How does early pregnancy feel

This may also cause feelings of dizziness since your blood vessels are dilated. High blood pressure , or hypertension, as a result of pregnancy is more difficult to determine. Almost all cases of hypertension within the first 20 weeks indicate underlying problems. It may develop during early pregnancy, but it may also be present beforehand. However, it might be important, since smell sensitivity may trigger nausea and vomiting.

It may also cause strong distaste for certain foods. You may experience either a heightened or lessened sense of smell during pregnancy, according to research.

This is especially common during the first and third trimesters. Heightened smell is more common than lessened smell.

Some smells that never bothered you before may become less pleasing or even trigger nausea. The good news is that your sense of smell usually returns to normal after delivery, or within 6 to 12 weeks postpartum.

Weight gain becomes more common toward the end of your first trimester. You may find yourself gaining about 1 to 4 pounds in the first few months. Hormones can cause the valve between your stomach and esophagus to relax. This allows stomach acid to leak, causing heartburn. On the other hand, you may also develop acne. Department of Health and Human Services says that taking a home pregnancy test at this point will give a more accurate result.

Home pregnancy tests are inexpensive and widely available without a prescription in pharmacies and other stores.

You can take a test earlier than this if you want, but you run the risk of getting a false negative result. If you take a home pregnancy test too early, there may not be enough hCG in your urine yet for the test to detect it.

Home pregnancy tests work by testing the amount of hCG in your urine. So, early test results may not be the most accurate. Blood tests can often detect hCG earlier in a pregnancy than urine tests. Blood tests can sometimes give a positive result as early as 6 to 8 days after you ovulate, while urine tests do so about 3 weeks after ovulation.

Unlike at-home urine tests, blood tests are usually done in a clinical setting. Contact your doctor if you want this type of test. Symptoms of pregnancy like nausea, fatigue, and breast tenderness sometimes occur even before you miss a period. Only a test will tell for sure. If you think you might be pregnant, the best time to take a home pregnancy test is 1 week after you first miss a period. According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in , home pregnancy tests are 97 percent accurate when used properly at the right time.

You can then schedule regular prenatal visits throughout your pregnancy. Many of the body changes and symptoms of pregnancy you experience in the first trimester will start to fade once you reach the second trimester. Talk with your doctor about any symptoms that interfere with your daily life. Together, you can try to find relief and comfort for your pregnancy. Read the article in Spanish. Your body will go through significant changes in early pregnancy.

You may see signs such as nausea, breast tenderness, and, of course, the hallmark symptom of a missed period. If you think you might be pregnant, a good first step is to take a home pregnancy test. These tests are widely available without a prescription in pharmacies and other stores.

If you receive a positive result, call a doctor for an appointment. They will perform an examination and a further test to confirm your pregnancy. You can then get started on a prenatal program to safeguard the health of you and the fetus. Read this article in Spanish. Vaginitis is inflammation of the vagina, and is a distressing complaint for many women. It is more frequent during pregnancy. Some causes of vaginitis include vaginal thrush , bacterial vaginosis , trichomoniasis and chlamydia.

See your GP for diagnosis and treatment. Varicose veins of the legs are very common in pregnancy due to a combination of factors, including increased volume of circulating blood during pregnancy, and pressure of the pregnant uterus on the larger veins. This increased pressure on the veins can also result in swelling of the legs oedema that can cause pain, feelings of heaviness, cramps especially at night and other unusual sensations.

It is recommended that you contact your hospital or carer if you are worried or if you have any of the following during pregnancy:.

Read more about obstetric emergencies during pregnancy. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. In Victoria, you can have two types of abortion: surgical and medication. Both types are safe and reliable. You can have a medication abortion up to nine weeks of pregnancy. You can have a surgical abortion from around six weeks of pregnancy onwards. Pregnant women with asthma need to continue to take their asthma medication as it is important to the health of both mother and baby that the mother's asthma is well managed.

Pregnancy is calculated from the first day of your last period, not from the date of conception. Even if your baby furniture meets every safety standard and recommendation, your child still needs close supervision. The cause of birth defects is often unknown, speak to your GP if you are at increased risk of having a baby with a congenital anomaly. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only.

Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances.

The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Healthy pregnancy. Home Healthy pregnancy. Pregnancy - signs and symptoms. Actions for this page Listen Print.

Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Signs of pregnancy Other symptoms of pregnancy Signs and symptoms during pregnancy — when to get help Where to get help. Missed period Missing a period is often the first sign of possible pregnancy. Breast changes During pregnancy, the breasts become fuller, swollen and tender. Fatigue Overwhelming tiredness is common in early pregnancy. Frequent urination Pregnancy causes an increase in levels of body fluids and greater kidney efficiency.

Food cravings Cravings for certain foods are very common in pregnancy, especially for foods that provide energy and calcium, such as milk and other dairy products. Other symptoms of pregnancy Many of these symptoms may also be indicative of other conditions. If in doubt, see your GP. Backache Back pain during pregnancy can affect more than one in three women. Breathlessness At the onset of pregnancy the hormone progesterone increases your lung capacity.

Contact your doctor or midwife if you experience sudden onset of breathlessness associated with any of the following: pain palpitations heart pounding extreme tiredness exercise. Constipation Constipation refers to infrequent, hard bowel movements that are difficult to pass.

If you experience constipation during pregnancy, you are advised to: Drink plenty of water every day. Increase your dietary fibre such as bran, wheat and fresh fruit and vegetables. Do gentle, low impact exercise such as swimming, walking or yoga. If you have bleeding from haemorrhoids, itching, discomfort or pain it is recommended that you: Alleviate or prevent constipation by increasing your daily water and fibre intake. Sit in warm salty water for about 15 minutes, especially after a bowel motion.

Apply haemorrhoid cream. If the bleeding or pain continues, talk with your GP or midwife. Headaches Contact your GP or midwife if you have a headache during pregnancy that is not relieved by paracetamol such as Panadol , especially in the second half of pregnancy. If you are experiencing heartburn, reflux or indigestion, it is recommended that you: Eat small and more frequent meals.

Avoid eating just before going to bed. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Bastian LA, et al.

Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of early pregnancy. Accessed May 19, Lockwood CJ, et al. Initial prenatal assessment and first-trimester prenatal care. Norwitz ER, et al. Overview of the etiology and evaluation of vaginal bleeding in pregnant women.

Moore KL, et al. References and suggested reading. Philadelphia, Pa. Frequently asked questions. Pregnancy FAQ Morning sickness: Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Months 1 and 2. Washington, D. Products and Services Book: Obstetricks. See also Can birth control pills cause birth defects?