First Sign of Pregnancy

What are the first signs & symptoms of pregnancy?
(11 Aug 2009)

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In popular media and folk traditions, the first sign of pregnancy is usually a missed period, sometimes accompanied with nausea or vomiting. However, these signs can be very misleading. Many women suffer from irregular menstrual cycles and may find it difficult to predict when exactly their next period is due.

In addition, some women suffer from menstrual disorders where they may miss more than one period without being pregnant. On the other hand, some pregnant women still experience bleeding at the start of pregnancy. Finally, the presence of nausea or vomiting can be caused by a whole range of conditions unconnected to pregnancy.

To understand the symptoms of pregnancy, it is important to understand how a woman’s body reacts to a pregnancy. Sometime around the second and third weeks of her menstrual cycle, a woman is in her fertile period. If a male sperm successfully fertilizes the mature egg (ovum), the fertilized egg moves into the uterus and an embryo begins to form. At this point, her body secretes a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This hormone then acts as a ‘brake’ to stop the regular menstrual cycle, which would normally cause the uterus to shed its lining, leading to the menses. This is also the reason why a pregnant woman will not have her periods until after the pregnancy. Modern pregnancy test kits are based on detecting the presence of this hormone hGC, which enters the bloodstream within days after a successful pregnancy and is excreted in the urine. Thus, the first real sign of a pregnancy will be a positive result to a pregnancy test. For maximum accuracy, this test should be taken around 2 weeks after intercourse. A blood test can also be given if an early diagnosis is required (around 10 days after intercourse) but it is more expensive.

A pregnant woman’s body also exhibits several natural signs and symptoms. As the mammary glands are activated, the breasts swell and become tender, nipples enlarge, and the surface veins on the breasts may become more noticeable. Some nausea and vomiting can occur (especially in the morning) during the first three months of pregnancy. Some women may feel unexplained tiredness in the first few weeks and many will experience frequent urination. There could be a creamy white vaginal discharge. Some women begin to crave certain foods and all will gain some weight by the end of three months.

answered by G M on 11 Aug 2009, 5:26:19

First Sign of Pregnancy

What are the first signs & symptoms of pregnancy? (11 Aug 2009)

What are the first signs & symptoms of pregnancy?
(11 Aug 2009)