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  • Pregnancy Week 1

    Pregnancy Week 1

    This is the beginning of your pregnancy journey and week 1. It is one of the most fascinating and magical journeys you may ever go through in your life. Chances are you are on this page to find out when and if you have pregnancy symptoms or signs of pregnancy.

    Your forty weeks of (or 280 days, if you deliver full-term) of pregnancy officially begin on the first day of your last known menstrual period. Even though you haven’t ovulated or conceived yet, your doctor or midwife considers this to be the first week of your pregnancy. This means that the average gestation for a baby is really only about 38 weeks full-term.

    At the beginning of this first week you will have started the first day of your monthly cycle, meaning the first week of pregnancy is when you are on your period. Your uterus is being cleansed in preparation for another cycle. Ovulation usually occurs about two weeks after the first day of this “cleaning stage”, but it varies greatly depending on how regular your cycles are. Your body is starting to prepare itself for the possibility of an upcoming ovulation and fertilization.

    Since you may be thinking about conception at this point, planning ahead for this experience can improve your chances of conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy. You should start by pretending that you are already pregnant, since just about everything you eat, drink, or take into your body during your pregnancy will be passed on to your developing baby. If you smoke, now is a good time to kick the habit and give up cigarettes (if you haven’t already done so), because smoking while you’re pregnant will put your baby in danger, in many ways. Other people in your home who smoke should also cut back or quite. They shouldn’t smoke around you when you’re pregnant.

    Now is the time to begin healthy eating habits, including cutting down on caffeine. You need to eat a healthy, balanced diet to keep you healthy and prepare your body for pregnancy. If you are hoping or planning to become pregnant, you need to incorporate a prenatal vitamin supplement (with folic acid) into your diet, if you haven’t already. By taking a supplement that contains folic acid, you can dramatically reduce the risk of your baby being born with neural-tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly. The sooner you begin taking folic acid, the better. It is generally recommended that women take a folic acid supplement even a few months prior to becoming pregnant.

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  • Early Pregnancy Symptoms

    Did you know that some women experience pregnancy symptoms as early as one week after conception? This is true however uncommon. Below you will find a list of the earliest pregnancy symptoms:

    First Trimester Symptoms

    • Implantation bleeding or spotting (usually before your period is due)
    • A missed period, a shorter, lighter period
    • Breast tenderness or swelling
    • Tingling, sore nipples, darkening of areola (skin around nipples)
    • Skin changes, breakouts
    • Nausea, vomiting
    • Constipation, flatulence (gas)
    • Frequent urination
    • Fatigue, sleepiness
    • Food cravings, food aversions, appetite loss
    • Moodiness, irritability
    • Backaches
    • Headaches
    • Increased sense of smell
    • Mild lower abdominal cramps, bloating
    • Continuous elevated basal body temperature
    • Dizziness, fainting
    • Sensitive, bleeding, or swollen gums, excessive salivation
    • Heartburn, indigestion
    • Cervical, vaginal changes (tissue color), sensitivity of the cervix

    Read more on Second Trimester Symptoms

  • Early Pregnancy Symptoms

    Pregnancy symptoms vary greatly in intensity and duration from one woman to another. They also vary from pregnancy to pregnancy. For most women, a missed period is the first clue of pregnancy, followed by nausea and/or vomiting (morning sickness) and breast tenderness. But if you don’t have regular periods, you’ll have to watch for other symptoms.

    Some women start to notice symptoms within days after conception, while other women’s symptoms may develop over a few weeks. A lucky few may never feel any symptoms or have any discomfort at all. Most pregnancy symptoms occur due to rapid hormonal changes in your body following implantation of the egg in the lining of your uterus.

    Knowing and understanding pregnancy symptoms is important because each symptom may be related to something other than pregnancy, including pre-menstrual symptoms and illness. Early pregnancy symptoms can be confusing and often misleading, either making you believe you are pregnant when you are not, or not pregnant when you are in fact pregnant.

    If you have one (or more) pregnancy symptom and suspect you may be pregnant, the next step is to take a home pregnancy test or better yet, have a blood test done at your doctor’s office. Most home pregnancy tests can be taken about 10-14 days after conception or the day following when you expected your period. Blood tests can usually detect if you are pregnant even sooner.

    Earliest Pregnancy Symptoms (first trimester):

    • Implantation bleeding or spotting (usually before your period is due)
    • A missed period, a shorter, lighter period
    • Breast tenderness or swelling
    • Tingling, sore nipples, darkening of areola (skin around nipples)
    • Skin changes, breakouts
    • Nausea, vomiting
    • Constipation, flatulence (gas)
    • Frequent urination
    • Fatigue, sleepiness
    • Food cravings, food aversions, appetite loss
    • Moodiness, irritability
    • Backaches
    • Headaches
    • Increased sense of smell
    • Mild lower abdominal cramps, bloating
    • Continuous elevated basal body temperature
    • Dizziness, fainting
    • Sensitive, bleeding, or swollen gums, excessive salivation
    • Heartburn, indigestion
    • Cervical, vaginal changes (tissue color), sensitivity of the cervix

    Later Pregnancy Symptoms:

    • Weight gain
    • Mild edema (swelling of ankles, hands, feet, and face)
    • White vaginal discharge (leukorrhea)
    • Increased appetite
    • Quickening (earliest fetal movement)
    • Nasal congestion and ear stuffiness, occasional nose bleeds
    • Expanding waistline
    • Abdominal achiness
    • Visible veins, varicose veins
    • Trouble sleeping
    • Breast enlargement
    • Hemorrhoids
    • Leg cramps
    • Dark line down abdomen (linea nigra)
    • Itchy, dry abdomen
  • Pregnancy Headaches

    Pregnancy Headaches

    Headaches while pregnant are common and begin at about the 6th week. A quick nap can help prevent headaches while pregnant. Preeclampsia or toxemia can begin with headache and can be dangerous to a pregnant woman. If you are pregnant and get headaches that don’t go away when resting, check with your doctor and make sure you share that information with him at your next visit.

    Spotting

    Spotting is common in early pregnancy. Some women report what seems to be a short light period before the onset of other symptoms. This may be implantation bleeding and not a menstrual period at all (when the egg implants itself into the lining of the uterus). If you are pregnant and you experience spotting check in with your doctor as spotting is also an indicator of miscarriage.

    Light Headedness

    Some pregnant women experience actual fainting and light headedness during early pregnancy.

    Constipation

    Hormonal changes can affect the digestive system and cause constipation. Drinking plenty of water and exercising can help. A pregnant woman should ask her doctor for recommended exercises while pregnant.

    Heartburn

    Heartburn in pregnancy can be symptom in months 1-9. In months 1-4, heartburn is caused by hormonal changes. In months 5-9, the baby can cause pressure on a pregnant woman’s organs. Eating frequent smaller meals and remaining in an upright position at least an hour after eating can help.

    more Pregnancy Symptoms

  • Early Pregnancy Symptoms

    Pregnancy Symptoms can be confusing at times since tender breasts can indicate early pregnancy. It can also be a sign of an expected menstrual period. A missed period is usually an early sign of pregnancy, but can also be skipped after a stressful time in one’s life. Putting symptoms together and taking a home pregnancy test can help to put this confusion to rest.

    Missed Menstrual Period

    One of the first pregnancy symptoms is usually a missed or late menstrual period and is the first indicator that a woman is pregnant, although some women claim to know they are pregnant before they miss a period.

    Tender Breasts

    Tender swollen breasts are another one of the early symptoms. While tender breasts are a symptom of an impending menstrual period, enlarged breasts are not. Sore and swollen breasts with a tingling sensation can be an early indicator that a woman is pregnant.

    Nausea and Morning Sickness

    Nausea associated with morning sickness can be a tell tell sign that a woman is pregnant. Many women suggest that they’ve had nausea up to two weeks before an expected menstrual period and before any other symptom. Eating crackers before getting out of the bed in the morning can help with morning sickness and eating several smaller meals instead of larger meals can help with nausea related to morning sickness.

    Fatigue in Pregnancy

    Extreme fatigue can be another indicator of pregnancy, especially if other symptoms are present. One or two naps per day can help a pregnant woman maintain normal daily activities.

    Frequent Urination

    Frequent urination in pregnancy usually occurs between 6 to 8 weeks after conception.

    Read next five Early Pregnancy Symptoms

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