Pregnancy symptoms: What are they and when do they start?

The first signs of pregnancy are not limited to a missed period. While pregnancy tests and ultrasounds determine if you are pregnant, there are other symptoms you may notice.

These symptoms include morning sickness, odor sensitivity and fatigue. Fatigue can develop at any time during pregnancy but is more common in the beginning. Progesterone levels rise, which can make you feel drowsy. A higher body temperature can also be a sign of pregnancy.

When do they start?

Strange as it may sound, the first week of pregnancy is based on the date of your last menstrual period which is considered the first week of pregnancy, even if you were not pregnant yet.

From the 1st to the 4th week everything still happens at the cellular level. The fertilized egg creates a blastocyst (a group of cells with fluid) that will develop into organs in the baby’s body. About 10 to 14 days after conception, the blastocyst will be implanted in the endometrium. This can cause implant bleeding, which can be mistaken for a light period.

After implantation, your body begins to produce human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) which helps maintain pregnancy. It also signals the ovaries to stop releasing eggs. Most home tests can detect hCG in the urine just eight days after a missed period and show if you are pregnant.

13 symptoms of pregnancy

The symptoms that appear chronologically (from the first missed period) are:

1. Mild cramps from the 1st to the 4th week.
2. Fatigue in the 4th or 5th week.
3. Nausea in the 4th to 6th week and malaise in the 5th to 6th week. Nausea and malaise can occur at any time of the day or night. Their causes are not clear but hormones may play a role. This condition can become more severe by the end of the first trimester but often becomes less severe as you enter the second trimester.
4. Frequent urination in the 4th to 6th week. The amount of blood pumped increases and this forces the kidneys to process more fluid than usual, which leads to more urine.
5. Swelling in the 4th to 6th week. The bloating may be due to hormone changes, which slow down the digestive system. You may have constipation.
6. Change in psychological mood in the 6th week. Your estrogen and progesterone levels are high during pregnancy. This increase can affect your mood and make you more emotional or reactive than usual. Mood swings are common during pregnancy and can cause irritability, stress or euphoria.
7. Body temperature change in the 6th week.
8. High blood pressure in the 8th week. In most cases, blood pressure drops in the early stages of pregnancy. This can cause dizziness, as the blood vessels are dilated. Most cases of hypertension in the first 20 weeks indicate an underlying problem.
9. Heartburn in the 9th week. Hormones can cause the valve between the stomach and esophagus to relax. This allows the contents of the stomach to leak, causing heartburn.
10. Faster heart rate from the 8th to the 10th week. Pulses and arrhythmias are common during pregnancy and are usually due to hormones.
11. Breast and nipple changes in the 11th week. You may develop sensitive and swollen breasts due to hormone changes.
12. Possible acne in the 11th week.
13. Most significant weight gain after the 11th week. Weight gain becomes more common at the end of the first trimester. You may gain 1-4 kg in the first months.

At Vita4you.gr you will find a wide variety of pregnancy tests!

Sources