My Pregnancy Stages for All Your Pregnancy Questions

The First Signs Of Pregnancy: Am I Pregnant?

April 10th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

It’s important for a woman to know the first signs of pregnancy, especially if you are trying to become pregnant. As soon as you become pregnant, it is important to begin a pregnancy nutrition and fitness program, see your doctor, begin taking prenatal vitamins, etc. Here are some of the first signs of pregnancy that you may experience:

Missed Menstrual Cycle

The most obvious first sign of pregnancy for most women is a missed period. If you have a regular cycle and know your schedule this may be the first pregnancy symptom that you notice. However if you have an irregular cycle, a missed period may be difficult to detect. Although a missed period is a sign of pregnancy it can also be caused by stress, changes in diet, sudden changes in weight and similar factors.

Physical Exhaustion

Another first sign of pregnancy is unusual tiredness. Despite getting your normal amount of sleep, you are more tired than usual. Although this is a first sign of pregnancy it may also indicate that you have an infection, have the flu, are under a lot of stress, or are physically overexerted.

Tender Breasts

This first sign of pregnancy can be difficult to detect since it is often associated with your normal menstrual cycle. If you experience tender breasts and your menstrual cycle is more than 2 weeks late, you’re probably pregnant. A home pregnancy test should be taken for verification.

Darkened Areolas

An obvious first sign of pregnancy is a darkening of your areolas (the colored skin surrounding your nipples). This pregnancy symptom occurs very early in pregnancy and may last the entire nine months. Since this symptom is not normally associated with your normal menstrual cycle, it is one of the first signs of pregnancy that most women notice.

Morning Sickness

This is another early sign of pregnancy that is easily recognized. This pregnancy symptom is not normally associated with your normal menstrual cycle, so it is easier to identify that some of the other first signs of pregnancy. Morning sickness and vomiting can also be a sign of illness, food poisoning and similar factors. If your morning sickness persists for more than one day, it is likely a sign that you are pregnant.

Heightened Sense of Smell and Taste

This is a first sign of pregnancy that many women experience very early in their pregnancy. For some women their senses are much more sensitive and easily noticeable, while others can barely notice the difference. There are few other factors that cause your senses to become more sensitive. If you experience this first sign of pregnancy, you’re probably pregnant. This is especially true if you experience this symptom with one or more other early pregnancy symptoms.

The above first signs of pregnancy can be difficult to detect since there can be other factors causing them. Many of the signs are similar to normal premenstrual symptoms which make detection more challenging. If you think you may be pregnant, you should take a home pregnancy test to know for sure. Regardless of the result, you should repeat the test within 7-10 days to confirm the results.

I’m Pregnant: What do I do?

Once you know you’re pregnant, you should call your doctor immediately. You need to begin planning your prenatal care, start taking special prenatal vitamins and begin a pregnancy nutrition and fitness program. The first few months of your pregnancy are the most critical since this is when your baby’s major organs and brain are developing. The first trimester is also when most miscarriages occur, so your nutrition and fitness are critical during this period for you and your baby.
To Your Health,

MyPregnancyStages.com

Posted in Pregnancy Symptoms & Signs, Early Pregnancy Symptoms | Top Of Page | Leave a Comment »

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: