Oct 10, 2012

Early pregnancy symptoms




The first signs of pregnancy in no particular order are when you miss your period and your menstrual cycle becomes erratic. This is not necessarily the first symptom. Smell and taste become a heightened sensation and waking up first thing in the morning is the worst time for many women. Symptoms vary from person to person and some women have no symptoms at all and do not even know they are pregnant while others struggle through an uncomfortable period for one or two months.

 
Taste and smell – Your senses are out of whack and the moment the aroma of coffee or the smell of bacon drifts down the stairs you run to the loo to throw up. You become nauseous easily and have a funny taste in your mouth. You try chewing gum and sucking a lollipop, but the taste persist and make you spit out saliva all the time. Gravol is frequently used by pregnant women to get rid of the nausea.


Sore breasts – this is a frequent complaint in the first three months when the breasts feel full and tender. The nipples are sore and the breasts grow larger. The nipples will be sensitive to touch and may require a bra which can accommodate your breasts. A good choice would be one with a flap to feed the baby without taking off the bra.


Food craving – this is a time when your body is changing and your taste buds have the most outrageous cravings; mine were dill pickles and ice cream. For others it was the craziest combinations of peanut butter and jelly or slabs of chocolate. Take note of what you eat. Use spice lightly to avoid heartburn. Stay away from drinks with caffeine. Cut down on sugar, chips and chocolate. Try to maintain your weight with light exercise. 


Hormonal changes come into play big time when a woman is pregnant. Curly hair might straighten; you may have a change in sexual desire, or not want sex at all. You may get swollen feet and be particularly tired. Put your feet up and rest. Make sure you take enough iron, and use a stool softener when you need it. Constipation is a problem during this period. Eat healthily and drink at least five or six glasses of water a day. Luckily, these symptoms do not last forever and after four months your nausea would have dissipated.