Symptoms of pregnancy: how to recognize them?

Pregnant: what are the symptoms?

A few days of late period, unusual sensations and this question that pops up in our mind as obvious: what if i was pregnant? What are the first warning signs of this event and how to recognize them? 

Late period: am I pregnant?

They were supposed to arrive on Thursday, it’s Sunday and… still nothing. If you have a regular menstrual cycle (28 to 30 days), then missing a period on the due date may be a problem. warning sign of pregnancy. We can also feel tightness in the lower abdomen, like her was going to have her period. Unfortunately, some women have very irregular cycles and cannot rely on not having a period. In this case, we do not hesitate to consult our gynecologist and we also do a pregnancy test. ” A woman who takes the pill and stops it should have a cycle that starts again. If this is not the case, it is necessary to make a pregnancy test», Specifies Dr Stéphane Boutan, obstetrician-gynecologist at the Saint-Denis Hospital Center (93). Depending on the doctor, there may be secondary amenorrhea linked to mechanical causes (blocked cervix, sides of the uterus joined together, etc.), Hormonal (pituitary or ovarian hormone deficiency) or psychological (anorexia nervosa in some cases), which does not necessarily mean pregnancy.

A medical examination (blood test, ultrasound) is necessary to detect the cause of this dysfunction. Conversely, some bleeding may appear at the start of pregnancy – usually sepia in color – with pelvic pain: ” these are perhaps the warning signs of a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy, it is necessary to consult and make a blood pregnancy test. If the hormone levels double within 48 hours and the egg cannot be seen in the uterus on ultrasound, this is a ectopic pregnancy that it is necessary to operate », Explains the doctor.

First signs of pregnancy: a tight and painful chest

breasts are sore, especially on the sides. They are also harder and bulkier: you no longer fit in your bra! This may indeed be a telltale sign of pregnancy. This symptom appears in the first few weeks, sometimes a few days after the late period.

If this is the case, immediately opt for a bra in your size that will support your breasts well. You may also notice a change in the areola of the nipples. It becomes darker with small granular swellings.

Symptoms of pregnancy: unusual fatigue

Usually, nothing can stop us. Suddenly, we turn into a real groundhog. Everything tires us out. Unrecognizable, we spend our days dozing and we only wait for one thing: the evening to be able to sleep. Normal: our body is making a baby!

« Progesterone has receptors in the brain, it acts on the entire nervous system », Explains Dr Bounan. Hence also the feeling of exhaustion, sometimes with difficulty getting up in the morning, a feeling of weariness …

Rest assured, this state of fatigue will subside during the first trimester of pregnancy. In the meantime, we rest a maximum!

Nausea in pregnant women

Another sign that does not deceive: the nausea which invites itself to us, in spite of a good general state. They usually appear between the 4th and 6th week of pregnancy in one in two women and can last until the third month. On average, one in two women would suffer from nausea. Do not worry, this inconvenience would be due to the action of progesterone on the tone of the esophageal sphincter and not to a bad gastro! Sometimes involved, a disgust for certain foods or smells. A man smoking in the street 50 meters away and we look around. A grilled chicken or even the smell of coffee in the morning and we go to breakfast. No doubt: theolfactory hypersensitivity is one of signs of pregnancy.

In the morning, when you have not yet set foot on the ground, you feel smeared. Most of the time in the morning, nausea can nevertheless appear at any time of the day. (chic, even at work!) So we always plan a little snackeven when getting out of bed. We split our meals by eating more often in smaller quantities: this is sometimes effective in alleviating these unpleasant symptoms. Other advice: we avoid too fatty foods. We test the lemon juice, the peppered broth, the fresh ginger. While some women experience only a few unpleasant nauseous sensations, others have to deal with more severe vomiting, like the very elegant Kate Middleton. It is l’hyperemesis gravidarum ” Some women can no longer eat or drink, lose weight, they are exhausted. In some cases where their life is turned upside down, it is advisable to hospitalize them to avoid dehydration, to assess the psychological context, and to exclude any other type of pathologies (appendicitis, ulcer, etc.)», Says Dr Bounan.

We think of homeopathy or acupuncture! Talk to your doctor or midwife if symptoms persist.

Signs of pregnancy: constipation, heartburn, heaviness

Another small inconvenience: it is not uncommon from the first weeks of pregnancy to feel heartburn, heaviness after meals, bloating. Constipation is also one of the usual ailments. In this case, we try to eat more fiber and drink enough water. so that this little inconvenience does not last too long.

Signs of pregnancy: an unregulated diet

Gargantua, get out of this body! Do you sometimes become the victim of uncontrollable food cravings or, on the contrary, you can’t swallow anything? We all experienced it early in pregnancy. Ah! The famous cravings of pregnant women that make you want to eat food right away! (Hmm, Russian-style pickles …) Conversely, certain foods that we have always loved usually disgust us suddenly. Nothing alarming about that …

Pregnant, we have a sensitivity to odors

Our sense of smell will also play tricks on us. When we wake up, the smell of toast or coffee suddenly disgusts us, our scent no longer pleases us, or the thought of eating a roast chicken makes us sick in advance. This hypersensitivity to odors is usually the cause of nausea (see above). Otherwise, we may discover a sudden passion for certain smells … that until then we had never noticed!

A changing mood during pregnancy

Do we burst into tears or burst out laughing for nothing? It’s normal. The mood swings are among the frequent changes in pregnant women. Why ? It is the hormonal changes that make us hypersensitive. We can pass from a euphoric state to great sadness in a few minutes. Phew, rest assured, it’s generally temporary! But sometimes, it can last a good part of the pregnancy … Your partner will then have to be understanding!

Signs of pregnancy: frequent urge to urinate

It is well known, a pregnant woman often has urgent desires. And this sometimes happens early in pregnancy! If the baby’s weight is not yet the cause of these cravings, lthe uterus (which has already grown a little) is already pressing on the bladder. We don’t hold back and get into the habit of continuing to drink water and often empty our bladder.