You received a positive pregnancy test, and now you’re waiting for the telltale symptoms to start. When can you expect nausea, vomiting, bloating, constipation, and fatigue? Show As it turns out, every woman is different, says Marra Francis, M.D., an OB-GYN in Woodlands, Texas, and an author of the Mommy MD Guides. Some never experience the typical early signs of pregnancy, while others feel immediate changes in their body. And you can’t use previous pregnancies as a guide either; symptoms might appear at different points in every gestation, adds Dr. Francis. To give you a basic guideline, we rounded up nine common early pregnancy symptoms and their typical start time. Remember to take this tentative schedule with a grain of salt, though, and ask your doctor about any concerns. Thanks to an increase in estrogen and progesterone, your breasts may feel sore, sensitive, and tender in early pregnancy. This symptom usually starts about one or two weeks after conception—even before you miss your period! Some women experience twinging cramps when the fertilized egg implants into the lining of the uterus. You might also notice light spotting that lasts a day or so. These signs of implantation appear six to 12 days after conception, and many women mistake them for PMS. Rising levels of progesterone, as well as your body’s effort to support the pregnancy, may result in fatigue. Loss of energy appears as early as one week after conception. It often goes away in the second trimester but rears its head again as you approach delivery. Fatigue might partially contribute to another annoying pregnancy symptom: mood swings that start around week five. Unfortunately, unstable emotions usually last throughout the first trimester. Do your pants feel tighter than normal? Blame pregnancy hormones for this abdominal bloating, which often appears soon after conception. Early pregnancy bloating often reminds women of PMS. Up to 85 percent of pregnant women deal with the nausea and vomiting associated with morning sickness. Food aversions and heightened sense of smell may exacerbate symptoms, but eating small meals and other home remedies can help. Morning sickness starts between six and eight weeks into pregnancy. It peaks around week eight or nine, and it usually disappears by week 16. Around four to six weeks after conception, some women feel a strong, frequent urge to urinate. Blame the pregnancy hormone hCG, your growing uterus, and extra blood flow. This symptom often reappears in the third trimester when your baby presses on your uterus. Increased blood volume might cause crippling tension headaches in pregnancy. Staying hydrated can keep this head-pounding symptom at bay. Pregnancy hormones slow down your digestive tract, triggering constipation around the second to third months of gestation. Control constipation by staying hydrated, incorporating fiber into your diet, and exercising regularly.
Early symptoms of pregnancy are usually different for every woman. Some women might experience the first symptoms a week or two after conceiving, whereas others don’t feel anything for months. Many women may tell if they are pregnant within two or three weeks of conceiving, and some women know a lot sooner, even within a few days. It really depends on a woman’s ability to pick up on the changes occurring within the body and how sensitive they are to them. Doctors may always run a blood test, which can typically detect pregnancy as early as one week after conception. As per the research done on 136 women who were trying to get pregnant, they kept daily records of their symptoms from the time they stopped using birth control until they were eight weeks pregnant (That's counting eight weeks from the first day of their last menstrual period). The results were as follows:
Some pregnancy symptoms can begin a just few days after conception, even before a positive pregnancy test, which may include:
15 Early warning signs and symptoms of pregnancyThe signs and symptoms of pregnancy differ from woman to woman. All the signs of pregnancy may not be seen in one person. Additionally, the signs may appear in different persons at different times. Below are a few common signs and symptoms that may indicate early pregnancy:
What is the best way to confirm pregnancy?The best way to confirm pregnancy is to do a blood test measuring the human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) hormone.
Why are hot baths bad for pregnancy?
Many pregnant women like taking hot baths in a bathtub to relieve stress and pain. A hot bath with soothing Epsom salts can reduce lower back pain, stress, and help relax the muscles and nerves. However, prolonged hot baths may not be a good idea, especially in the first three months of pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has conducted studies that support the finding that body temperature rising above 102.2 ºF when a person is in a hot bath may increase the incidences of birth defects in babies.
How do you safely take a bath while pregnant?It is important to keep the core body temperature below 101 °F during pregnancy.
While taking a hot bath, try to come out in less than 10 minutes. A thermometer may be used to check the temperature. A few studies have shown that water baths up to 104 °F will not raise the core body temperature to rise to unsafe levels for up to 20 minutes. However, each person may react differently to the temperature, hence it is better to avoid high temperatures. If the woman feels overheated, she may take a cool shower to bring down the body temperature. Signs of overheating include feeling hot, red skin, and sweating. Giddiness, nausea, loss of balance, or fainting can occur in more serious cases.
It is important to maintain proper hygiene of the bathtub by thoroughly cleaning it with a disinfectant (such as bleach) before and after use to prevent infection. What are the risks of taking a bath?While taking a hot bath, a safe temperature to maintain in the tub is around 98.6 to 100 °F to avoid any serious complications. When a pregnant woman’s core body temperature increases by 2 °F or above 99 °F, there may be an increased risk of neural tube defects (NTDs). This risk also depends on the timing and duration of this temperature increase. Hence, it is important to maintain a safe temperature of the water, as well as identify and address signs of overheating immediately. If the water breaks (rupture of the amniotic sac), it is advised not to soak in a bathtub without consulting or the presence of a doctor or midwife. Soaking in water with a ruptured amniotic sac can increase the risk of infection in the mother and baby. Though water births are becoming increasingly popular, they should only be conducted by an experienced health care professional.
Medically Reviewed on 3/28/2022 References What are some common signs of pregnancy? (https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pregnancy/conditioninfo/signs) Early Signs of Pregnancy before a Missed Period: (https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/symptoms-and-solutions/early-signs-of-pregnancy-before-missed-period/) |