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.
