Pregnancy & Symptoms

You can have all of the signs and symptoms of early pregnancy and not be pregnant. Or you can have only a few of them and be very definitely pregnant. The various signs and symptoms of pregnancy are only clues – important to pay attention to, but not to be relied upon for absolute confirmation. In fact, between 10-12 weeks, the first positive proof of your pregnancy is your baby's heartbeat, which is audible with the sensitive ultrasound Doppler device or an ordinary stethoscope. Earlier signs only indicate the possibility or probability that you're carrying a child. A reliable pregnancy test combined with a doctor's examination can help provide an accurate diagnosis.

Changes in Pregnancy

During pregnancy you will experience many changes. Your body will grow as your baby begins to develop. You will realize that some changes are easy to manage, while others are very uncomfortable. It is important to be informed and aware of the process that is taking place inside of you. Although you may occasionally experience worry, you will also feel the anticipation of having the baby move and grow inside of you.

Start your pregnancy by finding a doctor you will be able to rely on for the answers to the questions and concerns you will have throughout your pregnancy. The medical care you receive during pregnancy is referred to as prenatal care. During the first 7 months of your pregnancy you will normally see your doctor once each month. You will begin to see your doctor every two weeks in month 8, increasing to once a week in month 9.

Most pregnancies will last 38-42 weeks, or about 9 months. The pregnancy is divided up into three parts called trimesters, each lasting 3 months. The first trimester takes place during the first 12 weeks after the first day of the last menstrual period. This period of time is usually the most consuming and intense because women are adjusting to the newness of the pregnancy and all the excitement that it entails.

The second trimester includes the 4th-6th months of pregnancy, which are often referred to as "the planning months." Most women experience an increase in their energy levels and are able to accomplish more in a day than they could in their first trimester. It is also during this time that mothers will begin to experience quickening, which is the feeling of the baby's movements as signs of growth and development.

In the last three months of pregnancy, or the third trimester, most women begin to experience more apprehension about motherhood, the baby's health, and about labor and delivery. There is also a growing discomfort as the baby continues to get bigger. Many women become even more eager and excited that the pregnancy will soon be over and that they will soon be able to hold their newborn.

Below are lists of the typical symptoms and changes that pregnant women may experience in each trimester. Because every woman's body is different, some of the items listed below may not apply to you in this particular order or you may not ever experience some of these items.

DID YOU KNOW... Pregnancy is counted from the first day of a woman's last period. This means that at conception, the unborn child is already considered two weeks old!

The First Trimester (Week 1 - Week 12) • Your period is absent, or you may spot slightly when your period would have been expected or when the fertilized egg implants the uterus. • You may feel sick to your stomach, which can often happen in the morning, hence the phrase "morning sickness." If you feel sick when you wake up, eat some crackers before you get our of bed, and then get up slowly. Eat small meals throughout the day and eat often. Keep crackers handy, or suck on hard candies, and drink lots of water or juice. • Your breasts swell and may be tender. • Your nipples and the area around the nipples (areola) get darker and broader. • You have to urinate more often. • You feel tired and may have headaches. • You may experience heartburn, constipation, indigestion, flatulence, and/or bloating. (Tums may help). • You experience mood swings -- feel angry, sad, or happy for no reason.

Six Weeks: By twenty-one days after fertilization, the embryo's tiny heart has begun beating.