Pregnancy: Am I Pregnant?
If you're unusually tuned into your body, you might begin to suspect that you're pregnant within the first few days of pregnancy. But, most women don't suspect they are pregnant until they miss a period, and a few don't suspect or believe they are pregnant for months after conception.
Here are 5 common signs of early pregnancy. You may experience all, some or none of these symptoms.
- A Missed Period. Missing your period is the most clear-cut sign of pregnancy. But it is not definitive, as stress or other factors may cause irregular periods.
- Frequent Trips to the Bathroom. Even before missing a period, most pregnant women report having to go to the bathroom more often. You may even have to get up during the night! This occurs after the embryo has implanted in the uterus and begins producing the pregnancy hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This hormone triggers frequent urination.
- Fatigue. Utter exhaustion is a very early sign of pregnancy. Fatigue is a result of high levels of the hormone progesterone.
- Morning (and Noon and Night!) Sickness. Guess what? That queasy feeling isn't limited to mornings. Most pregnant women who experience morning sickness feel slightly nauseated at other times during the day as well. About half have vomiting, but very few have severe enough morning sickness to develop dehydration and malnutrition.
- Sore (and Enlarged) Breasts. If you're pregnant, your breasts will probably become increasingly tender to the touch, similar to the way they feel before your period, only more so. Once your body grows accustomed to the increase in hormones, the pain will subside.
If you have any of the above symptoms, consider taking a pregnancy test as soon as possible.
Managing morning sickness
For many women, the toughest part of early pregnancy is morning sickness. If you are suffering from nausea, vomiting, or both, you need safe measures that will bring you some relief. Your best course of action for managing morning sickness is home treatment. By following a few proven guidelines, you are likely to gain significant relief from nausea and vomiting. Home treatment measures for morning sickness include:
- Changing what, when, and how much you eat.
- Taking ginger, vitamin B6, or vitamin B12, which are known to reduce nausea and/or vomiting during pregnancy.
- Avoiding foods and smells that make you feel sick.
- Trying acupressure, which seems to work for some women.
- Taking doxylamine with vitamin B6, which you can buy without a prescription. Talk to your health professional before taking this remedy.
If you have severe, persistent nausea and vomiting, see your doctor or nurse-midwife immediately. This uncommon complication of pregnancy can lead to dehydration and malnutrition, sometimes requiring prescribed medication or hospitalization.
http://www.webmd.com/baby/default.htm
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