We cannot lay down a detailed list of sign of pregnancy for every woman, as pregnancy symptoms differ from women to women. In general, we can lay down certain general sign of pregnancy that may or may not be experienced by women. Understanding the sign of pregnancy is very important as these signs may also be related to other occurrences than pregnancy. A missed period can be one of the earliest sign of pregnancy. Moreover, after conception, when the embryo implants itself on the uterine wall, there will be implantation bleeding and you will experience cramping of muscles as well as spotting. They are the initial sign of pregnancy and can be generally misunderstood as a result of altered menstruation, infection or changes in birth control pill and so on.
Symptoms that Prevail Throughout Pregnancy:
As mentioned, a delayed menstruation is the first and foremost sign of pregnancy. You will also miss your next period and this confirms that fact that you are pregnant. Bleeding is very much normal during pregnancy period but it will be generally lighter than normal flow. Normally a missed period is generally attributed to hormonal problems, stress, tension and fatigue and so on. A tender breast is also a sign of pregnancy and may begin after one to weeks of conceiving. Though hormonal imbalances or delayed menstrual cycle may cause this tenderness, but generally it is a persistent problem that occurs specifically during pregnancy.
Since your body is supporting and feeding another life system, you tend to get more exhausted and stressed out during pregnancy. Fatigue or exhaustion is also early sign of pregnancy and can start as early as first week after conception. A pregnancy test will generally confirm your pregnancy because this tiredness or fatigue can also arise out of depression, stress, common cold or flu and so on.
The most common sign of pregnancy will appear between two to eight weeks of pregnancy. Morning sickness, dizziness, backaches, and even vomiting in extreme cases are some of these common symptoms. Some of you may be really fortunate enough not to deal with problems of morning sickness while others who are not so fortunate can feel queasy throughout entire pregnancy. Remember continuous back pains, nauseatic feeling, dizziness cannot be the result of food poisoning, stress or other disorders, as they all are transitory phases. They are sign of pregnancy that will prevail throughout your pregnancy.
Changes in the hormonal balance in your body during pregnancy can cause headache and this is also an early sign of pregnancy. Darkening of areolas, frequent urination and cravings for food are all sign of pregnancy and lasts throughout the entire pregnancy months. Frequent mood swings and irrational behavior are also very common during pregnancy. That is why it is very important for you to maintain a pregnancy journal that can give vent to your pent up feelings. Any pregnancy health related issues and occurrences can also find place in your journal. It makes your journey even more enjoyable.
Archive for December, 2008
Symptom Of Pregnancy : The Early Signs
Wednesday, December 10th, 2008
Pregnancy is a most unique period in a womans life. While bringing great joy, it can also be a very confusing time for most women as they try to figure out whether they are really pregnant. Of course, it is very much possible to confuse the early signs of pregnancy with symptoms of some other illness. At the same time, there are some symptoms of pregnancy that will confirm the onset of pregnancy.
Pregnancy Symptoms
One of the commonest early signs of pregnancy is a missed period. The confusion sets in because a missed period can also be due to stress, illness, and fluctuations in weight. Cessation of oral contraceptives, and a polycystic ovary syndrome also lead to a missed period.
Changes in the size and feel of the breast are an early sign of pregnancy. The breasts begin to enlarge and most women experience greater tenderness of the breast along with a tingling sensation. It may well be that this pregnancy symptom disappears after some time.
Nausea and vomiting is also an early sign of pregnancy and amongst the most unwelcome symptoms of pregnancy. It can occur as early as two weeks after conception and tends to taper off by the end of the third month of the pregnancy.
While many women experience tiredness, this can be due to other reasons as well and cannot by itself be considered a pregnancy symptom.
The darkening of the areola is also indicative of pregnancy. It remains for the entire tenure of the pregnancy and is one of the surest symptoms of pregnancy.
Frequent urination as early as two weeks after conception is also indicative of pregnancy. This occurs due to higher levels of progesterone and the uterus rising up to the abdomen, which in turn exerts pressure on the bladder. The bladder then feels full, even though there may not be a need to urinate. Some women are also affected by constipation, which can also be quite annoying.
Another symptom of pregnancy is women feeling queasy about certain foods while experiencing an almost uncontrollable craving for other foods.
Weekly Pregnancy Calendar
Pregnancy calendars are a handy way of keeping a record of the changes a womans body and the fetus undergo at specific intervals during the course of the pregnancy. A weekly pregnancy calendar does this on a weekly basis.
The calculation typically begins from the last date of last period and includes the due date of birth, which is generally forty weeks from the first day of the last period. It is a useful tool to monitor the health of the mother and the baby.
First-time mothers can easily confuse pregnancy symptoms with symptoms of other illness. However, awareness of early signs of pregnancy will help you in identifying these symptoms in the initial stages. A weekly pregnancy calendar is a useful aide to monitor the heath of the mother and the baby.
Vital Information About Ectopic Pregnancy
Tuesday, December 9th, 2008
What is Ectopic Pregnancy? Ectopic may be defined as an organ or body part existing in an unusual form or position. Ectopic pregnancy is one which is developing in the wrong place. In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg or ovum fails to move down through the fallopian tube to the uterus. Instead, it develops outside the womb. The ovum may attach itself to the fallopian tube, the ovary, cervix, or any other organ within the pelvic and abdominal organ. Most ectopic pregnancies lead to immediate miscarriage, while others need medical attention.
Reasons for Ectopic Pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancies occur in women with damaged fallopian tubes. A history of pelvic inflammatory disease, previous surgery, scar tissue, endometriosis, or previous ectopic pregnancies increases the likelihood of such a pregnancy. Chances of ectopic pregnancies increase if you become pregnant while using a contraceptive-coil or a progestogen only contraceptive pill. Even in-vitro fertilizations are known to be ectopic despite the fact that the ovum is directly placed into the womb. The ovum may attach itself somewhere else, leading to ectopic pregnancy. Sometimes, women suffer from this despite not having any of the above risk factors.
Symptoms of Ectopic Pregnancy
Pain on one side of the abdomen is the first sign of ectopoic pregnancy. This pain is often severe and constant and starts suddenly. Pain in shoulder, which intensifies when breathing in and out, is also a sign of ectopic pregnancy. Pain while using the bathroom may also indicate towards this type of pregnancy. Other symptoms include sickness, diarrhoea, light headedness, paleness, collapse, falling blood pressure, and vaginal bleeding or unusual periods.
Diagnosis
An ectopic pregnancy is often difficult to diagnose, as the symptoms are that of a normal pregnancy, such as tender breasts, nausea, frequent urination, missed period, and vomiting. However, in case you notice any of the signs discussed above, you must consult your physician immediately.
A urine test may not be a surest way to detect ectopic pregnancy; but a positive result for a specialized HCG blood test will confirm it. An internal pelvic examination will reveal that the womb is smaller in an ectopic pregnancy than in a normal pregnancy at the same stage of pregnancy. A swelling is also a sign of this type of pregnancy. An ultrasound is the safest bet when it comes to detecting this type of pregnancy.
Treatment
Most ectopic pregnancies need to be surgically treated or need proper medication. Without such medical intervention, the pregnancy can turn fatal to the mother. With technological advancements, it has become a lot easier to detect an ectopic pregnancy. Also, the treatment of such a pregnancy has improved, for example, keyhole surgery. Techniques like laparoscopy or laprotomy can by used to remove the misplaced ovum.
Future Pregnancies
You must understand that even if you have had an ectopic pregnancy, you will be likely to have successful pregnancies in the future. It is advisable to wait for several cycles before attempting to become pregnant again. Most women are known to become pregnant again with a healthy pregnancy as soon as they attempted again.