Symptoms and Considerations During Pregnancy

These are general descriptions, meant to give you an idea of what is normal and when you should be concerned.

As always, if you have a question or become concerned, you should contact your doctor.

In the sections that follow you will find guidelines for nutrition and exercise, and a lot of helpful information on the changes that occur during each trimester.

And you’ll find out how to take care of your body and adjust your schedule and your life style during each stage of your pregnancy.

After you find out you are pregnant, after the excitement and buzz has worn off, you should expect the physical reality to set in.

During pregnancy you may experience fatigue, tenderness in your breasts, morning sickness, etc. Not every woman has every symptom.

Some women SAIL through pregnancy and others seem to endure lots of little problems that don’t amount of anything serious, but are enough to disrupt life in general

Here are some of the things you may encounter during pregnancy:

 

Fatigue – You may feel ‘bone tired’ or become easily fatigued during pregnancy, especially in your first trimester.

Remember that your body is working harder producing certain hormones and supplying blood and nutrients to your baby in the womb.

One of the hormones, progesterone, is a central nervous system depressant, so this hormone can make you feel drowsy or sleepy.

Try to pamper yourself during this time. Many women find that after their first trimester, they have renewed energy and stamina. In the meantime, take naps or just rest if you can.

Bleeding – It is not unusual to have a small amount of spotting or bleeding early in pregnancy – around 10 to 14 days after conception.

This bleeding is a bit earlier, spottier and ‘pinker’ in color than a usual menstrual cycle and it doesn't last very long.

Talk to your doctor and let him know about this, but don’t be concerned unless the bleeding is heavy and lasts a long time. You may also get a bit of cramping early in pregnancy.

Morning Sickness, Nausea and Vomiting - Typically confined to early pregnancy, though some women experience this symptom for up to six months.

Most women encounter morning sickness for about a month during their first trimester, and symptoms can start as early as 14 days after conception.

Morning sickness is not always confined to the morning, and it results from the changing levels of estrogen in the body.

Some women experience morning sickness with no trigger, while others will become nauseous from certain smells like cigarette or cigar smoke, strong perfume, coffee or the smell of certain foods cooking.

Headaches - Many pregnant women complain of mild headaches that occur frequently, early in pregnancy. These headaches occur because of increased blood circulation caused by hormonal fluctuation and changes in the body.

Constipation and Bloating – Constipation is common during early pregnancy because of an increase in progesterone that slows digestion. Drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated and help ease constipation and bloating.