Pregnancy symptoms: what are the first signs?

 

Pregnancy symptoms

When will I first know I'm pregnant?

When you want a baby, every cycle is filled with anticipation! And every month we wonder if we have pregnancy symptoms. What do they look like? When do they appear? The guide to the first signs of pregnancy.

When do the first signs of pregnancy appear?

"The first signs of pregnancy appear in different ways in women: for some, on the first day of  a late period , for others after 15 days or 3 weeks of a late period. Sometimes, there are no particular symptoms, apart from the late period," says Dr. David Elia, gynecologist. But then, can you have  early signs  of pregnancy , well before the late period? "Before the late period, these are probably more psychological symptoms because women auto-suggest," continues the specialist.

What do pregnancy symptoms look like?

There are many signs that you are pregnant. Some are more common in pregnant women than others. These include:

  • Late period: one of the first symptoms of pregnancy is of course a late period! However, you should know that menstrual cycles are not the same from one woman to another, and can also, in the same woman, be irregular from one month to the next. "A late period is one of the  first signs of pregnancy  , although it is not always reliable because menstrual cycles can be irregular," confirms Dr. Elia.
  • Breast changes :  Other symptoms that can indicate pregnancy include changes in the chest. "Breasts increase rapidly in volume at the beginning of pregnancy, becoming firmer, more sensitive and even painful on the sides," says Dr. Elia.
  • Montgomery tubercles hypertrophy : Montgomery tubercles are small glands present on the areola, around the nipple, in the form of tiny bumps. In case of pregnancy, these can then be more bulging than usual.
  • The urge to urinate : this is another sign of pregnancy that pregnant women could do without. During pregnancy, it is not uncommon to feel an  unusual urge to pee . This is mainly because the uterus is expanding and the pelvic area is receiving more pressure. The result? The bladder is much more sensitive!
  • Nausea : another great classic of pregnancy symptoms, which often strikes expectant mothers as soon as they wake up, when their stomach is empty. Often, but not only! Alas. They sometimes arrive as soon as their period is late, generally around the fifth week of pregnancy. Then, after the third month of pregnancy, some "lucky" women find themselves rid of it. For others, however, cohabitation can last until childbirth. So, take heart, if this is your case!

So much for the classics. But, of course, other symptoms can signal the beginning of pregnancy. Such as:
  • An increased or decreased appetite: yes! It must be said that you are no longer alone, now, in your body. A little being is growing inside you, and is starving you. That said, it may also be that this one causes the opposite effect on you.
  • Greed: it's not a myth! Pregnant women can feel a particular attraction to certain foods.
  • Disgust  : While it is not surprising to feel an attraction to certain foods during pregnancy, it is also not uncommon to feel disgust for others! Similarly, feeling nauseous because of tobacco can also be a  sign of pregnancy , says Dr. Amina Yamgnane, obstetrician-gynecologist.  
  • Constipation problems : also common in pregnant women, constipation problems during pregnancy are caused in particular by hormonal upheavals. And more particularly by the action of progesterone which has the effect of slowing down the contractions of the uterus, but which also exerts its action on the smooth muscles, including those of the large intestine. Results? The latter works less and this can cause constipation problems. So to avoid this: we focus on the consumption of fiber and optimal hydration (at least 1.5 liters of drink per day)!
  • Bloating  : even pain similar to period pain. But also the feeling of having a “bloated” body. A premonitory sensation? Certainly !
  • Extreme fatigue: "Another possible symptom at the beginning of pregnancy is a kind of weariness, a desire to sleep, even if this sign usually appears at the end of the  first month of pregnancy ," adds Dr. Elia. But also difficulty sleeping ( insomnia , waking up at night).
  • Unusual irritability: yes! In early pregnancy, you may also be irritable, nervous, more emotional than usual.
  • Acne: another pregnancy symptom we could do without! Whose fault is it? Hormones of course! Yes, again. These disrupt the secretion of estrogen and progesterone. Result? Sebum production is modified and the epidermis is unbalanced.

Are pregnancy signs reliable?

The answer may, unfortunately, disappoint you, but "pregnancy symptoms are not specific so we cannot rely on them," says Dr. Elia. "You can have all the  signs of pregnancy  and not be pregnant. Just as you can have no signs of pregnancy and still be pregnant," he explains.
These first symptoms of pregnancy can indeed be psychosomatic: you sometimes want to be pregnant so much (or on the contrary want not to be) that you create (or hide) these symptoms without knowing it. Yes! In addition, some women have  identical premenstrual symptoms  . "It is impossible to know if these are symptoms of pregnancy or the arrival of your period," informs the gynecologist. Only a  pregnancy test ,  urine or blood , can confirm your pregnancy. To have confirmation from the gynecologist, you will have to wait until your period is two weeks late, that is to say one month of pregnancy, because the examination of the uterus by vaginal touch may remain insufficient at the beginning and does not always allow to confirm the increase in volume of the uterus.
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