Pregnancy Symptoms

The early symptoms of pregnancy may vary from woman to woman. But most women experience missed period as one of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy. Missed period (Menstration [Menstruation]) can also be considered to be the first pregnancy symptom. But remember that missed period can be a pregnancy symptom only if your periods are regular. If you have irregular periods, missed period may not be a pregnancy symptom. Missed period may sometimes a result of stress or other factors.

Some of the pregnancy symptoms that a woman can experience other than missed period include:

Nausea or Vomiting

Most of the pregnant women experience morning sickness as one of the pregnancy symptom. For some women morning sickness may strike in the afternoon or in the evening and some may feel nausea throughout the day. Some women may experience vomiting followed by nausea. About fifty percent of the women who experience nausea get a complete relief by the onset of the second trimester.

Fatigue or Tiredness

Fatigue or tiredness may also be one of the early symptoms of pregnancy. This is caused due to the increase in the level of hormone progesterone. Increased levels of progesterone may put you to sleep. Other than increased progesterone, lower blood pressure and blood sugar level may also make you feel sleepy. On the onset of second trimester you feel more energetic and less fatigue.

Frequent Urination

Many pregnant women experience frequent urination as an early pregnancy symptom. This pregnancy symptom may start within a week or two after pregnancy has occurred. This is because pregnancy causes uterus to swell and swollen uterus puts pressure on your bladder resulting in frequent urination. This pregnancy symptom continues or even worsens with the progression of pregnancy.

Dizziness or Faintness

Dizziness may be caused due to decrease in blood pressure. You may even feel light headed as your blood vessels dilate and blood pressure lowers. Blood sugar level may also low causing faintness.

Breast Tenderness

Breast tenderness may be one of the early symptoms of pregnancy. Due to increasing levels of hormones the breast become tender to touch, swollen and start enlarging. Nipples become dark in color, erect and very sensitive. Sometimes even the veins within the breast become visible. As your body adjusts to the hormonal changes the pain diminishes.

Light Bleeding

Some women may experience light bleeding (spotting) or vaginal bleeding as one of the first symptoms of pregnancy. Light bleeding may occur around 10 to 14 days after conception. This happens when the fertilized egg burrows into the uterus lining. Bleeding is lighter in color and appears like red or pink spotting. It lasts only for a day or two. Sometimes bleeding may be followed by abdominal pain.

Heartburning Sensation

Some women may experience heartburning sensation due to the increase in stomach acid. Increase in levels of hormones slows down digestion process. Because of this the stomach doesn't empty as fast and in turn increases stomach acid.

Food Cravings

Food craving is the most common symptom of pregnancy. When you are pregnant you may feel like eating certain foods. Food cravings are also due to the hormonal changes that take place in the first trimester.

Increased Basal Body Temperature

Basal body temperature is the resting body temperature that increases slightly after ovulation. It remains the same until your next period. If you are keeping a record of basal body temperature on your fertility chart in order to know ovulation time, a increased basal body temperature for more than two weeks means that you are pregnant.

Constipation

Another common early pregnancy symptom is constipation. Increase in hormone progesterone slows down bowel functions and causes food to pass slowly through the intestine, which can result in constipation. As the pregnancy progresses rather till childbirth this symptom worsens.