Early Pregnancy Symptoms To Look For The First One To Two Weeks Of Conceiving
If youre actively trying to conceive, you know the struggle of wondering if every little change in your body is an early pregnancy symptom!
I know with my first born, I was googling probably 10 things a day in the couple days leading up to my period I was so anxious, and wanted to know ASAP if I was pregnant!
With my twins, even with being a second pregnancy, I noticed EVERY. LITTLE. CHANGE. with myself while I was waiting to find out if I was pregnant! However, I will say it was painfully obvious when I was pregnant with them think morning sickness intensified by 10! And my positive happened MUCH sooner than with my single!
Anyways, as I think back to signs with my son I know I had a couple of early signs, but I wanted to compile a list for you guys to check with!
Dont get it twisted if you are super tired, maybe you just are dehydrated, or if youre nauseous very early on, maybe you ate bad food!
What Im saying is, everyones body is different. Early pregnancy symptoms manifest in different ways, so what was a definite sign for one woman may be normal or not of importance to you!
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Very Early Signs Of Pregnancy
Think you might be pregnant? Check out these early symptoms of pregnancy that can show up one week before your missed period. If you’ve already experienced a few, it may be time to head to the drugstore to pick up a pregnancy test or schedule an appointment with your OB-GYN.
Your breasts may be extra tender as early as one or two weeks after conception. Youre making so much estrogen and progesterone in early pregnancy that the glands in the breasts start growing, explains Jasbir Singh, M.D., an OB-GYN at Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie in Texas. This hormone surge causes breasts to retain more fluids and feel heavy, sore, or more sensitive than normal PMS tenderness.
Many women mistake these early signs of pregnancy for PMS symptoms, but theyre actually caused by hormonal changes and the growth of the uterus. About 30 percent of women experience cramping after conception, which is triggered by implantationwhen the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall. Your uterus may be stretching a little now to prep for its massive expansion over the next nine months
When a fertilized egg implants into the plush lining of the uterus about six to 12 days after conception, light vaginal spotting may occur. You might mistake this “implantation bleeding” for your period, but it’s generally lighter than menstruation and brown or pink in color.
Is Heart Burn An Early Sign Of Pregnancy
Suddenly if you are feeling the burning sensation while you bend, the reason could be your missed periods. Yes, experts claim heartburn as an early sign of pregnancy. Stop blaming the changed recipes or the food you had. Get to know the doctors opinion if the symptoms of heartburn are increasing. Try avoiding citrus foods to feel better.
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What Causes Heartburn During Pregnancy
Causes of heartburn during pregnancy include:
- Hormone levels changing: Your hormone levels change during pregnancy, affecting how you tolerate and digest foods. The hormones often slow down your digestive system. Food moves slower, causing bloating and heartburn.
- Esophageal sphincter relaxing: Progesterone, known as the pregnancy hormone, can cause the lower esophageal sphincter to relax. When it relaxes, stomach acid can move up into the esophagus.
- Uterus enlarging: As your baby grows, your uterus gets bigger. It can crowd your stomach and push stomach acids upward, into your esophagus. Thats why heartburn is more common during the third trimester, the last few months of pregnancy. The baby and uterus are biggest then, crowding your other organs.
What Causes Heartburn In Pregnancy
Heartburn is caused by the valve between your stomach and the tube leading to it relaxing during pregnancy due to hormonal changes . This means stomach acid can pass into the tube and cause the burning feeling.
In later stages of pregnancy, your growing uterus can press on your stomach and make the problem worse.
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Urge To Sleep Differently
Its like our bodies know to sleep differently with a little one now growing! Women also said that all of a sudden, with no known reason they wanted to sleep a completely different way than normal!
We all know we have an exact way we like to sleep for me it was on my stomach with my arms tucked under, so pregnancy kind of kicked that to the curb! To all of a sudden have an urge to sleep different, whether its all of a sudden on your back, side or tummy when that is NOT the norm, could be a super early pregnancy sign!
Subtle And Obvious Signs Of Labor
If dealing with more heartburn doesn’t necessarily mean labor is on the way, then what are some of the less-known signs of labor? âSome of the more subtle signs of labor include looser stool than usual, stomach upset, and abdominal tightening that isn’t necessarily painful but increasing in frequency,â says Dr. Conti. In some cases, you might have a sense that something different is going on in your body. âProbable signs that labor is imminent would be losing the mucus plug, bloody show, water breaking or the start of some cramping/back pain,â Hilary Baxendale, Lamaze certified instructor, birth doula, and founder of Westchester Birth and Parenting, tells Romper. âBut many people just feel like something is âoffâ or different, kind of intuitive knowing that something has shifted or is about to happen.â This kind of feeling is difficult to measure, sure, but worth paying attention to in the later days of pregnancy.
So although heartburn is not a definite sign that labor is starting, there are plenty of other ways to tell when your body is revving up for that big event.
Experts sourced:
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What Are Some Unusual Signs Of Early Pregnancy
Some of the symptoms of pregnancy that people are less familiar with are:
- Heartburn
- Acid reflux
- Diarrhea.
Something thats often overlooked, or not well known, is the way pregnancy hormones can play havoc with your digestive system.
The reason for this is the hormone progesterone.
Progesterone starts to rise after a woman ovulates.
If she doesnt get pregnant, it drops rapidly around 10 days after ovulation.
If she does get pregnant, it continues to rise.
This is because progesterones job is to support a pregnancy.
Progesterone is responsible for many of the symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome a woman experiences.
Its also responsible for many pregnancy symptoms.
Thats why it can be difficult to figure out whether youre pregnant or about to start your period.
Early Signs Of Pregnancy
When youre trying to conceive, any slight new symptom can get your heart pounding. Waiting to see if two pink lines are in store for you this month can be agony, so its hard not to read into every twinge, cramp and extra trip to the bathroom. But what are the first signs of pregnancy you should really be on the lookout for? Will you really start craving strange food combinations? And what about morning sickness? Does every woman experience the same pregnancy symptoms?
Here, with the help of medical experts, we break down the most common early signs of pregnancy, why they happen and what you can do to ease any ensuing discomfort.
When Do Pregnancy Symptoms Start?Theres no hard and fast rule for when early pregnancy symptoms kick in. Some women may begin noticing the first early signs of pregnancy a week or two after conception, while others will start to feel symptoms closer to four or five weeks after, when your period is conspicuously late, or even farther into pregnancy. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, most women experienced an onset of pregnancy symptoms by their fifth or sixth week, while 71 percent reported symptoms by the end of week six and 89 percent by week eight.
Pregnancy symptoms in this article:Additional symptoms
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Is Heartburn A Sign Of Pregnancy With Twins
Being pregnant with twins can cause stronger pregnancy symptoms.
Every woman is different, though, and every pregnancy is different.
Being pregnant with twins doesnt always lead to different or stronger symptoms than a singleton pregnancy.
If youre pregnant and feeling heartburn, you cant assume youre pregnant with twins.
Acne And Pimple Spots
Pimple spots and acne bumps on your face could a physical symptom you are pregnant. Hormonal changes can give your skin a flush and leave you looking brighter than usual.
You can also get a few spots and bumps, or just an acne breakout as soon as you conceive.
Try not to pick at the pimples and acne spots. You can end up with infected zits on your face. Note that you may get a few acne bumps on your chin or face even if you never get them at all or during your PMS.
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What Is The First Trimester Of Pregnancy
The first trimester is the earliest phase of pregnancy. It starts on the first day of your last period — before youre even actually pregnant — and lasts until the end of the 13th week. Its a time of great anticipation and of rapid changes for both you and your baby. Knowing what to expect will help you get ready for the months ahead.
Pregnancy Sign: Sore Breasts
Before you start cursing your bra for suddenly feeling more like a contraption from the hardware store than the lacy lingerie that took a serious chunk out of your paycheque, consider that your newly sore boobs could be a sign that youre pregnant. Breast tenderness is another common early pregnancy sign, according to Nordahl. For many women, what can make this symptom particularly confusing is that breast soreness is also a very common sign of your period. But early on in your pregnancy, your breasts may hurt because theyre expanding in preparation for producing milk.
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How Do Pregnancy Tests Work
If you have a pregnancy test done at the doctors office, it basically lets the doctor know if your blood or urine contains hCG, which is a hormone known as human chorionic gonadotropin. This particular hormone is made immediately after you have a fertilized egg attach itself to your uterus wall, typically happening around five or six days after its been fertilized.
Youll have a rapid rise in hCG levels if youre pregnant. Your hCG levels will typically double approximately every 72 hours early on in your pregnancy. There are two different types of pregnancy tests that will give you the same answer. These are blood and urine tests.
The staff at your local Carlisle, Harrisburg and Mechanicsburg urgent care centers realize that it can be an exciting time starting a family, but the uncertainty in the beginning surrounding pregnancy tests can be nerve-wracking. Many women dont even consider going to an urgent care center to have a pregnancy test done and often rely on a home test instead.
The problem with this is these types of tests can give you a false-negative or false-positive, which can really add on to this uncertainty. There are a number of reasons why home tests give you false results. Some reasons include:
Turning Purple Down There
With all the activity now going on, there is increased blood flow to the area which means a more purple hue down below!
This is why some women also say that sex is amazing during pregnancy increased blood flow seems to mean increased sensitivity!
Get a mirror and see whats going on!
While I didnt check this at the start, I do know I was told by my OB to check at the end as an early sign of labor. But the area to check was higher up in the area right before your butt crack . I was told that as the baby moved further down into the position for delivery, the bloodflow increased there as my body got ready and things got tighter!
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What To Do When You Think Youre In Labor
When all the signs seem to indicate that itâs showtime, youâll need to get yourself together. First, you should time your contractions, advises Dr. Nwegbo-Banks. âWhen its time to have a baby, the biggest signs are painful contractions with cervical dilation,â she says. âOther signs of labor include regular contractions about every five to 10 minutes in the abdomen and may radiate to the vaginal area and to the lower back.â If youâre unsure if birth is imminent, you can always call your OB/GYN or midwife and give her an update on your status. Just be sure to grab your hospital or birthing bag so that you have everything you need prior to Baby making its debut.
It can be hard to know what is a true sign of labor â and whatâs a typical pregnancy pain. But by being aware of all of the signs of labor, youâll be ready to bring your beautiful baby into the world with hopefully a quick and relatively painless labor and delivery. .
Studies referenced:
Raines, D., Cooper, D. . Braxton Hicks Contractions. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470546/
Vazquez, J. . Heartburn in pregnancy. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26348641/
Experts Sourced:
Heartburn And Indigestion During Pregnancy
Once the nausea of early pregnancy wanes, many women look forward to enjoying their meals again. However, around the middle of pregnancy, heartburn and indigestion may spoil the party. These discomforts can happen at any time, but are more common in the second and third trimesters. Fortunately, they’re rarely serious and are easily treatable.
What are heartburn and indigestion?
Heartburn — which actually has nothing to do with your heart — is marked by a burning sensation after meals in your throat or in your chest behind the breastbone. It’s caused by stomach acid coming in contact with the esophagus . A valve at the bottom of that pipe seals off the top of the stomach when you’re not eating, but when valve is overly relaxed, partially digested food and stomach acid sometimes make their way back up into the esophagus, irritating its sensitive lining.
The chief symptom of heartburn is a burning feeling in the chest. You may also experience a sour taste in your mouth or the unpleasant feeling that vomit is rising in your throat.
Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia, is a general term for digestion-related pain or discomfort in the abdomen. Symptoms of indigestion include heartburn, excess gas, bloating, burping, and feeling too full after a normal meal.
Both heartburn and indigestion are common conditions during pregnancy and rarely require medical attention.
What causes heartburn and indigestion during pregnancy?
How can I prevent heartburn?
References
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Can Indigestion Harm The Baby
Although indigestion is a distressing symptom of pregnancy, you can rest assured that it wont harm your baby. The slowing down of your digestive system may, in fact, benefit your baby, as it will give your body more time to transfer nutrients to your baby through the placenta. The next time you feel that familiar pain settling in, dont worry. Your baby will be fine. Some people believe that heartburn during pregnancy means that the baby will be born with a headful of hair. But this is a myth.
Way Beyond Morning Sickness
Pregnancy is an odd thing to live through. Though most women expect certain symptoms to come with the territory. Nausea, vomiting, even backaches are expected by most moms-to-be. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t symptoms that you’ve never considered in pregnancy before.
There are the closely held secrets of the pregnant women who have come before you. Here is a list of five pregnancy symptoms you may not have even thought about!
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Avoiding Indigestion And Heartburn
If your symptoms are mild, it’s possible that changes to your diet or lifestyle may help prevent indigestion and heartburn. You could try:
- eating smaller meals, more often
- avoiding eating just before bed
- avoiding foods and drinks that you suspect give you heartburn
- not drinking a lot of coffee at the end of the day
- avoiding eating and drinking at the same time, which can make your stomach more full
- sitting up straight while eating, and not lying down after a meal
- chewing gum, which may cause you to produce more saliva to help neutralise the acid
- stop smoking
- raise the head of your bed by 10 to 15cm
- sleep on your left side
If your indigestion is not helped by diet and lifestyle changes, or your symptoms are more severe, your doctor or midwife may suggest that you take a medicine for indigestion that is safe to use during pregnancy. Medicines can neutralise the acid in your stomach, reduce the amount of acid produced by your stomach and stop the acid rising into your oesophagus.
Sour Or Metallic Taste
Forum mum sealeyB says she had a really metallic taste in her mouth very soon after ovulation and it didnt go for 2 weeks. And shes definitely not alone in experiencing this early pregnancy symptom.
Experiencing strange tastes, known as dysgeusia, is one of the lesser-known but actually quite common early pregnancy signs, says Dr. Amin Gorgy. And, once again, pregnancy hormones are the culprit.
The metallic taste symptom can vary in its intensity but its definitely sour. Its as if I have sucked 2p pieces! says forum mum-to-be Deli3.
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