Most usual symptoms of early pregnancy

Am I pregnant?" is probably the most common health question women ask these days. The signs of early pregnancy are easy to recognize, particularly if this is not your first pregnancy. No matter how many times you get pregnant, the signs and symptoms of early pregnancy are always the same.

However, this does not mean that you will experience every pregnancy in the very same way.
Also, remember that some of the earliest signs of pregnancy may be subtle but not obvious.

Here are the ten signs of early pregnancy and its symptoms-

Missed Period

Perhaps the most obvious early symptom of pregnancy is when you've missed your period. This possible sign of pregnancy often leads women to search for more details about the other pregnancy symptoms. Doctors are of the opinion that some pregnant women might only experience a much lighter period compared to their usual.

Breast Tenderness

One of the very noticeable early signs of pregnancy is tender, swollen, somewhat sore breasts. You may notice this sign at bedtime when you are trying to get comfortable and sleep, when exercising or showering, or also when getting dressed.
When you become pregnant, your body begins preparing your breasts for producing milk and breastfeeding. Also the hormones start increasing. Some women notice their nipples darken in color.

Fatigue and Exhaustion

You might start going to bed sooner, or find it harder than usual to get out of bed in the morning. If you are working, by afternoon you may feel like lying down. A simple activity like shopping may leave you feeling wiped out and lightheaded.
If you know you are pregnant, try to take frequent rests/naps of 15 minutes to a half-hour whenever possible during the day.

Frequent Urination

An early symptom of pregnancy that others may observe you experiencing is frequent trips to the restroom. One cause of this pregnancy symptom is that the swelling uterus can put pressure on your bladder.
Also, pregnancy causes extra body fluids to be processed by your kidneys and bladder. This symptom might remain consistent during the nine months of pregnancy.

Nausea and vomiting

This symptom may often be prevented by eating smaller, more frequent snack size meals. Many women say saltine crackers and milk seem to be helpful. It tends to level off once you are into your second trimester and your body adjusts to all the different changes it is going through.

Dizziness and/ or Fainting

Going up stairs, standing up suddenly after sitting for sometime, or just having to stand in a queue can make you feel lightheaded. As the uterus swells it compresses arteries in your legs. This can drop your blood pressure and make you dizzy or you might faint.
A common early sign of pregnancy is that you may faint when you have gone a while without eating. This happens due to low blood sugar level, because that is your baby's main source of food.

Food Cravings or aversions to foods

Taking a good pre-natal vitamin supplement and a pure fish oil capsule may ease some cravings and help prevent extra weight gain and it is often recommended by the doctor for the health of your baby.
Less well known but equally common pregnancy signs are aversions to certain foods. You may find that some foods you previously enjoyed are no longer appetizing.

Constipation

Food passes more slowly through the intestines due to the increased level of progesterone, leading to constipation during pregnancy.

Raised basal body temperature

If you are charting your basal body temperature (oral temperature taken just after you woke up in the morning) you can notice an increase in it if you are pregnant.

Light bleeding and/or cramping

The most common reason for light bleeding during early pregnancy is implantation. Implantation bleeding occurs when the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterine lining and usually occurs about 10 to 14 days after conception. Bleeding caused by implantation is usually light.

Cramping that is similar to menstrual cramps occurs early during pregnancy and happens when the uterus begins to expand to make room for the embryo to develop into a fetus.

An important point to remember is that while these symptoms are common during pregnancy, sometimes none of these symptoms occurs.

f you experience the signs and symptoms of pregnancy, buy a home pregnancy test and visit your doctor – either to begin prenatal care and confirm your pregnancy.