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Pregnancy Signs
and Symptoms
Please remember that this is for
informational purposes only and is not to
replace medical advice.
The
following signs and symptoms can be an indicator
of pregnancy, but can also result from many
other conditions or health problems. Please take
a pregnancy test as soon as you think that you
might be pregnant and be sure to see a doctor,
if you have any pregnancy signs or symptoms
and/or a positive pregnancy test.
Early
Pregnancy Signs
Most
women seem to detect that they may be pregnant
early in pregnancy from:
Other
Possible Signs of Pregnancy and Pregnancy
Symptoms are:
-
Tender breasts
-
Nausea
-
Fatigue
-
Frequent urination
-
Headaches
-
Light headedness
-
Constipation
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Heartburn
Please remember that you do not need to have all
of these signs or symptoms to be pregnant...
every woman experiences pregnancy differently
and often differently each time that they are
pregnant.
A
more in-depth look at each sign of pregnancy or
pregnancy symptom:
Implantation Spotting/Bleeding
Cause:
This type of spotting/bleeding is caused by a
fertilized egg burrowing itself into the
endometrial lining of the uterus.
Time-frame: Approximately 8-10 days from
ovulation (though some say 7 – 12 days). In some
women this can seem to occur near or at the same
time of a scheduled menstrual period, making it
a bit harder to recognize. Note: Not all women
experience implantation spotting or bleeding and
it is probably more common for women to not have
this, but have an actual ‘missed’ period,
instead. Often, this spotting may only be
noticeable for a day or two.
Some
experts do not believe that implantation
bleeding even exists (especially heavier
implantation bleeding… like a lighter period,
lasting for more than a day or two). Often,
women who have implantation bleeding in lieu of
a scheduled period… may mistake it as just an
unusual one.
“I
first knew I was pregnant with my daughter
towards the end of a menstrual period that
mostly consisted of spotting. At that time of my
life, I normally had quite heavy periods on a
regular 28 day cycle… so I felt that something
was a bit odd when that period seemed so
different from the rest, and I then ended up
taking a pregnancy test and the rest is history!
My husband and I were actively trying to get
pregnant at that time and I had been keeping
track of everything… and luckily enough, I took
a pregnancy test when I did. If I had not been
so aware of what was going on with my body… I
may have ended up telling my doctor that my last
period had been the one in which I experienced
the spotting… instead of telling him my ‘real’
last period. The due date for that pregnancy
could have been off by a month!” – Kathy
Hamidovic , Owner, The Pregnancy Pages
Myth or Fact? - Some women may even have
lighter periods or spotting for the first few
months during pregnancy or even for the entire
pregnancy. This is rare, if it even exists. The
consensus seems to be that women do not have
menstrual periods during pregnancy. During
pregnancy, women do not ovulate and menstruation
results from ovulation… so no ovulation = no
menstruation. Any bleeding or spotting noticed
during a pregnancy should be reported to a
doctor right away, as it can indicate problems
with the pregnancy!
A Missed Period
If you normally have
fairly predictable menstrual periods (i.e.
bleeding for 5 days, every 28 days) and then
suddenly you miss one. This is a very good
signal that you may want to take a pregnancy
test and/or see a doctor. Missed periods can be
caused by many factors besides pregnancy (i.e.
stress, lack of ovulation, etc.)... so please
see a doctor regardless whether you think you
may be pregnant or not.
Intuition
Though this method of
pregnancy detection may often be overlooked or
criticized. Some women are very in-tuned to
their bodies and just 'get a feeling' that they
might be pregnant. If you really feel like
something is not quite right with you or you
sense that you might be pregnant, take a
pregnancy test and get to a doctor.
More to come soon!
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