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Pregnancy Symptoms by Trimester
Different women experience
pregnancy in different ways. Pregnancy symptoms may vary in
intensity and duration - and some women may not experience some
common pregnancy symptoms at all.
Following implantation of the
egg, however, the body undergoes many changes, and the levels of
several hormones increase drastically. Pregnancy symptoms
typically do not appear until 1-2 weeks after you miss your
period - and fetal movement is not typically detected until 16
weeks post-conception. Earliest symptoms include:
- Implantation bleeding 8-10
days after ovulation.
- An elevated BBT temperatures
for 18 days.
- A missed menstrual period.
- Even before your missed
period, you can test for pregnancy with early detection
pregnancy tests that allow you to determine a positive result
as early as 7-10 days past ovulation.
The First
Trimester: Week 1 - Week 12
- Lower abdominal cramps.
- Food cravings.
- Nausea or "Morning sickness"
- 3-10 weeks after conception.
- Tender, swollen breasts -
3-4 weeks after conception.
- Your nipples and the area
around the nipples get darker and wider.
- Frequent urination.
- Fatigue and tiredness - 3-10
weeks after conception.
- You may have heartburn and
constipation - along with headaches.
- Mood swings.
Other Early
Symptoms of Pregnancy in Detail
Cravings for Particular Foods
Desiring particular or unusual types of food is a well known
pregnancy symptom. About 85 percent of women report at least one
food craving during pregnancy.
Implantation Cramping and Spotting
Following ovulation by 8 days, women may experience cramping and
slight spotting - caused by the recent implantation of the egg
in the uterine lining.
Frequent
Urination
Following implantation, frequent urination is a common symptom.
Fatigue, Headaches, and Heartburn
- and Morning Sickness
For many women, early symptoms of pregnancy can be a bit
perturbing. Fatigue is common, as are headaches and heartburn.
And then there is morning sickness - the second most well know
pregnancy symptoms after "food cravings". Increases in
progesterone can also cause feelings of tiredness.
Basal
Body Temperature
If you are charting your Basal Body Temperature, and your BBT
remains high - and continues to remain high for 15 days or more
without a period - this is a clear symptom of pregnancy.
hCG
Testing
Home Pregnancy Tests are available online and at your
drugstore. A positive result will confirm your suspicions! Some
FDA approved tests (available online) allow you to determine
pregnancy as early as 7-10 days past ovulation.
The Second Trimester:
Week 13 -
Week 26
Here is what
you can expect to experience during your second trimester.
- Weight gain - and, after 16
weeks, fetal movement!
- Dryness of the skin on the
stomach. Feelings of tightness.
- Breasts become larger.
- Continued heartburn and
constipation.
- Edema - or the swelling of
your ankles, hands, feet, and face.
- A dark line may appear
between your belly and pubic regions.
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