Congratulations! You peed on a stick, and two lines have showed up. Guess what? You’re pregnant!! Whether this is a complete shock or something that has been longed for for quite some time, the proof is there. You might be scared or excited, and you might not possibly know what to expect. Here are some early things pregnant women can expect, taken from someone who has been pregnant.
The first clue that might make you think you may be pregnant is an obvious one. Your period doesn’t show up. You are late when you are normally right on track. There are only a few things that could actually make you late, pregnancy being the major cause. By the time you are late for your period, the HCG levels in your body are high enough to show up on a pregnancy test.
As far as other clues go, some women experience anything and everything in the book. Other women experience nothing at all. Some women experience different symptoms for each of their pregnancies as well. And, some women experience fewer symptoms when pregnant than when they are not pregnant and their period has showed up. Pregnancy symptoms can be a funny thing. That is why, for those who are actually trying to get pregnant, go crazy, analyzing every little sign that they made it this month!
When I was pregnant, I found out at fourteen days past ovulation, which means that would have been the day that my period would have been due. My period did not show up and my basal body temperature remained high, so that was a definite clue that I could possibly be pregnant. Well, I tested that morning, and sure enough, an extra faint line showed up next to the control line, so my suspicions were right. I was pregnant! Nothing else could have given it away because my symptoms were less than what I had the month before when my period showed up instead.
These are the symptoms that I had experienced. My breasts were very swollen and extremely sore. Not just around the entire breast, but the nipples as well. Not only were the nipples sore, they were darker in color. The breasts can be one of the first things that go through changes, getting ready to eventually produce milk and breastfeed.
Morning sickness was not a big factor for me. I did experience bouts of nausea from time to time, but never to the point that I would have to throw up or couldn’t eat. Of course, I have a strong stomach to begin with so that is why being pregnant did not really make me sick to the stomach.
Tiredness is something you will most likely experience as well. When a woman becomes pregnant, her progesterone levels increase to all time highs. Progesterone is known as a calming hormone, making one relaxed and tired. I was to the point where I would take naps during the day.
The only other symptom that I had was cramping and fluttering. My uterus was expanding to levels it had not been to before and this caused the cramping and fluttering to occur. This of course doesn’t seem like that long of a list. I was one of the fortunate ones that did not have to experience a whole lot in early pregnancy.
Here is a list of symptoms that you may or may not have in your early pregnancy:
- Missed period
- Tiredness
- Cramping/Fluttering
- Spotting
- Headaches
- Acne
- Constipation
- Morning Sickness/Nausea
- Sore Breasts/Nipples
- Darker Areolas
- Bleeding Gums
- Frequent Urination
- Mood Swings
- Increased Sex Drive
- Increased Hunger
The list could go on and on. For every woman, the symptoms could all be different. The bottom line is that if you suspect you are pregnant then take a test. Stay away from drugs, smoking, alcohol and caffeine. If the test comes back positive, then get on a prenatal vitamin as soon as possible and make an appointment to see your doctor. Again, congratulations and enjoy your experience into motherhood!