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Recognizing the Early Signs of Pregnancy and Taking Action

March 13th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

Early pregnancy symptoms differ from woman to woman and can be difficult to detect. Some woman begin experiencing symptoms within 1 week of conception other women within 2 to 4 weeks. The most well known pregnancy symptoms include morning sickness and a missed or late menstrual cycle. Other early pregnancy symptoms can easily be confused with your normal menstrual symptoms. It is extremely important that you pay close attention to your body so you know as soon as possbile that you are pregnant. You need to take special care of your body during pregnancy and the sooner you start the better for you and your baby.

The Easiest to Detect Early Symptom of Pregnancy

A missed or significantly delayed menstrual cycle is usually the first potential pregnancy symptom that you will notice. The best way to notice changes in your monthly cycle is to monitor it on a regular basis. If your period is more than two weeks late this may indicate that you are pregnant. You may want to take a home pregnancy test or consult with your doctor.

Although a missed menstrual cycle can be an early symptom of pregnancy, it can also be caused by other non-related factors such as:

1) physical or mental stress;
2) exteme changes in your weight (up or down);
3) changes with respect to your birth control pills;
4) significant changes in your eating habits or lifestyle; etc.

Under certain curcumstances, you may miss a menstrual cycle without realizing it. Many women experience spotting from implantation bleeding and minor cramps within 1 to 2 weeks of conception. This is an early pregnancy symptom that you can easily confuse with your menstrual cycle.

Other Potential Early Symptoms of Pregnancy

Other early pregnancy symptoms include tender or swollen breasts, excessive tiredness, headaches, lower back pain and mood swings. These pregnancy symptoms are extremely difficult for most women to identify because they are the same symptoms that many of us experience during our normal monthly cycle. In addition to your monthly cycle, there are other non-related factors that can cause many of these symptoms. You need to know that these symptoms are potential signs of pregnancy and note whether they occur with other early pregnancy signs such as morning sickness and/or a missed period.

As we discussed, there are many early symptoms of pregnancy that can alert you to the fact that your body has another living being developing inside. It is important that you understand and recognize the potential signs of pregnancy so that you can determine immediately if the pregnancy is real. The developing embryo needs special care and nutrition from you as soon as conception occurs.

If you suspect you may be pregnant, have the pregnancy confirmed immediately and begin following a special pregnancy nutrition and fitness program. The first 13 weeks of your baby’s development are the most critical. This is also the time that most miscarriages occur. Proper nutrition is needed to reduce the risk of birth disorders, malformations and miscarriage.

The best way to prepare yourself mentally and physically for your pregnancy is to: