HEALTH: CHECKOUT EARLY PREGNANCY SYMPTOMS
One of the first signs is often achy, tender breasts . They
may feel fuller and heavier. You might even notice the area
around your nipple getting bigger and darker.
Most early pregnancy symptoms , including tender breasts, are
related to rising levels of the hormone progesterone, says
Treesa McLean, a licensed midwife. Another reason your
breasts swell is that your body keeps more water during
pregnancy, which can make you feel bloated, too.
FATIGUE
"Women who have never been able to nap before often
suddenly start needing naps during the first trimester , At this point, it's
the extra
progesterone that's making you feel wiped out.
You can look forward to a bit of an energy boost in your
second trimester , but expect the exhaustion to creep back as
you enter the home stretch, she says. The best thing to do is
go with it: Head to bed earlier, and steal the chance to
snooze when you can.
MOOD SWINGS
Those hormone changes that make you emotional during your
monthly cycle stick around for early pregnancy, too.
And once you know you're pregnant, you might get stressed
out about the idea of becoming a parent . "Even if it's planned,
there can be a lot of fear," Conry says. "We see the positive
pregnancy test and have the baby's life -- and the rest of our
lives -- planned in a moment."
Fatigue and hunger can make mood swings worse, McLean
says, so try to find time to rest and eat small snacks
throughout the day.
You're likely to feel better by 14 to 16 weeks, Conry says. If
you don't, bring it up with your OB or midwife. She can
recommend someone to provide support through the
pregnancy and after.
Some women get very lightheaded or dizzy during early
pregnancy. Some even have fainting spells. It could be
hormones, or it might low blood pressure, McLean says.
See your OB or midwife to get a better idea of what's going
on. If your blood sugar is low, try eating smaller meals more
often throughout the day.
For many women, the spacey feeling gets better after the first
trimester, she says.
NAUSEA AND VOMITING
Queasiness can start early on, although full-blown nausea and
vomiting usually don't usually show up until 7 to 9 weeks,
Conry says. Small, frequent, protein-rich meals can help
control your uneasy stomach. Staying hydrated can, too.
To help fluids go down easily, McLean suggests adding
cucumber slices or strawberries to water. Diluted fruit juice,
ginger tea, or a basic pregnancy tea (they usually contain red
raspberry leaf and nettles) are also good options. Mint tea
can help with nausea, but she warns it can make heartburn ,
another common pregnancy symptom, worse.
A snack before bed, like a small piece of cheese and some
nuts, can help steady your blood sugar overnight so you
don't wake up feeling very sick.
Nausea usually disappears by 12 weeks, though some people
find it lasts through 16 weeks, and it doesn't go away for
others. Check in with your doctor or midwife if you're vomiting
so much you're not keeping anything down or you're
losing weight, McLean says. There are medications that help
extreme morning sickness .
Disgusted by Specific Foods
Can't stand the smell -- much less the taste -- of certain
foods? Some women find that one of their first signs of
pregnancy is a heightened sense of smell . It makes
scents they were OK with before absolutely sickening. Other
women develop a funny taste in their mouth that they just
can't get rid of, McLean says.
If whole groups of foods are literally off the table because
they make you feel like you're going to heave, don't worry
about the baby. "The baby is so good at absorbing nutrients
from the mom at this stage. It's the mom that suffers, not the
fetus," Conry says.
Take a prenatal vitamin to make sure you're getting nutrients
and folic acid, which you need to prevent certain birth
defects. Drink lots of liquids, too. As long as you avoid getting
dehydrated, you should get through this phase just fine, she
says. You'll likely lose your disgust as you head into your
second trimester.
PEEING OFTEN
Your kidneys have to process more urine during pregnancy.
Plus, your uterus getting bigger puts pressure on your bladder .
Together, that's a lot of trips to the bathroom.
"Some women who don't know that they're pregnant think they
have a bladder infection," Conry says.
Having to get up in the middle of the night to pee may be
annoying, but don't cut back on how much you're drinking,
says McLean. You need extra fluids to keep enough water in
your body.
SPOTTING AND CRAMPING
Cramping or a bit of blood starting a little earlier than you
expect your period may be a sign that the fertilized egg is
getting attached in the uterus.
Even bleeding that continues to your sixth or seventh week
can be normal. At that point, Conroy says, your doctor can do
an ultrasound to make sure the baby is developing normally
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