Pregnancy Symptoms

Written by Henry Johnson

Common pregnancy symptoms and false alarms Pregnancy brings about a wide variety of physical and emotional changes for a woman, but many of these pregnancy symptoms can also be caused by other factors. Some of these factors may be significant health challenges, and if these health challenges arise during a pregnancy, they can pose a threat, so understanding the signs and symptoms of pregnancy is important. Few women experience symptoms of pregnancy within a week of conception, however implantation bleeding can be an early indicator of pregnancy. Implantation bleeding occurs within about six to 12 days after conception, when the embryo implants into the mother's uterine wall. This implantation can cause spotting, which some women may mistake for their regular menstrual cycle, delaying their recognition of their condition. Spotting and cramping can alternatively be caused by changes in their birth control, infection or bruising from rough sexual intercourse. The most commonly recognized symptom of pregnancy is a delayed or missed menstrual period. When women become pregnant, their menstrual cycle halts, although some women still bleed during pregnancy. The bleeding is typically shorter or lighter than usual, however. Women who experience heavy bleeding during pregnancy should seek medical attention, as this could be indicative of a threat to the health of the baby. Alternatively, other factors such as hormonal problems, stress, fluctuations in weight and fatigue may also be causes of a delayed or skipped period. Another tale tell symptom of pregnancy is nausea or morning sickness. This generally shows up four to eight weeks into a pregnancy. No one knows exactly why pregnant women suffer from frequent bouts of nausea, but it has been supposed that hormonal changes and the increased sensitivity to odors some women experience during pregnancy are contributors. Conversely, a number of other factors may contribute to morning sickness-like symptoms, such as food poisoning, stress, or other stomach disorders. Also, pregnant women may notice some changes to their breasts. Swollen or tender breasts is a symptom of pregnancy that may occur one to two weeks after conception. Women may also soon notice veins showing in their breasts or growth in the size of their breasts as the mammary glands prepare to produce milk. The skin around the nipples may also become darker. Of course, these symptoms may also be caused by a number of other factors, such as hormonal imbalance, the introduction or withdrawal of birth control pills, impending menstruation or weight gain. Pregnant women may find themselves frequently experiencing the urge to urinate. Frequent urination is a symptom of pregnancy that usually manifests about six to eight weeks after conception. Conversely, frequent urination can also be caused by a urinary tract infection. Other pregnancy symptoms include fatigue, backaches and headaches. These conditions are caused by the body's adjustment to the changing hormonal and physiological conditions caused by pregnancy. As with the other symptoms of pregnancy , these symptoms could also have other causes, such as stress, exhaustion, depression or a common cold or flu. While there are many signs of pregnancy, the truth is that they may be misleading or symptoms of another medical issue. The only surefire method of accurately detecting pregnancy is an examination by medical professionals. While home pregnancy tests are safe and effective, a test by a medical professional is even more so. When a doctor performs a pregnancy test, he or she draws blood and conducts either a quantitative blood test, which detects pregnancy by measuring the exact amount of the hormone hCG in the patient's bloodstream. This test can also be used to detect how far along the patient is in her pregnancy; or a qualitative blood test, which detects pregnancy by indicating the presence of hCG in the patient's blood. It does not measure the hCG levels, and only provides an affirmative or negative answer as to whether the patient is pregnant.

 

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