Many women are convinced: as long as there is no delay in menstruation, there is no point in talking about pregnancy. However, there are symptoms even earlier than the delay, which allow us to say with a high degree of confidence that pregnancy has occurred.

There are changes, sometimes barely noticeable, which, combined with intuition, enable a woman to find out that she will soon become a mother.

The first sign of early pregnancy is drowsiness and weakness

You feel sleepy, even if you slept soundly all night. The fact is that a pregnant woman’s metabolism instantly accelerates. This is necessary to support the body - yours and the future baby, but at the same time it causes rapid fatigue. Sleep as much as you want! And try to lie down to rest more often.

The second sign of pregnancy is nausea.

For some women, morning sickness can appear literally from the first days of pregnancy. This is due to a sharp drop in blood sugar. Nausea (toxicosis) most often accompanies the expectant mother only during the first trimester. However, some suffer from nausea for the entire nine months.

Try to eat as regularly as possible, include only natural foods in your diet.

The third sign of early pregnancy - Breast enlargement

Literally in the first days after conception, you may feel discomfort from wearing a bra. The breasts visibly swell and enlarge, and after a while the nipples darken.

The fourth sign of early pregnancy is a change in taste and smell.

Everyone knows about the passion of pregnant women for pickles. But this is just one of possible options taste changes. You can start eating foods that you couldn’t even look at before. Most often, expectant mothers are craving sour or salty foods. But your favorite foods can be disgusting. Happens. That an unpleasant metallic taste appears in the mouth, poisoning the pleasure of eating.

The sense of smell also begins to cause problems: you suddenly realize that you cannot, for example, fry potatoes, because the smell of oil makes you sick. In a clean and ventilated apartment, the smell of tobacco smoke suddenly begins to appear...

The fifth sign of early pregnancy - Forgetfulness and lack of concentration

The body’s goal is now one – to successfully bear a child, and everything else is now “superfluous”, optional. Therefore, expectant mothers are often in an absent-minded state - they forget their keys and money, are unable to solve a simple crossword puzzle, they take a long time to remember why they left the house... Don’t be alarmed: this is temporary, at a later date everything will return to normal.

The sixth sign of early pregnancy - Change in basal temperature

This happens even before the delay. Basal temperature rises sharply. If ovulation has occurred, the temperature remains at 37-37.2 degrees for several weeks. If conception does not occur, the very next day the basal temperature returns to normal.

The seventh sign of early pregnancy - Discharge

Already on the 6th day after conception, you may notice slight spotting. They say that embryo implantation has occurred. But such discharge does not always appear and not for everyone - this is also normal.

The eighth sign of early pregnancy is Frequent urination

If a week has passed since conception, you may experience a frequent urge to urinate. This happens because blood supply increases in the pelvic area, and the bladder sends a signal that it is full, even if only a little urine has accumulated. Urinary frequency usually returns to normal by the fourth month of pregnancy.

The ninth sign of early pregnancy - Emotional instability

Woman on early Pregnancy may suddenly cry or be offended for no reason, and after a minute you can laugh cheerfully or feel extraordinary happiness. The irritability of expectant mothers is the reason for numerous stories and even jokes.

The tenth sign of early pregnancy - Deterioration in health

An embryo is implanted into a woman’s body, half of whose chromosomes are foreign, as they were received from the child’s father. To prevent rejection from occurring, the immune system is somewhat reduced, that is, the body’s defenses are not working at full strength. Therefore, a pregnant woman is more likely than others to suffer from colds and ailments.

The main thing is not to take strong drugs without consulting a doctor! They can cause serious harm to the baby.

The eleventh sign of pregnancy is bloating

With the onset of pregnancy, the intestines become more “lazy”, gas formation increases, constipation may cause pain, and the volume of the abdomen increases. There are many safe, gentle remedies for this problem.

All these signs of pregnancy can occur long before the delay, signaling that pregnancy has occurred, and you need to treat your body with special care.

Olga Moiseeva for Women's magazine "Prelest"

In most all cases, women begin to suspect pregnancy only with the onset of a missed period. It even happens that good news future mom finds out already in the second or third month. But by listening and taking a closer look at your body, some conclusions can be drawn much earlier.

Naturally, your guesses will still have to be confirmed by a gynecologist, who will make a final “diagnosis” only after an ultrasound. But it will be useful for yourself to know about pregnancy as early as possible, because in the first weeks the fetus is very sensitive to all factors: the lifestyle and habits of the mother will largely determine the health and life of the child in the future.

Early pregnancy symptoms different women are often the same or similar. But individual reactions of the body to changes occurring in it are often observed. We will help you deal with your well-being.

So, there is a problem if you have had sexual intercourse in the recent past and are now experiencing some of the following early pregnancy symptoms.

Characteristic symptoms of early pregnancy

Observations of a newly pregnant woman have been carried out for a long time. Long before the advent of ultrasound, our ancestors could accurately determine the fact of pregnancy, although there were cruel mistakes in this practice. Nevertheless, centuries-old experience is still used in everyday life. The reliability of the “diagnosis” is recognized even by gynecologists themselves.

The following reliable symptoms in the early stages will tell you that pregnancy has occurred:

• Lack of regular periods. This is the very first and very likely symptom of pregnancy, which every woman knows about. But a delay in menstruation is not always a fact of conception. Menstrual irregularities can occur for a huge variety of reasons that have nothing to do with pregnancy.
• . This symptom is relevant only for those women who maintain a BT schedule. It is not 100% proof that conception has taken place, but in general it is quite reliable. During pregnancy, the basal temperature rises to 37°C and above and remains at these levels.
• Changes in the chest. For many women, the breasts become so sensitive that any touch to them causes pain and severe irritation. Even wearing a regular bra becomes simply unbearable! A woman may observe scanty discharge from the breasts - this is future colostrum. At the same time, the breasts fill up, become heavy, and may become covered with a venous network. Occasionally, spider veins also appear on the legs.
• Mood swings. The woman becomes very vulnerable, whiny, and suspicious. She can get angry over any reason and become depressed because of a broken nail. Attacks of anger are abruptly replaced by outbursts of joy and fun. Along with increased breast sensitivity, women often attribute everything to premenstrual syndrome.
• Runny nose. Nasal congestion in early pregnancy is explained by hormonal changes. Because of this, snoring may occur at night, and nosebleeds are also possible. Many women suffer from a runny nose until the very last days pregnancy: after childbirth everything goes away. It’s good if you recognize your pregnancy now, because a runny nose during pregnancy is practically impossible to treat.
• Drowsiness, fatigue. A few hours before lunch you are already falling on your teeth. Neither coffee nor going to bed early the night before helps: you just want to sleep like crazy! At work they start making fun of you about this, but there is no increase in positivity: how to cope with responsibilities when you are literally in a semi-fainting state... Insomnia, which has now worsened, can also aggravate drowsiness: despite fatigue and weakness, sometimes it is simply impossible to fall asleep.
• Malaise. In general, a certain weakness is felt: body aches, chills, and the temperature may even rise to subfebrile levels. Along with the previous signs, this picture is often perceived as the onset of the flu. It’s good if you decide to take sick leave, more rest won’t hurt you now.
• Various pains. It’s unfortunate, but it’s a fact: with the onset of pregnancy, a variety of pains can appear. Many women note that they have pain in their head, chest, stomach, back or lower back, legs, arms... A certain danger is posed by nagging pain in the lower abdomen, accompanied by slight bleeding. If you suspect you are pregnant, you should consult a gynecologist: there may be a risk of miscarriage. But in general, such pain will accompany a woman throughout her entire life: the uterus is growing all the time and the ligaments that hold it stretch, which can be quite noticeable for the expectant mother.
• Exacerbation of chronic diseases. In addition to all this, inflammatory processes hidden in your body can worsen. If you have previously suffered from kidney or other diseases, then with a high degree of probability they will make themselves felt now. One of the most common early pregnancy symptoms is thrush. Calf cramps also often occur, especially at night. Talk to your doctor and start taking calcium supplements.
• Frequent urination. The uterus begins to enlarge from the earliest stages of pregnancy, putting pressure on the bladder. Exacerbated genitourinary infections can also force you to run to the toilet frequently.
• Dark spots. Most often, nipple halos and the abdominal line leading from the navel to the pubis darken. But in general, pigmentation can appear anywhere. Many women one morning notice that their face is covered with brown spots: experts call this phenomenon chloasma, and people call it a pregnancy mask. You are unlikely to like this, but, thank God, this is not forever.
• Bloating, constipation,... Disturbances in the digestive processes and functioning of the gastrointestinal tract will accompany the woman throughout the entire period of gestation. Some of the manifestations will appear in the very early stages: increased flatulence, a feeling of heaviness in the stomach, bloating, constipation or stool disorders, heartburn.
• Change in taste preferences. Complete chaos is happening with your gastronomic preferences. In principle, each of us can crave strawberries or cherries in the middle of winter. But only a pregnant woman can dream about delicacies that you couldn’t stomach before. Often, a pregnant woman receives intense gustatory pleasure from a combination of incompatible products - this is already a fact... By the way, appetite can also change in any direction.
• Enhanced sense of smell. It is not surprising that you can be very sensitive to odors in this situation. Your favorite perfumes just make you sick, and you’re the first to hear the milk running down in the apartment from the house opposite.
• Nausea, . This symptom is the most popular among the people, although in reality it is not in first place. Many pregnant women actually experience early toxicosis, but not all and not always. If vomiting occurs too often and you begin to lose weight, you should immediately consult a doctor. Otherwise, there is nothing to worry about: look for ways to combat toxicosis.
• Increased salivation. By the way, don’t be surprised if saliva begins to be released in large volumes: this is normal and will pass soon, but, of course, it still causes some discomfort: it’s okay when saliva flows out of the mouth during sleep, but often it just splashes during a conversation or laughter - the interlocutor may not like this.

Also in the early stages there may be a heavy discharge of leucorrhoea. If you have been tested for hCG, it will certainly be elevated.

“Strange” and unusual symptoms of early pregnancy

For young girls and women who may be pregnant for the first time, any of the symptoms may seem strange. But all of the above are classics, so to speak. However, each body is individual and can sometimes react to pregnancy very unpredictably. The following symptoms also occur, but are relatively uncommon:

• the appearance of facial and body hair;
• metallic taste in the mouth;
• falling off of extended acrylic nails (they break off at the base);
• the appearance of blush on the cheeks;
• itching of palms.

In addition, each organism can behave completely unpredictably. If you observe any special symptoms of pregnancy in the early stages, then share with other women: perhaps this will help them recognize the long-awaited pregnancy in themselves.

As the period increases, if suspicions of pregnancy are confirmed, more and more new symptoms may gradually be added: itching of the skin of the abdomen, swelling of the arms and legs, and others.

We draw your attention to the fact that this is a list of symptoms of a possible pregnancy. They are not a reason to make an accurate diagnosis; only a doctor can do this. And you can even suspect pregnancy only by a combination of several of the probable symptoms. But we wish you that the result in any case turns out to be what you expect. Be happy!

Especially for- Elena Kichak

Pregnancy from the very first week leaves its mark on a woman’s condition. After the fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus, hormonal changes begin in the woman’s body.

They manifest themselves with certain symptoms that can be used to diagnose pregnancy at an early stage.

The most favorable time for conception is the period of ovulation, which occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle. Ovulation occurs when the follicle ruptures and an egg ready for fertilization is released.

If for some reason there is a disruption in the menstrual cycle, the timing of ovulation may shift and conception may occur earlier or later than the middle of the cycle.

The mature egg enters fallopian tube, which contains sperm. The most active of them penetrates the membrane of the egg and fertilizes it. Then it begins to move towards the uterine cavity. Along the way, the egg divides and by the time it enters the uterus it turns into a fertilized egg, consisting of several hundred cells.

Implantation of the fertilized egg occurs 7-10 days after ovulation.

After entering the uterus, the fertilized egg does not immediately attach to its wall, but remains in a “suspended” state for 2 days. During this time, it prepares the surface of the uterus for implantation, relaxing its tissue. This is necessary so that the walls of the uterus do not reject the foreign body.

More often, attachment occurs to the posterior wall of the uterus, since it is thicker, many vessels are concentrated in it and created Better conditions for the development of the embryo.

Implantation may fail for a number of reasons:

• hormonal imbalance (change in the concentration of progesterone, estrogen, glucorticosteroids, prolactin, etc.);
• unpreparedness of the endometrium (uterine mucosa) for implantation. The thickness of the endometrium for successful attachment of the fertilized egg must be at least 7 mm;
• fibroids (benign tumor) of the uterus.

If the fertilized egg fails to implant, menstruation will begin and it will leave the uterus along with the menstrual flow.

Hormonal changes after implantation

After the implantation of the fertilized egg, the active work of the body begins, aimed at the proper development of the child.

A woman faces hormonal changes, which affect the functioning of all body systems.

At the site of the burst follicle, it appears - this is a temporary formation responsible for the production of progesterone.

Progesterone is a hormone necessary for the implantation of a fertilized egg and the normal development of pregnancy. Malfunction of the corpus luteum can lead to miscarriage or.

During the division of a fertilized egg, the rudiments of the future embryo and membranes (chorion) appear. The chorion produces a special hormone - human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

Based on the presence of this hormone in the blood, pregnancy can be predicted with a high degree of probability. In rare cases, it is not associated with pregnancy, but with certain diseases.

Subjective first signs before delay

The first signs of pregnancy before a delay are based on the woman’s feelings.

They are characteristic of pregnancy, but their severity may vary: in some women they appear more strongly, in others they are absent altogether. Moreover, it does not matter whether it is the first, second or third pregnancy, any woman can feel early signs of pregnancy, regardless of age, nationality, social status, etc.

Even before your period is missed, the first sign of pregnancy may be chest pain. They appear at 1-2 weeks of pregnancy.

The breasts swell, become more sensitive, any touch causes pain.

The initial sign of pregnancy before the delay may be increased pigmentation of the nipples. This symptom does not always appear; in some cases, women do not feel any discomfort in the chest.

Another, so to speak, popular sign of pregnancy can be slight bleeding from the genital tract.

The process of attachment of the egg to the wall of the uterus may be accompanied by implantation bleeding.

A woman may mistake it for premenstrual discharge. They can last from several hours to days.

The changed hormonal background becomes, which causes apathy, loss of strength and drowsiness.

Such early signs of pregnancy can accompany a woman throughout the entire first trimester of pregnancy. To these are added changes in the emotional state of the pregnant woman: tearfulness, irritability and anxiety appear.

Many women are concerned about the malaise characteristic of colds: headache, feeling of weakness, nasal discharge,...

These symptoms are caused by a temporary weakening of the immune system, characteristic of early pregnancy.

If a woman consults a doctor about an illness, she needs to inform him about the possibility of conception.

This will allow the doctor to select drugs that are safe in the early stages of pregnancy.

Accelerated blood circulation in the pelvic organs and changes in kidney function cause increased urination. If it is accompanied by a pulling or cutting pain, you should immediately consult a doctor. In this case, frequent urination may be a sign of the development of a genitourinary tract infection.

During pregnancy, blood flow to the pelvic organs increases and the uterus begins to grow.

An increase in the size of the uterus may be accompanied by a feeling of “fullness” in the abdomen, pain and tingling in the uterine area.

The primary sign of pregnancy before the delay may be diarrhea.

Diarrhea is not infectious and goes away quickly. In this way, the body reacts to the stress caused by pregnancy.

Don't worry about this - after a while the stool will recover. According to statistics, local gastrointestinal disorders in 65% of cases are obvious signs of pregnancy before the delay.

Looseness of the cervix, decreased turgor of the vaginal muscles. This is due to the action of progesterone, which helps relax muscle tissue.

Without waiting for an examination by a gynecologist, you can conduct a self-examination: insert a finger into the vagina and evaluate muscle tone. When palpated, in the event of pregnancy, the muscles will seem “boiled.”

Unusual signs of pregnancy include changes in taste preferences, excessive tearfulness, flatulence, heartburn, and decreased visual acuity.

Despite the abundance of signs indirectly indicating pregnancy, you may not experience any signs at all other than delay.

Personal experience

Let me start with the fact that I am a mother of 3 children and all 3 pregnancies were, so from the very first days after conception I listened to my body and carefully monitored all the changes that were taking place.

I would like to clarify that the early signs of pregnancy, which can occur 1-2 weeks after conception, are so subjective (even for one woman) that you should not try on all the sensations of other people on yourself.

So, for the first time, the earliest sign indicating pregnancy was pain in the mammary glands. The breasts became swollen, became very sensitive and hurt so much that it was impossible to lie on my stomach. This didn't happen before. My chest, of course, hurt, but not much. It was this fact that inspired me, and he gave it.

Planning for my second pregnancy lasted for six months. My health was fine. Before planning a pregnancy, my husband and I took the test. But for some reason the test did not streak. I listened to my own body, and when my chest started to hurt, I ran for a test, but the results were negative. So, during the next cycle after ovulation, I noticed that my breasts did not hurt at all.

To be honest, I thought that this time my body decided to take a break and reward me with an anovulatory cycle. My chest never started to hurt. This time I didn’t even go for the test. However, it was this cycle that ended in pregnancy. And I did the test after the delay, and it showed a bright red second stripe.

Moreover, a few days after ovulation, I began to experience cystitis due to... I successfully cured my cystitis with Monural, and after 2 weeks I found out that I was pregnant. I don’t know if cystitis and colds can be called early signs of pregnancy. But I am glad that taking the antibiotic did not affect the child in any way.

The third time I got pregnant again the first time. Moreover, pregnancy occurred immediately in the next cycle after discontinuation of Regulon. This time the breasts were in normal condition. She began to swell slightly after ovulation. In principle, nothing foreshadowed pregnancy.

However, this time I set aside for myself the day when the embryo transfer was supposed to take place. On this day, my whole body felt weak, I wanted to lie down all the time and... By the way, this time the test did not show pregnancy before the delay. A weak second line appeared the second time on the 2nd day of the delay.

So, even for one woman, each new pregnancy manifests itself differently.

Ksenia, 34.

Objective signs of pregnancy before delay

One of the reliable signs of pregnancy before the delay is considered to be an increase in basal temperature (temperature in the rectum) above 37 °C.

The obtained measurement results may be correct if certain conditions are met.

Basal temperature is measured in the morning, immediately after waking up, without getting out of bed. Before this, the woman must lie down for at least 6 hours.

You cannot take measurements earlier than 2 hours after sexual intercourse, as the results will be incorrect.

The onset of pregnancy can be judged by the level of the hCG hormone. At home, its level in urine is determined using special tests.

In early pregnancy, a second faint line may appear on the test. In this case, it is necessary to repeat the tests over several days and monitor the change in the brightness of the stripes.

If the pregnancy is short, home tests may indicate that implantation has already occurred, but the level of hCG is still insufficient to detect it in the urine.

For correct results in the early stages, it is better to use with a sensitivity of 10 mIU/ml.

A false negative result can also occur for other reasons:

• the test was spoiled or expired;
• it was not the morning portion of urine that was used;
• on the eve of the test, the woman drank a lot of liquid or took diuretics;
• kidney disease;

If you suspect pregnancy, but home test shows a negative result, a blood test is needed.

HCG is detected in it earlier than in urine. Blood for analysis is taken from a vein, the analysis is given in the morning on an empty stomach or 4-5 hours after a meal at another time of day.

To confirm the result, it is necessary to take hCG over time. In case of normal intrauterine pregnancy the level of the hCG hormone in the blood will constantly increase.

After the first signs of pregnancy appear, you must wait until your menstrual cycle is delayed and consult a doctor.

He will prescribe an ultrasound, which will clearly establish the fact of pregnancy and determine its development (uterine, developing or frozen).

The site provides background information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Consultation with a specialist is required!

Do you know the first symptoms of pregnancy?
Twenty-five symptoms will be outlined below. pregnancy. All symptoms are divided into three groups according to the degree of reliability: possible (detection of these symptoms indicates the possibility of pregnancy), probable e ( which point to high degree probability of pregnancy), and accurate (the presence of these symptoms does not give rise to doubt).

Possible pregnancy symptoms

Not the onset of menstruation
In case of delay of menstruation, the first reason is always pregnancy. The concept " delay"can be used when, with a usually constant cycle, bleeding does not occur after the usual period of time.
But such a symptom can indicate more than just pregnancy. Delayed menstruation can occur due to:

• Stressful condition
• Physical overexertion ( preparation for sports competitions)
• ailments
• Sudden disruption of life schedule ( changing work schedule from daytime to shift work)
• Using certain types of medications ( primarily steroids)
• Exhaustion
• Errors in calculations
• Age suitable for menopause

Uncharacteristic menstruation
This definition includes any change in the normal menstrual cycle: too short, too long, bleeding too late or vice versa, as well as a change in the nature of bleeding: more heavy or more scanty.
It must be said that such disturbances are also typical for a number of diseases of the reproductive system, and therefore the appearance of such symptoms is a reason to consult a gynecologist.

Unusual sensations
In the first days of pregnancy, many women experience mild pain or cramps in the uterus. Such pains are similar to pain during menstruation.

Vomiting and nausea
These signs are very often observed during pregnancy. True, such signs are usually detected starting from the sixth week of gestation. But sometimes they appear earlier. In such cases they talk about early gestosis.
The same symptoms may appear with other ailments, for example, diseases of the digestive tract ( enterocolitis, stomach or intestinal ulcer, gastritis, enteritis). But with such ailments, vomiting and nausea are usually combined with other signs of digestive disorders that are not observed during pregnancy.

Change in sex drive
Sexual desire changes due to the fact that a variety of processes take place in the body during pregnancy. Libido can either disappear completely or become more pronounced. Changes in the physical plane include an increase in the sensitivity of the mammary glands, which sometimes even causes disgust when touching the nipples ( and sometimes vice versa), urge to vomit, increased blood circulation in the genital area. Processes of change affect both the psyche and work nervous system women, they are affected by pregnancy hormones.

Breast tenderness
The pregnancy period is preparatory for breastfeeding. Therefore, a number of processes take place in the mammary glands:

• Increased sensitivity to the point of pain
• Changes in the color of the nipples and areola, as well as their swelling
• Growth in the size of the mammary glands
• When you press on the areola, a drop of colostrum appears.

Similar processes are characteristic of diseases of the endocrine system ( increased production of the hormone prolactin)

Breast growth
Despite the fact that this symptom is not considered indispensable, most women experience it. If pregnancy has occurred, the mammary glands enlarge in exactly the same way.
If only one gland enlarges, or some part of it swells, this indicates the presence of diseases.

Frequent urge to urinate
This symptom often plagues women from the earliest stages of gestation. At the same time, very little urine is released. A similar symptom develops because the uterus increases in volume, and the bladder is left with everything less space, therefore less urine can collect in it.
A similar symptom is also typical for diseases of the urinary system, such as urethritis or cystitis ( with these diseases, the desire to urinate is usually combined with an increase in body temperature, a burning sensation during urination, and pain in the groin). Also, a similar symptom can be observed with diseases of the endocrine system ( diabetes mellitus, in which the patient is always thirsty and produces a lot of urine).

Perversions of taste
The vast majority of people believe that during pregnancy, all women eat pickles and ice cream. In fact, changes in taste can affect completely different food groups. According to scientists, sixty-five percent of women experience rather strange taste changes during pregnancy. Some people even want to eat chalk, raw meat, soil or green fruits.
Typically, such taste perversions do not pose a threat to health, but sometimes women suffer from cravings for completely inedible objects and substances, such as starch or lime.
Taste distortions can occur due to a lack of any microelements in the body, for example, iron. In such a case, this disorder is combined with brittle nail plates, hair, dizziness, weakness, and pale face.

Fatigue
A lot of serious processes take place in the body of a pregnant woman, which at first may not appear at all. In this regard, the body needs new energy resources. Therefore, during pregnancy, women quickly get tired and sleep a lot.
This phenomenon cannot be used to determine pregnancy, because lethargy or decreased endurance is also observed with a huge number of ailments, and is also caused by non-compliance with occupational hygiene and rest.

Montgomery tubercles
Montgomery tubercles- these are small growths ( type of small warts), formed on the isola. Such growths are completely safe for a woman’s body, and they often indicate pregnancy.

Skin changes
Due to what is happening in the body a large number of various processes, the skin also experiences changes. This may appear:

• Chloasma or pregnant woman mask – the appearance of age spots on the forehead, cheeks and nose. You should not be alarmed, because after the baby is born, all the spots will disappear on their own over time.
• Dark stripe from navel to pubis . This stripe may become noticeable after the twelfth week of gestation.
• Acne . This symptom is not typical for everyone. There are women whose skin, on the contrary, becomes clean and well-groomed during pregnancy. But sometimes, due to the increased work of the sebaceous glands, acne forms.
• Spider veins form on the legs, neck, arms, chest, cheeks. They are formed due to an increase in the amount of female sex hormones in the body. They look like small spiders and are dark red or bluish in color.
• Stretch marks– most often observed starting from the twenty-second week of gestation. The intensity of their formation depends on the number of kilograms gained, genetic predisposition, and nutritional system.
• The appearance of red spots on the palms – erythema. It is caused by the same estrogens.
• Other types of changes: increased growth of nails or hair, changes in their quality, increased work of the sweat glands.

Stretch marks
Stretch marks are a consequence of the destruction of the connective tissue of the skin. These are completely painless phenomena that only in rare cases cause a slight burning sensation. During pregnancy, as well as after the birth of a baby, stretch marks are observed in sixty to ninety percent of women. The usual place of their formation is the lower abdomen and thighs, but they are sometimes observed on the chest, as well as on upper parts hands
The number and intensity of stretching depend on parameters such as:

• Genetic predisposition – if the majority of women in the family have stretch marks, then there is practically no chance of avoiding them.
• Rate and intensity of weight gain . If too many kilograms are gained or in too short a period, the likelihood of developing stretch marks increases.
• Pregnancy with twins or triplets are also a factor predisposing to the formation of stretch marks.
• Nutrition specifics . If the menu is sufficiently balanced, there is a lot of fluid in it, then the skin will be more elastic, which means there will be fewer stretch marks and they will be less intense.

Increase in uterine volume
Over time, the fetus increases, which entails an increase in the volume of the uterus, and, consequently, the size of the abdomen.

An increase in the size of the uterus and abdomen is also characteristic of uterine tumors.
There are also diseases that only lead to an increase in the volume of the abdomen, while the uterus remains of normal size. This is ascites obesity or hyperplasia internal organs.

Stirring
During the first pregnancy, movements are detected approximately at the twentieth week of gestation. And mothers with experience feel movements already in the sixteenth to eighteenth week.
It must be said that as a sign of pregnancy, movements are detected earlier than movements of the anterior wall of the abdomen, which is considered one of the accurate signs.

The appearance of colostrum
Colostrum is the first food of a newborn baby. Colostrum contains all the nutrients a baby needs. Most often in last weeks During pregnancy, clear fluid appears from the mammary glands, this is the secretion of colostrum.

Possible pregnancy symptoms

Increase in belly size
The expectant mother, who has already experienced childbirth, notices an increase in the size of her abdomen already in the ninth week. But usually this symptom appears after the twelfth or even sixteenth week of gestation and later. Starting from the twelfth week, the uterus can be found by palpation.

The uterus changes
The shape of the uterus also changes. But such a sign is detected only during a consultation with an obstetrician or during an ultrasound examination.

Braxton Hicks contractions or training contractions
Braxton Hicks contractions are short-term and completely non-painful phenomena that are observed at intervals of ten to twenty minutes and in some cases are observed after the first three months of gestation. Such phenomena are also called training contractions. Not all expectant mothers have such manifestations, and there is an opinion that they are more obvious during the second and subsequent pregnancies. In a number of women, such contractions manifest themselves in the form of tension in the lower abdomen. These contractions are much weaker, shorter than labor contractions, and the intervals between them are not the same. When a woman takes horizontal position, contractions stop. In the case when, at a period not reaching thirty-seven weeks, such phenomena occur frequently, repeating them every ten minutes, this indicates the need to visit a doctor, as it may indicate premature birth.
The table discusses in detail how labor contractions differ from Braxton-Hicks contractions.

If you notice one or more of the above symptoms, you should immediately go to the doctor so that the doctor can identify the cause of their occurrence.
Determination of pregnancy should be carried out in as soon as possible– this must be done to prevent pregnancy complications.

Rapid pregnancy test results
The rapid test, which can be purchased at any pharmacy, gives objective results five or more days after the first day of expected menstruation. However, such tests often give erroneous readings ( more often erroneous negative readings). This happens due to the fact that the test reacts to the amount of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin in a woman’s urine. Levels of this hormone increase slowly in the first months as pregnancy progresses. In the case when you need to find out about the occurrence ( or not getting pregnant) before five days of delay, you can do a test in the laboratory, it has more objective results.
An increase in the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine also occurs with certain neoplasms of the uterus.

Precise pregnancy symptoms

Fetal palpation
When palpating the abdomen at a later stage, you can feel the developing baby. Doctors check in this way how the fetus is positioned before birth.

Fetal heartbeat detection
From the twentieth week of pregnancy, a special stethoscope can be used to listen to the fetal heartbeat through the anterior abdominal wall. And an electronic stethoscope makes it possible to detect heartbeats as early as the tenth week. Indicators from one hundred twenty to one hundred sixty contractions per minute are considered normal.

Diagnosis of pregnancy using ultrasound
It is advisable to carry out a similar study from the seventh to the twelfth week. But this method can show the presence of pregnancy from the second week.

Pregnancy detection using x-ray
X-rays are never used to diagnose pregnancy, since the mother and developing embryo receive a dose of harmful radiation. But sometimes an x-ray of internal organs reveals pregnancy. Then the skeleton of the fetus is visible in the picture.

Signs of early pregnancy

There are many signs that may indicate pregnancy. These first signs of pregnancy are individual for each woman and the case of pregnancy. During pregnancy, you may notice one or more of these signs. Don't worry: you're unlikely to show all the signs at the same time. In addition, you should not worry if they are absent. It is entirely possible to be pregnant and not experience any signs of pregnancy. Regardless of whether you show the first signs of pregnancy or not, the only reliable way to determine pregnancy is to take a pregnancy test.

1.
Delayed menstruation

If you usually have a regular menstrual cycle, then this is the first physical sign of pregnancy. Remember that even during pregnancy, light bleeding or discharge is possible, both during your expected period and when the fertilized egg implants in the uterus. If your cycle is irregular, you may notice other pregnancy symptoms before you notice your missed period.

Some women, after having perfectly regular periods for many years, may experience prolonged absence of periods. In this case, you should first rule out the possibility of pregnancy by performing a home pregnancy test. The medical term for absence of menstruation for more than 6 months is “amenorrhea.” There can be many reasons why your period suddenly stops, including rapid weight gain and loss, excessive exercise, and stress. If you experience hot flashes and decreased interest in sex, these may be the first signs of menopause (perimenopause). Whatever your symptoms, it is recommended to consult your doctor if your periods change or stop.

Answers from experts

Caroline Overton is a consultant in the obstetrics and gynecology department at St Michael's University Hospital, Bristol.

Is it normal to have periods during pregnancy?

Caroline Overton

No, you should not have periods during pregnancy. Bloody discharge in early pregnancy can be a normal symptom, but it can also be a sign of a threatened miscarriage. If you have any concerns, consult your doctor.

I know that if tested early (before your period is expected), the test is less accurate. I just received the result “Pregnant”, but my period is not late yet. Can I trust the result?

If you took the test before your missed period and got a Pregnant result, the test is highly accurate and you can trust it. This means that the level of the pregnancy hormone is high enough to be detected.

2.
Changes in the mammary glands

Your breasts may become enlarged and tender or very tender. The veins on the breasts may become more visible and the areolas (nipples) may darken.

My test result was "Pregnant", but I don't feel pregnant. How can I check this?

Caroline Overton

Pregnancy tests are very accurate, so you can trust their results. Not all women experience pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness. Check your breasts for tenderness (which may be intermittent) as this is the most common symptom. However, every pregnancy is different. However, every pregnancy is different, so don't worry.

Other signs

3.
Fatigue

You may feel unusually tired in the first few weeks of pregnancy. This may occur due to an increase in the level of progesterone in the body, since it maintains the mucous membrane of the uterine cavity in a state necessary for the development of pregnancy.

4.
Toxemia/morning sickness

Between the 2nd and 8th weeks of pregnancy, you may experience nausea and vomiting. As a rule, improvement occurs by the 16th week. Despite the name "morning sickness", attacks of nausea can occur at any time of the day and it is possible that you will experience it constantly.

I feel very nauseous and force myself to eat. Will this harm my baby?

Caroline Overton

No, your baby will take everything it needs from your body. If you suffer from morning sickness, drink plenty of water and try to eat small, frequent meals. Acupressure dressings may help. Vomiting and nausea occur in 8 out of 10 pregnant women. Hyperemesis gravidarum - excessive nausea and vomiting - can be potentially life-threatening. If you are concerned, contact your GP.

5.
Hyperemesis gravidarum (excessive vomiting)

1 in 100 women suffers from hyperemesis gravidarum. Typically, hyperemesis extends beyond the first trimester (12-13 weeks) and causes such frequent bouts of uncontrollable vomiting that no food or liquid is retained in the body. As a rule, it is treatable, and only in very severe cases can lead to pregnancy complications. If severe vomiting occurs, consult a doctor for advice.

Caroline Overton

Anti-nausea medications are prescribed by doctors only to women who suffer from dehydration - symptoms include increased dry mouth and concentrated urine (dark yellow).

6.
More frequent urination

Six to eight weeks after conception, you may experience a more frequent urge to urinate. This occurs because the uterus increases in size and puts pressure on the bladder. At the end of the first trimester, your uterus rises into your abdomen, which will take some of the pressure off your bladder.

7.
Mood swings

Hormonal changes can cause mood swings in early pregnancy. You may even cry for no reason at all.

8.
Changes in food preferences (“wants”) and sensitivity to smells

You may stop liking certain things, such as tea, coffee and fatty foods, and find yourself craving foods that you wouldn't normally eat. The smell of foods such as coffee, meat or alcohol can also make you feel nauseous.

9.
Spasms

During the first trimester, and sometimes later in pregnancy, you may experience leg or foot pain. This occurs because the body changes the way it absorbs calcium.

How do I know if my pregnancy is going well? My friend had an ectopic pregnancy and I'm worried it might happen to me too.

Caroline Overton

An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus. 99% of pregnancies are located in the uterus, but an ectopic pregnancy can happen to any woman. The first symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy are pain (which mild painkillers such as paracetamol will not relieve) and bleeding. If you lose an ectopic pregnancy, you may experience vague abdominal pain that often feels like reflex shoulder pain. Other symptoms also include pain when urinating or having bowel movements and walking. If you experience these symptoms, you should seek medical help immediately. If you've already had an ectopic pregnancy, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends going to an early pregnancy clinic for specialist advice and scans. All ectopic pregnancies will have a positive result. To confirm the normal location of the pregnancy, it is necessary to undergo an ultrasound scan.

The doctor said that I had a biochemical pregnancy. What does this mean? Was I really pregnant?

Caroline Overton

Yes, you were pregnant, but the period was so short that it was impossible to see ultrasound examination, and therefore such a pregnancy is called biochemical. Unfortunately, early miscarriages occur quite often: about a quarter of pregnancies end this way.