Pregnancy Symptoms
( Written in response to a reader’s request.)

Keep in mind that pregnancy symptoms differ from woman to woman.

Probably the most significant pregnancy symptom is a missed menstrual period or delayed period.

Understanding pregnancy symptoms is important because each symptom may be related to something other than pregnancy. Some women experience pregnancy symptoms within a week of conception. For other women, symptoms may develop over a few weeks or may not be present at all.

Below is a list of some of the most common pregnancy symptoms, but of course these can vary from woman to woman and even from pregnancy to pregnancy.

A missed period (menstruation):
This is the most common reason a woman tests for pregnancy. When you become pregnant, your next period should be missed. Some women can bleed while they are pregnant, but typically the bleeding will be shorter or lighter than a normal period. This symptom is commonly explained by other reasons. If you have been sexually active and have missed a period, it is recommended that you take a test: Buy a pregnancy test.

* Other explanations for a missed or delayed period: Excessive weight gain/loss, fatigue, hormonal problems, tension, stress, ceasing to take the birth control pill, or breast-feeding.

Swollen and or Tender Breasts:
Swollen or tender breasts are a pregnancy symptom that may begin as early as 1-2 weeks after conception. Women may notice changes in their breasts; they may be tender to the touch, sore, or swollen. Some say their breasts feel “tingly”.

Fatigue:
Feeling fatigued or more tired is a pregnancy symptom that can also start as early as the first week after conception.

* Other Explanations: Stress, exhaustion, depression, common cold or flu, or other illnesses can also leave you feeling tired or fatigued. Many women get very tired prior to their periods.

Nausea often called Morning Sickness:
This well-known pregnancy symptom will often show up between 2 to 8 weeks after conception. Some women are fortunate to not deal with morning sickness at all, while others will feel nauseous throughout most of their pregnancy or for the first trimester.

Frequent Urination:
Around 6-8 weeks after conception, you may find yourself making a few extra trips to the bathroom. It’s not from the pressure of the uterus, it is hormonal.

“It’s a truism that pregnant women constantly need to urinate. Most people assume that the cause of this problem is the pressure of the growing uterus against the bladder. This is certainly true some months into pregnancy, after the uterus has begun to expand. But frequent urination can be a problem even early in the first trimester, because of the high level of the hormone progesterone in the mother’s body.”

Progesterone relaxes the bladder muscles, sparking signals to the brain that you “need to go.”

(I have this in quotes as it is from an old pamphlet I had on pregnancy, from 1978).

Darkening of Areolas:
If you are pregnant, the skin around your nipples may get darker.
Other Explanations: Hormonal imbalance unrelated to pregnancy or may be a leftover effect from a previous pregnancy.
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If you are experiencing these symptoms? buy a home pregnancy test.

Unplanned pregnancy? Call 1-800-230-PLAN in the United States. Go to Planned Parenthood’s web site to find the clinic nearest you.

Pregnant or trying to get pregnant? Order prenatal Vitamins and make an appointment with your obstetrician.

For more details about weekly pregnancy symptoms, and what might be causing that symptoms besides pregnancy, go there.

To find out how home pregnancy tests work, go there…

To learn more about your menstrual cycle go there…

For More Information:

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Phone Number(s): (800) 762-2264 – for publication requests only
Internet Address: http://www.acog.org

American College of Nurse-Midwives
Phone Number(s): (888) 643-9433
Internet Address: http://www.midwife.org