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Early Signs of Pregnancy

The First Twelve weeks from Conception

From the moment of conception until the realisation of your baby at or around 40 weeks (normal pregnancies range from 37-42 weeks) a womens body performs several miracles. These miracles serve to create a nurturing harbour for the growing baby to develop. The womans body is capable of dramatic changes and yet most of these changes are hidden from the casual observer.

The first 12 weeks of pregnancy are also known as the '1st trimester' ,In these first weeks a woman can be a-tuned and correlate feelings of tiredness and nausea with pregnancy. Often the confirming aspect is the omission of a menstrual period. As with all aspects of pregnancy,childbirth and parenting every person and experience is individual and as such cannot be readily prepared for in advance. Some women will "know" they are pregnany very early on sometimes even before missing a period and others will not know until much later and still require confirmation to "prove" the pregnancy.

When a woman finds herself to be pregnant the realisation can be as uniquely individual as the women herself, from wild overwhelming exitement to disbelief, uncertainty doubt and fear., but more often than not it is a mix of emotions. These feelings will be affected by social, emotional, spiritual and practical aspects and further complicated by the physical changes that a women may experience at this time. Nausea and or vomiting, tiredness, light headedness, breasts feeling heavy and a prominance of veins all are common introductions of pregnancy. Concerns about your own well being may indeed have herald a visit to a GP that has in turn lead to the confirmation of being pregnant. Some women however will experience none of the classical signs of pregnancy and this then will become the focus of concern. All women will experience any pregnancy in an individual way, there are no absolutes and the presence or absence of any mentioned characteristic is simply an aspect of the individual themselves.

It is not uncommon for the first trimester to be hard and challanging both physically with specific regard to tiredness and sometimes incapacitating nausea and emotionally with the gradual realisation of the journey being undertaken.

Conception usually occurs about 2 weeks before you would have expected your next period . Your baby then journeys from the fallopain tubes and into the uterus where it will implant into the thick lining of your uterus. This thick lining is what you shed as your menstrual period when not pregnant, but as the baby implants a complex process moves into effect that will see the development of baby and placenta. In some women they may experience what is commonly refered to as an implantation bleed and this can add great confusion to a woman being able to determine accurately her date of conception as an implantation bleed can be falsely interpreted as the last period even though conception has already taken place. An implantation bleed is often a smaller scale period. If your period was uncharacteristically light make sure you identified this with your health professional as they can miscalculate your dates if working from the implantation bleed.

Upon implantation the womans body starts to secrete HCG (Human Gonadatrophin) this is the basis of blood tests to confirm your pregnancy by your doctor or midwife. The HCG levels usually have affects upon the womans body at or around 5-6 weeks of the pregnancy (1-2 weeks after the first missed menstrual period) and this can be the first indicators of pregnancy to the woman.

Mothers expecting twins or more babies can have a much more acute affect from higher elevations of HCG. Often these exacerbated feelings of pregnancy are the first inclin. of a multiple pregnancy.

One of the first physical changes a womans body performs is to increase her

blood circulating volume. the volume of a womans blood in the first six weeks

can increase by a further 50%. This extra perfusion can give rise to several

experienced changes including flushing, increased sweating and a higher

temperature. It is not uncommon that a womans core temperature increase

by approximately .5 degree Celsius.

The extra blood may also give rise to bleeding gums usually

noticed upon brushing and for some nose bleeds. A dental check up is

advised in the early stages of pregnancy.

Always let your dentist know you are indeed pregnant.

Other signs and changes in the first twelve weeks include

Breast Changes

The breasts that have developed since puberty change dramatically in these

early stages of pregnancy. The growthand maturation of milk ducts that will

be required to breastfeed your baby. The increased perfusion of blood also

has an affect upon sensitivity and feelings of fullness of the breasts. It is very

common for women to experience veining (that is to say prominance of veins)

over the breast this is due to the hormonal changes and increased blood flow.

The potential for increased tenderness/soreness and a fuller feeling can also

further be exacerbated by tingling sensation in particularily sensative women.

Other changes to the breast that are common include darkening of the areola

and nipple. The areola is the darker skin area that surrounds the actual nipple

. This often occurs at or around 12 weeks of pregnancy. These skin changes

are not always present and the degree in which the change if any occurs is as

mosy things unique to the individual.

The nipples themselves may become extra sensative and prominant. Appropriately measured and supportive bras are recommended.

Vaginal Discharge and Loss

The vagina as a protective aspect of its changes for pregnancy begins to increase discharge. This is often clear or mildly opaque and should never be offensive in odour or character. This is a protective mechanism of the vagina against bacteria. Any uncertainty should dictate a discussion with your maternity health provider.

Some women will experience a small, pikish or red vaginal loss that would coincide with dates of periods that would have been due. This is usually experienced in the early stages of pregnancy. Please discuss this with your midwife or doctor.

Any bleeding during pregnancy should be communicated to your caregiver.

Many women will experience some fresh bleeding or brown spotting at some point in there pregnancy. This can vary as all things from a small singular event to a more noticable substantial loss. Women are often mortified at this and see it as an imminant miscarriage this is however not always the case with 1-2 out of 3 women experiencing this going on normally in their pregnancy. It is true hower that 30-50% of women experiencing a bleed of this sort will go on to loose their baby. This will be confirmed with an Ultra Sound.

For women that do indeed lose a baby in this way please follow the link to support pages for advice and relavent links to useful sites that can assist you in this usually poorly supported time.

Any bleeding during pregnancy should be communicated to your caregiver.

Urine

It is a running joke about the frequency that a pregnant woman requires to pass urine. In reality it is often far from humerous and is indeed a big consideration for many women. Many women will complain of needing to pass more urine during early pregnancy. This is mainly because the blood flow to the woman's kidneys increases by up to 35 to 60%. This equates to an extra 25-40% increase in urine and therefore more trips to the bathroom. This early influence on urine production is most acutley felt from 8-16 weeks.

Other factors influence the need to pass urine frequently. The uterine pressure increases on the bladder largely due to the babies growth and or the babies position. This is most acutely felyt in the last 3 months of the pregnancy.

Occasionally the increased frequency of passing urine whilst pregnant can also be an indication of a bladder infection. This must always be considered as the consequences of a urine infection can be extremely far reaching and potentially dangerous. Premature birth being one of the most serious and giving rise to all the needs of a premmie birth and baby. Always report changes in your urine that concern you to your medical professional, midwife or doctor. In particular any odour that is offensive or different, any cloudiness opr changes in character and also any bleeding. Any bladder discomfort should also be reported immediately.

'Morning sickness'.

Morning sickness is one of the most common physical aspects of early pregnancy. This varies and womens experiences range from non to extreme vomiting requiring hospital admission (this is when it becomes hyperemesis). Morning sickness does not limit itself to the morning as the name falsly implies it can be an all day event or an individual specific trigger that causes it. It is usually associated with pregnancy hormonal changes. There are numerous remedies and wifes tales concerning morning sickness. It usually requires no medical treatment and will often subside at or around 16 weeks but not always. Higher hormonal levels in multiple births do give rise to more extremes of morning sickness. The absence of morning sickness does not correlate to an unhealthy pregnancy

Bloating, cramps and backache.

As the body changes the stresses upon a womans body can give rise to aches and pains. This is in most cases usual if however you are being acutely affected by such sensations contact your health professional for advice. In some cases a supplementation of the diet can assist.

If you have strong or severe cramping or pain, you should contact your local doctor (or pregnancy caregiver) for guidance and advice.

Dizziness and fainting.

Fainting during early and middle pregnancy is a very common experience. The body in preperation for the increase in blood and fluid within the body dilates the vessels to accomodate through the hormone progesterone. This can often give rise to feelings of ligh theadedness and dizziness. This is particularily true when standing from recline etc. Always when pregnant take time to climatise to positional changes.

Tiredness.

It is not suprising when one considers the miracle that is happening in the creation of a new being that the woman responsable feels tired. Her metabolic rate has increased to often 20% of what it was. This therefore puts huge demands on thewoman and her body. The first twelve weeks can be a time of tiredness but often it is reversed at 16 weeks with a woman finding returned energy and or vigour. It is a fool that goes against their bodies own recommendations and as such one should listen to your bodies needs and answer the need to rest when it comes. With a little consideration and preperation a woman can arrange her life in such away to ensure periods of rest can be taken throughtout the day. Siblings of the new baby can be cared for by friends and relatives to give child free windows so as to sleep or rest. Prioritising other aspects of daily life and chores can reduce uneccersary stresses and work can be adapted so as not to apply undue demands.

Sexual Needs

Sex in pregnancy is another individual subject, some women will feel heightened desire and sensitivity. Free from the shacles of contraception they feel liberated and comfortable. Others have a preoccupation with the uncertainty of safety during sex. Partners often contribute to these feelings and in many ways their reaction to the pregnancy has overwhelming influence.

There are many individualised changes women feel and will vary from woman to woman. I would strongly encourage anyone to seek advise based on the aspects of their own adaption to pregnancy from your chosen health professional. If you don't feel comfortable doing this then perhaps a review of your health professional is what is required.

One should feel comfortable and supported by the person who is overseeing your care.

They are here to serve you not the other way around and you and your baby deserves it.