CMV infection during pregnancy and impact on fetal health

Early pregnancy symptoms during the first weeks

 

Delayed menstruation alone does not constitute evidence that you are pregnant! In addition to the necessity of taking a pregnancy test and visiting a doctor, there are a group of early pregnancy symptoms. Read on to learn more about these symptoms

Not all women experience the same symptoms with pregnancy, each woman has a different experience. Most women may not realize they are pregnant, as early symptoms of pregnancy often mimic the symptoms they might experience just before and during their period.

When do pregnancy symptoms start 

Pregnancy symptoms begin to appear during the first week of pregnancy, which depends on the date of the last menstrual period. Your last menstrual period is considered the first week of pregnancy, which will last 40 weeks. This is how the pregnancy period is calculated.

In order to learn more about methods for calculating the weeks of your pregnancy and knowing your due date, you can read the following article: Pregnancy and Childbirth Calculator to find out your expected due date!

What are the symptoms and signs of early pregnancy?

The appearance of the signs that will be mentioned is not limited to pregnancy only. Some of them may indicate that you have a certain disease or that your period is about to start, and it is possible that you are pregnant without any of these symptoms.

1. The absence of menstruation or its occurrence in a strange way

One of the most obvious early pregnancy symptoms, and what prompts most women to take a pregnancy test, is the absence of menstruation.

If you are of childbearing age, and one week or more has passed since your menstrual period and it has not appeared, you are expected to be pregnant. However, if your menstrual cycles are irregular, this symptom may be misleading.

2. Increase core body temperature

An increase in basal body temperature may be a sign of pregnancy. But it is not a sure sign of this, as the body temperature may increase simply by exercising or in hot weather, and all it will take is drinking more water and exercising carefully.

3. Nausea in the morning

Morning sickness begins in most women during the fourth to sixth week of pregnancy and may settle by the 12th week, although it can last longer or return at about 32 weeks.

Morning nausea is a famous pregnancy symptom, but it is not necessarily an indicator of pregnancy.

Although the exact cause of morning sickness is not known, it is possible that pregnancy hormones are behind this symptom. Nausea during pregnancy may occur at any time of the day but is most common in the morning.

4. Breast pain

Breast pain is a very early sign of pregnancy, due to the change in estrogen levels after pregnancy.

Changes that may occur in your breasts include:

Swelling and pain.

Drink breastfeeding after a week or two.

Feeling heavy, full, or painful to the touch.

5. Frequent urination

During pregnancy, the swollen uterus puts pressure on the bladder. In addition, pregnancy increases body fluid levels and kidney function efficiency. Most women begin to feel frequent urination during the first weeks of pregnancy.

Hormones also play a big role in bladder health, so you may find yourself running to the bathroom frequently or accidentally leaking. In order to avoid this you can:

Drink about 300 milliliters (a little more than a cup) of extra fluid each day.

Go to the bathroom before you feel the urge to urinate to avoid urinary incontinence or leakage.

6. Fatigue

Feeling extremely tired is normal during early pregnancy, starting from the first week of pregnancy.

Fatigue during the early stages of pregnancy is often associated with a high level of progesterone, although other things — such as low blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and increased blood production can contribute to feelings of persistent fatigue.

In order to reduce the intensity of this feeling, you can get plenty of rest, and eat foods rich in protein and iron.

7. Feeling dizzy

In most pregnancies, blood pressure drops in the early stages. Which may cause dizziness due to the expansion of blood vessels.

Almost all cases of high blood pressure during the first 20 weeks indicate other problems.

Learn how to track your blood pressure regularly, and ask your doctor about nutritional tips to help reduce high blood pressure. Make sure to drink enough water and eat snacks regularly to help prevent dizziness. I also recommend standing slowly when getting up from a chair.

8. Prominence of veins

Protruding veins in the legs are a very common symptom during pregnancy due to a range of factors, including:

Increased blood circulation during pregnancy.

Pregnant uterus pressure on large veins.

This increased pressure on the veins can also lead to:

Swollen legs that may cause pain.

Feeling heavy.

Convulsions.

In order to reduce the appearance of veins, do:

Wear supportive stockings.

Avoid standing for long periods.

Lie down with feet elevated.