Early signs of pregnancy

Doctor Trinh Thi Thuy, Hanoi Andrology and Infertility Hospital suggests some signs of pregnancy in the first month, so that pregnant women can have the best health care.

Nausea

If you wake up one morning feeling nauseous and want to throw up, you may be pregnant. Morning sickness is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy and can occur at any time of the day. The cause is the rapid increase in estrogen and progesterone hormones.

Amenorrhea

Missed menstruation is the earliest and most reliable sign of pregnancy in healthy women. This is true only if you have regular menstrual cycles, are not breastfeeding, or are not using hormonal contraception.

Some women may also experience amenorrhea due to changes in weight, psychological trauma, stress, polycystic ovary syndrome, thyroid disease...

Tired

This is a sign of pregnancy after a week of intercourse but few people pay attention. Many women think that fatigue is due to weather changes, work pressure... without knowing that their body is having back pain and fatigue because it has to provide nutrients for the fetus that is forming and developing.

Frequent urination, painful urination

An easily recognizable sign of pregnancy is urinating more often than usual, and the amount of urine each time may be less. This phenomenon often occurs in the first months due to increased blood vessels and the uterus in the pelvis gradually growing larger, pressing on the bladder. It is necessary to differentiate it from urinary tract infections.

Nipple changes

Breast changes are more evident in women with their first pregnancy than in women with their second. The breasts enlarge, feel a little tight and painful, small veins appear and are visible just under the skin called the Haller system. The nipples enlarge, protrude, increase pigmentation and sensitivity, the areola darkens.

Change in eating habits

You can feel changes in food preferences to assess the possibility of pregnancy, such as suddenly liking to eat some foods that you previously did not like or being unable to eat foods that you previously liked, craving sour foods, sweet foods or eating a lot of foods, meals...

Constipation, bloating

Constipation and bloating are two common signs of pregnancy, appearing frequently as the pregnancy progresses. The cause is due to increased progesterone hormone, affecting the pregnant woman's digestive system. Increase fiber-rich foods, drink enough 2-2.5 liters of water per day to limit constipation and bloating.

Sensitive to smell

Some smells can make pregnant women feel uncomfortable and nauseous, such as cigarette smoke, perfume, food... This sensitivity may gradually decrease after the first 3 months of pregnancy.

Dizzy

Dizziness is a common symptom of pregnancy. Some women may experience dizziness and lightheadedness due to anemia. This symptom appears more or less frequently, depending on the physical condition and level of anemia of each person.

Asleep

Signs that are easy to overlook are drowsiness, sleepiness, and excessive sleeping. In some cases, insomnia occurs.

Body temperature changes

A common sign of early pregnancy is a slight increase in a woman's body temperature, up to about 37.5 degrees due to increased progesterone hormone secretion. This phenomenon is similar to ovulation. Increased body temperature can make the skin moist, causing prickly heat in areas where there is friction between skin folds.

According to Dr. Thuy, some pregnant women may have most of the above signs, but others may only have one or a few. These signs are not typical and may also be signs of other medical conditions.

"If you suspect you are pregnant, you should go to a medical facility for examination, consultation and pregnancy management as well as for differential diagnosis with diseases that can be dangerous to your health," Dr. Thuy recommends.