Pregnancy Symptoms Test

This pregnancy symptoms test is organized in three stages of pregnancy symptoms to check whether one’s symptoms are linked to the possibility of an early pregnancy or a more advanced one or neither.

When it comes to early pregnancy symptoms the most common include:

■ A delay in the appearance of the period or a light bleeding, called spotting (implantation bleeding);

■ Tender, swollen breasts: similar or at a higher intensity than the feeling in the breasts before a period;

■ Pain in the lower back area, and abdominal cramping, similar to that occurring before period;

■ Nausea or vomiting;

■ Increased basal temperature throughout the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (after ovulation).

As the pregnancy progresses, some of the above will ease, whilst other symptoms will appear:

■ Fatigue: the increased levels of hormones are an extra effort for the body and they can also cause frequent mood swings or an increased emotional response;

■ Heightened senses: a very sensible sense of smell and taste (food-cravings or food aversions);

■ Increase in breast volume, darkened areolas;

■ Frequent urination from increased pelvic vascularisation;

■ Sensitivity in the gums and teeth aches;

■ Pain in the lower back area;

■ Weight gain.

Pregnancy symptoms stats and tips

8 in 10 women are to experience emesis gravidarum (known as morning sickness) whilst in some cases, these symptoms will be exacerbated in hyperemesis gravidarum, leading to serious dehydration and nutritional imbalances.

To help fight nausea and vomiting, expectant mothers should try to eat little and often, discover the foods they can tolerate well (especially the refreshing ones) but vary them to ensure appropriate nutritional input. In order to keep hydrated and drink enough water, you could resort to infusing it with lemon or your favorite fruits.

Constipation affect up to one in four women throughout pregnancy and 7 out of 10 mothers experience indigestion.

Relaxation and rest are mandatory for the expectant mother who should also wear less tight and more comfortable clothes and avoid carrying weights.

References

Wylie L. (2005) Essential anatomy and physiology in maternity care (2nd ed.) Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics (2012) The Johns Hopkins Manual of Gynecology and Obstetrics (4th ed.) Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.