Most women do not know that they are pregnant until they miss their period. Many signs can show you that you are pregnant and they occur in the first trimester and disappear in the second trimester. Some of these signs like bleeding may worry you but visiting a doctor will help to check if they are normal or abnormal.
It is important to plan for pregnancy in advance so that you can take some nutrients like folic acid before the pregnancy which will help in the development of the baby’s brain and iron which helps to avoid anemia during pregnancy. The single best way to confirm Winter Park pregnancy is by taking a pregnancy test.
What Changes Should You Expect During Pregnancy?
The earliest sign of pregnancy is missing your period because the hormone of pregnancy called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) causes the ovaries to stop releasing ova and therefore there will be no ovulation or menstruation. If you are sexually active, you should take a pregnancy test once you miss your period.
You will also experience spotting and abdominal cramps between the first 4 weeks of pregnancy when implantation is taking place in the endometrium. Unlike during menses, spotting with blood is less and can only be noticed when you wipe the vagina and the bleeding does not exceed 3 days. The severity of the pain varies; you should consult your doctor when the bleeding is excessive or with very severe pain.
There is increased fatigue during pregnancy due to the effect of progesterone which makes you feel drowsy. This may also be accompanied by a rise in body temperature. Getting enough sleep, staying well hydrated, exercise, and looking for places with cooler temperatures will help with this.
Some changes also occur on the breast and they become larger and tender because of changes in the levels of hormones. This happens between the 4th and 6th week. The breast areolar also becomes more pigmented and larger. Wearing a comfortable bra and wearing breast pads reduces nipple pain due to irritation.
Women also experience mood swings during pregnancy. You are more likely to become more irritable, emotional, and anxious during pregnancy. Relaxation and mild exercise can help to lift your moods. You will also experience frequent urination during pregnancy due to hormonal changes and increased blood circulation to the kidneys which causes them to produce more urine. You should, therefore, increase your fluid intake to avoid dehydration.
Hormonal changes may also cause slowing of digestion and increase the risk of constipation and bloating. Heartburn results from the weakening of the pyloric sphincter during pregnancy. Women also experience morning sickness due to an increase in the number of hormones. Consuming dry foods and avoiding oily foods and drinking a lot of fluids will help to reduce nausea. It is normal for a woman to add 10 to 15 kgs during pregnancy.
A woman may also experience leg swelling due to the accumulation of fluid on the lower limbs as the uterus enlarges. Sleeping on your left side helps in reducing leg swelling by increasing circulation. Acne and varicose veins are changes that may be experienced during pregnancy.
What Danger Signs Should Prompt You to See a Doctor?
You should see a doctor when you experience fever, excess vaginal bleeding, severe headaches, dizziness, leaking of amniotic fluid, severe abdominal pain, blurred vision, lack of baby kicks that were initially present and severe edema. These signs could show that you have an underlying infection that could harm your baby or can trigger premature labor or miscarriage.
Normal signs of pregnancy include missed period, nausea, bloating, frequent urination, and breast tenderness. There are some warning signs of an underlying condition that could endanger the pregnancy like bleeding and fever. You should visit a doctor if you experience these danger signs.
