Pregnancy symptoms

Week 5 is when the usual and more obvious signs of pregnancy start to appear. This is when you notice the missed period and morning sickness starts to show up. Even though it is called morning sickness, it might happen at any time of the day. Morning sickness usually lasts up to the week 16-20. However, if it is severe, it is best to consult a doctor.

Some other symptoms that you might notice during the first six weeks of your pregnancy include:

• Motion sickness
• Bloating and stomach gas
• Tenderness in the breasts

The last normal period is generally marked as the first week of pregnancy. The foetus isn’t conceived until ovulation, which is actually counted as the second week of pregnancy. So, technically, the symptoms can’t really appear in the first week because you aren’t pregnant yet.

In case of fertilization, implantation occurs during this week, which is the attachment of the fertilised egg to the uterus wall.

(Read more: Pregnancy week by week)

Implantation may be accompanied by slight bleeding or spotting which can be mistaken for an early period. It usually happens in the second week of pregnancy and is considered one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. Implantation bleeding is associated with a light menstrual flow which could be pink or a rusty brown instead of the usual reddish colour. Bleeding might happen up to 3 days but it may also last for a few hours. The symptoms may vary in every woman.

By the 4th week of pregnancy, symptoms like fatigue, mood swings, nausea, and backaches are also experienced by some women.

Pregnant women usually experience a rise in blood pressure which could range from 140-150/90-100 mm of Hg. While in severe acute hypertension (sudden and extreme), the blood pressure may be higher than 160/100 mm of Hg. High blood pressure usually develops after the first 20 weeks of pregnancy but chronic hypertension has been noted before 20 weeks in some women. may range from 140-160 mm of Hg systolic and 90-150 mm of Hg diastolic

Depending on the time of appearance and some associated factors, hypertension could be of the following types:

• Chronic hypertension: Blood pressure is usually higher than 140/90 mm of Hg. It is generally experienced by women who have a history of hypertension. Older and obese women may also experience this type of hypertension before 20 weeks of pregnancy. In extreme cases, chronic hypertension may have severe effects on the kidney, heart, and brain. So, women who suffer from hypertension should be extra cautious during pregnancy.
• Gestational hypertension: This type of hypertension is also associated with a blood pressure higher than 140/90 mm of Hg. However, it appears after the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Also, it can occur in women with no previous history of high blood pressure.
• Preeclampsia: Preeclampsia is high blood pressure (more than 140/90 mm of Hg), which is usually associated with some other complications like swelling in the limbs and protein in the urine. Although preeclampsia may occur after the delivery, it may appear within the first 34 weeks of pregnancy.
  It is one of the primary causes of death in pregnant women. Premature delivery is the only resolution to this condition. Women who are obese, carrying more than one foetus or who are pregnant for the first time are at a higher risk of developing this problem. Preeclampsia may also be triggered by severe cases of chronic hypertension.

Numerous skin changes have been associated with the change in hormones, physiological factors, and immune function in pregnancy. While dermatosis may or may not be associated with pregnancy changes, an increase in the secretion of sebaceous glands has been found to be linked with acne in the third trimester. Also, some women may experience fungal infections and brittleness in nails. However, studies suggest that conditions like psoriasis and allergic dermatitis may actually be improved by pregnancy. It is best to talk to a gynaecologist to know what is normal and when to worry.

There are a lot of contradictory beliefs when it comes to a proper diet and ideal weight in pregnant women. However, following a healthy diet pattern can be enough to avoid excess weight gain in pregnancy. Generally, a woman gains more weight in the last few months of pregnancy as compared to the first trimester. A big part of this weight is amniotic fluid and the baby but weight gain depends on the normal BMI of the woman that is before she was pregnant. The Institute of Medicine and National Research Council has launched a recommendation table for weight management during pregnancy.

A lot of women report a heightened olfactory response during pregnancy. The embryo protection hypothesis that has been linked to specific food choices during pregnancy, also holds true for the olfactory hypersensitivity. However, no confirmatory evidence has been found for this hypothesis so far.

However, hormonal changes, hyper-awareness, and increase in cognition have been proposed as possible mechanisms for changes in odour perception.

Most women observe an aversion or craving for certain foods during pregnancy. While this might vary in every women, the exact cause of such changes haven’t been found yet. According to a hypothesis, a mother expels or dislikes all those foods that can be potentially threatening to the foetus. Studies suggest an increased uptake of foods like fruits, milk, and sweets while an aversion to meat, egg, caffeine and pungent flavours has been noted. Another study noted a higher craving for sweet foods in the second trimester.

However, according to a study published in the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the taste receptors become less active in pregnant women.

Arrhythmia is a condition marked by irregularities in heartbeats (too fast or too slow). While this could be a result of a previous history of heart problems, it could also develop in otherwise healthy women. Factors, like thyroid abnormalities, infection and inflammation may also increase the risk of arrhythmia. However, these can be easily distinguished by a medical diagnosis. So, it is best to seek a doctor’s advice on the normal ranges of arrhythmia.

A lot of pregnant women experience dizziness or fainting spells during pregnancy. According to the American Pregnancy Association, it is caused by a change in hormone levels and dilation of the blood vessels. Also, factors like low blood sugar levels and anaemia may also be associated with dizziness. To avoid this problem, it is best to follow a healthier diet and keep away from strenuous work.

Hyperpigmentation or darkening of certain areas in the body is experienced by most pregnant women. It usually effects areola (the pigmented area around the nipple), genitalia, inner thighs, and skin folds. Linea nigra is a darkened line that runs over the lower abdomen in pregnant women.

Although hormonal changes have been linked to this condition, the exact cause of this change is unknown.

Moods swings are probably the most well-known symptom of pregnancy. A woman goes through a lot of changes during the gestation period, it is only obvious to be worried or anxious about one thing and have a feeling and contentment and joy about other. Hormonal changes, and environment, are some of the factors that effect the emotional stability in pregnant women. Clinical studies suggest that changes in progesterone and estradiol levels may be associated with depression in the first trimester while the cortisol levels have been linked to heightened anxiety during pregnancy.

Studies suggest that women are at a high risk of psychological problems right before pregnancy or right after giving birth. It was further added that about 7% women have reported depression in their first trimester which went up to to 13% in women who were in their third trimester. Additionally, body image can also be a reason for low self-esteem, stress, and sadness. Studies suggest that women who have positive body image have a higher tendency towards breastfeeding. Though, this is a personal issue and is not linked specifically to pregnancy.

Positive reinforcement and emotional support is the best way to deal with mood swings.

(Read more: Postpartum depression symptoms)

Most pregnant women experience tension-headaches and migraines but headaches during pregnancy can sometimes be indicative of serious pathological problems like stroke, eclampsia (convulsions caused due to high blood pressure), thrombosis (clot formation in blood vessels) and subarachnoid haemorrhage. While there isn’t much evidence on the relation between tension headaches and pregnancy, several studies suggest a link between migraines and pregnancy.

A migraine is usually associated with intense, throbbing pain in the head along with a feeling of nausea and high sensitivity to sensory perceptions. Studies suggest that an increase in oestrogen levels during pregnancy usually improves migraine symptoms.

Around 87% of pregnant women have reported a significant reduction in migraine headaches by the third trimester. Additionally, an increase in the levels of beta-endorphins has also been linked to a lesser frequency of migraines in pregnant women.

However, women who have a history of a migraine are at a higher risk of preeclampsia which is a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure, swelling in hands and legs, and protein in the urine. While this problem is easily ignored, it can lead to various complications for the mother and the baby.

Back pain may begin from the early weeks of pregnancy and it can last after the delivery (postpartum period). It could either be in the lower regions of the spine (lumbar pain) or in the pelvic area. However, there are few differences between both these types of pain:

• Pelvic pain has been found to be more prevalent than lumbar pain.
• Lumbar pain isn’t as sharp or intense as pelvic pain.
• While pelvic pain is more prominent during pregnancy, lumbar pain increases in the postpartum period. (Read more: After delivery care for mother)

Factors like hormonal changes and softening of body tissues have generally been associated with this condition.

Constipation is one of the most common symptoms experienced by pregnant women. According to the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, around 10-40% of women experience this symptom throughout their pregnancy.

A number of factors have been proposed to be responsible for this:

• Increase in the levels of progesterone (female hormone) may reduce bowel movements.
• Progesterone also leads to a reduction in motilin, which is the hormone responsible for mediating a regular bowel movement. This increases the transit time of the food, which means that the food stays in the intestines for much longer than usual.
• Intake of vitamin supplements has also been reported to cause constipation in pregnant women. (Read more: Vitamins and minerals you need during pregnancy)
• The pregnancy hormones increase the absorption of water from the intestines and less water may harden the stools further.

In some cases, constipation may lead to other problems like irritable bowel syndrome and haemorrhoids. In such cases, it is best to refer to your doctor.

(Read more: Constipation during pregnancy)

Frequent urination is one of the most common symptoms experienced by women throughout pregnancy. It is caused by the release of a hormone known as human chorionic gonadotropin. This hormone is believed to direct the blood flow towards the pelvis. A lot of blood passes through the kidneys too leading to more urine production. Additionally, the uterus lies just above the bladder so the weight of the baby might also put more pressure on the bladder thus increasing the urge to urinate.

(Read more: Beta HCG test)