Symptoms of Pregnancy: Understand Early Signs and Conditions of Being Pregnant

On a late December day, one year ago, I realized I had missed my menstrual period, something that had never occurred before. This was accompanied by my infallible gut feeling that told me I was pregnant. Brilliant, aren't I?

I was also more tired than usual. Medical textbooks will tell you that fatigue is a common sign of early pregnancy. The sleepiness is caused by increased production of a hormone called progesterone. This symptom will likely return in late pregnancy.

Friends of mine have reported additional early pregnancy symptoms such as breast tenderness and dizziness. Women who are more in tune with their bodies will likely experience more symptoms even before receiving confirmation of the pregnancy.

Once a couple of home pregnancy tests and a reliable OB-GYN confirmed my pregnancy, I knew I was in business. Like most women, worry and uncertainty began to dominate my day. When I was around eight weeks pregnant I started experiencing light nausea, with no further consequences such as vomiting. It is a common myth that all women go through morning sickness. I am living proof that this is not true, all I had to show for it was very light and rare nausea.

One thing I had to be careful about was dizziness. My doctor explained that blood circulation increases during pregnancy in order to nurture the growing fetus, so it is recommended to get up slowly from a lying or sitting position so as not to get dizzy and black out or faint. One must also avoid eating too much sugar so as not to cause hypertension. Quitting my daily ice cream regime helped relieve most of the dizzy sensation I was experiencing.

A common symptom in early pregnancy is pain in the lower abdomen. I asked my doctor about the painful pulling sensation and was told it was due to the muscles stretching to accommodate the ever growing baby. This was another reason to get up slowly and avoid sudden movements or heavy lifting.

Breast tenderness is very real and something your partner should be aware of. Wear sleep bras for great comfort and support. As a perennial B cup I was delighted to notice that my old bras were getting tighter- one of the perks of pregnancy.

Many pregnant women develop temporary aversion to various aromas, and I was no exception. I could not stand the smell of most fried foods and avoided using the frying pan. Whenever my husband fried something I would shut the bedroom door and try to concentrate on something else. Worst of all was the sweet smell of a cake being baked in the oven. For some reason, extremely sweet aromas made my stomach turn.

To my great detriment, I often craved French Fries or tortilla chips with salsa. I blame my last 10 persisting pounds on those pig-out sessions.

Heartburn is another gift of pregnancy. Mylanta is your friend! Heartburn probably occurs because of all the hormonal changes the body goes through.Thinking of all the changes the female body goes through during and after a pregnancy, it's a miracle we're still around to tell the tale.

Be aware of mood changes - definitely something my husband noticed! Next time your spouse or partner complains about your PMS moodiness, let him know that is just practice for the real thing. Or perhaps it is best to keep your silence!

Frequent bathroom trips- oh yeah, baby! When you're and you gotta go, you really, really gotta go. Trust me. Nothing can match that incredible sense of urgency I constantly tried to describe to my husband.

Low back pain is a symptom I had in the early months of pregnancy. The pain is caused by the additional weight misaligning your body.
Be sure to have a firm mattress to rest on, or get a wooden board from your nearest lumber suppliers.

If you feel you are pregnant, don't hesitate to see your doctor. And get lots of rest!

Sources:

http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/159_15245.asp
http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,4712,00.html
http://www.womens-health-questions.com/pregnancysymptoms.html