SYMPTOMS OF PREGNANCY

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The onset and degree of pregnancy symptoms will vary within women. Many

women experience them within days of conception, others take a few weeks

before pregnancy symptoms kick in and a lucky few feel no discomfort at all.

The early pregnancy symptoms listed on this page generally can be felt once

implantation occurs (4 - 10 days from ovulation) and will lessen after the

first trimester.

It is frustrating to realize that many pregnancy symptoms are very similar

to those that occur right before menstruating. However, combined with high

temperatures and a longer luteal phase - they are key indications that you

have achieved pregnancy success!

Nausea & Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting may come as early as a week into the pregnancy. Many

women experience illness in the morning (morning sickness), some in the

afternoon or evening, others feel feel nausea throughout the entire day.

There is no explanation as to why pregnant women feel this or even a

solution as to how to prevent it - however, eating small frequent meals, and

snacking on saltine crackers seems to give some kind of relief. Eating a

protein/carbohydrate at bedtime (try an apple and a glass of milk) tends to

lessen the nausea that occurs in the morning.

Breast Tenderness

Breasts may be very tender, swollen and start to enlarge. Many times the

veins within the breast will become more visible. Your nipples may start to

darken in color, become more erect and be extremely sensitive. These

symptoms are due to increasing amount of hCG hormone that begins at

implantation.

Frequent Urination

Pregnancy causes the uterus to swell and it will start to enlarge for the

growing fetus immediately. The uterus puts pressure on your bladder making

you feel the need for more frequent urination. Many women start to feel

this symptom within a week or two after pregnancy has occurred.

Feeling Tired / Sluggish

This one is pretty obvious. When pregnant your body is going through some

major hormonal changes. hCG levels alone go from 0 - 250,000 mIU/ml in just

twelve weeks. Your temperature is also higher due to the amount

progesterone circulating through your body which will also make you feel a

little sluggish.

Light Bleeding

Light bleeding (spotting) may occur approximately 4 - 10 days from

ovulation. It can even occur around the same time you would have gotten

your menstrual period. Some women assume they have started their period

when in fact they are pregnant. The spotting is caused from implantation

which is when the fertilized egg burrows into the endometrial lining.

Dizziness and/or Fainting

When standing in one place you may feel dizzy or even faint. The growing

uterus compresses major arteries in your legs which causes your blood

pressure to drop making you extremely light headed. Skipping meals or going

too long without eating may cause you to feel dizzy or faint. When not

eating frequently enough it causes low blood sugar. Blood sugar is the

primary source of food for your baby so it will be depleted much more

quickly.

Constipation

Pregnancy hormones will slow down bowel functions to give maximum absorption

time of vitamins and nutrients. Unfortunately, this symptom usually only

gets worse as the pregnancy progresses.

Irritability

Raging hormones are the cause of this...along with having to put up with all

the other symptoms. This symptom should decrease soon into the second

trimester but until then, a healthy diet, moderate exercise and plenty of

sleep should help the crabbiness somewhat.

Heartburn

The uterus is very swollen and starts to push upward as it grows. The

increasing levels of hCG will also slow down digestion making your stomach

not empty as fast which increases the stomach acid.

Uncomfortable - But Well Worth It!

After your precious baby arrives, you will soon forget the bouts of nausea

and the discomfort you are now experiencing.

How Pregnancy Is Detected

When a women becomes pregnant her body starts to produce a hormone called

HcG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) this hormone is what is detected in both

urine and blood based tests to give a positive pregnancy result. This page

gives an average range of HcG levels found in pregnant women at 10 - 22

days past ovulation.

HcG Levels

HcG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) is a hormone that is produced by the

embryo when its starts to implant itself into the uterine lining

(implantation) and begins to grow. This occurs approximately 8-10 days

after conception. As it grows, the amount of HcG increases and doubles

about every three days. The purpose of HcG is to keep the estrogen and

progesterone levels at their appropriate levels until the placenta has

developed enough to take this function over. HcG levels will reach as high

as almost 300,000 mIU/ml (level) and will peak out at 10 - 12 weeks.

Average Range of HcG Levels

Pregnant women will vary in levels of HcG within their body at different

times. But HcG levels once beginning to build should not fall. A dramatic

decline in HcG levels indicates that a miscarriage is taking place.

Taken from Webwomb.com

Hart