Women's Health. The doctor can prescribe a more sensitive test and perform a pelvic exam to determine if you're pregnant.
The Office on Women's Health recommends you make an appointment with a medical professional as early as possible in your pregnancy. You can then schedule regular prenatal visits throughout your pregnancy.
Your body will go through significant changes in early pregnancy. You may see signs such as nausea, breast tenderness, and the hallmark symptom of a missed period.
If you think you might be pregnant, a good first step is to take a home pregnancy test. Tests are widely available without a prescription in pharmacies and other stores.
If you receive a positive result, call a doctor for an appointment. They will perform an examination and a further test to confirm your pregnancy. You can then get started on a prenatal program to safeguard your and the fetus's health.
Weird Pregnancy Symptoms No One Tells You About
You may experience some early indicators of pregnancy, including increased discharge and changes in taste. You may also develop certain uncomfortable symptoms.
Everyone knows the classic signs of pregnancy. You've missed your period. Your breasts are tender. You have morning sickness. And you're tired all the time.
But pregnant people also experience many symptoms beyond these first signs, from mucus discharge to tasting metal to headaches.
Here's a list of 10 weird early pregnancy symptoms no one tells you about.
While many people experience vaginal discharge, it's not often associated with pregnancy. However, most pregnant people will have increased discharge in the first trimester and throughout the pregnancy. It is typically sticky, white, or pale-yellow mucus.
Increased hormones and vaginal blood flow cause discharge to increase during pregnancy. It may help prevent infections as your cervix and vaginal walls soften. You may need to talk with a doctor if the discharge starts to:
These may be signs of an infection. If left untreated, infections can affect the uterus and cause early labor.
Due to hormone changes, the chance of some infections, such as bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections, may increase during pregnancy.
It's not uncommon for pregnant people to feel lightheaded or dizzy in the first trimester. Pregnancy causes blood pressure to drop and blood vessels to dilate. Blood vessel dilation can cause you to feel faint when you change position quickly, such as standing up after lying down.
But pay close attention to your symptoms. Severe dizziness coupled with vaginal bleeding and severe abdominal pain could indicate an ectopic pregnancy. In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus and won't be able to develop to term.
Ectopic pregnancy can become life threatening for the pregnant person and requires prompt treatment.
You may feel bloated like you want to pass gas or poop without being able to. That's because pregnancy's hormonal changes can lead to constipation. In addition, as your uterus grows during pregnancy, your intestines typically shift, which can also affect your regularity.
Your digestive system slows during pregnancy. This gives nutrients enough extra time to absorb into your bloodstream and reach your little one.
Some steps may help you go more regularly. These can include:
If needed, you can also check with a doctor about using a pregnancy-safe stool softener.
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