When you begin planning for a family, it’s important to understand how early pregnancy symptoms may appear and how to respond to them, especially when certain signs could indicate an underlying concern for you or your baby.
Once you’ve confirmed the pregnancy, it’s time to schedule your prenatal appointments with a provider and begin a safe and healthy start for this new journey.
Pregnancy Symptoms: The Early Signs
For most women, pregnancy symptoms start one or two weeks after they miss their period, although there are cases of patients who have experienced them as early as one week after conception. Some of the following symptoms are not unique to pregnancy, as they may also signal that your period is coming or another health condition.
- Missed period: Missing your period is the most common first symptom of pregnancy, but it can be misleading if you have an irregular cycle.
- Tender, swollen breasts: The hormonal changes that come with pregnancy might turn your breasts sensitive and sore, but this sensation may decrease as your body adjusts to these changes.
- Nausea with or without vomiting: Commonly known as “morning sickness”, nausea with or without vomiting is a symptom that appears after one or two months of pregnancy, often caused by hormonal changes.
- Increased urination: As the amount of blood in your body increases during your pregnancy, your kidneys process extra fluid that ends up going through your bladder.
- Fatigue: Constant tiredness and sleepiness is associated with the first trimester of pregnancy, likely resulting from high levels of progesterone during this stage.
- Cramping: Uterine cramping is very common during early pregnancy, and might get mistaken for period cramps.
- Food aversions: A very specific sign of pregnancy is sensitivity to certain odors and a change in your taste buds.
🤱 Read more about it: Common Concerns During Pregnancy
3 Tips to Manage Your Pregnancy Symptoms
Nurturing and taking care of yourself and your future baby during the first trimester is necessary, and turns it into an exciting stage of life. With the guidance of a provider, managing your pregnancy symptoms becomes easier. Below are some lifestyle tips that Lone Tree OB/GYN & Midwives provide for their patients:
1. Prenatal Services
Once you confirm your pregnancy, it’s ideal to schedule your first prenatal appointment with an OB/GYN. For most patients, it’s recommended to start at week 6 to 8. Your provider may conduct an exam, discuss your previous medical history, order labs and answer your concerns and questions.
2. Vitamins & Nutrition
Vitamins full of nutrients like folic acid, calcium, iron, and magnesium are specially formulated to support fetal growth, the development of the neurological system, and bones and teeth. Your provider might suggest you take higher doses of certain nutrients depending on your medical history.
3. Morning Sickness Management
Constant nausea is a challenging symptom to manage, but you can get through it by adapting your daily routine and diet to the changes of your body. Consider the following tips:
- Eat smaller portions.
- Avoid spicy and fatty foods. Bland foods, such as bananas, rice, and dry toast are recommended.
- Drink more water throughout the day.
- Try meals and drinks with ginger, like teas and candies.
When Do Pregnancy Symptoms Become Dangerous?
While the previously mentioned pregnancy symptoms are normal, especially during the first trimester, it’s necessary to not mistake them with complications that may put you and your baby’s health at risk. If you’re noticing any of the following dangerous signs during your pregnancy, call your OB/GYN immediately.
- Heavy vaginal bleeding: Bleeding could be caused by a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or placental abruption. Doctors consider it a sign that needs an urgent check-up.
- Severe abdominal pain: Depending on the pain’s intensity and type, any severe abdominal pain during pregnancy could be caused either by preterm labor or a placental abruption.
- DIzziness/Blurred vision: Often paired with intense headaches, having blurry vision or dizziness during pregnancy could indicate high blood pressure or preeclampsia, which, if left untreated, can lead to seizures.
- Decreased Fetal Movement: You may feel that your baby has stopped moving or slowed down. This is a change in the baby’s movement that needs attention.
- Extreme Swelling of Hands/Face: This is not the normal swelling/bloating that a pregnant patient has, but an indication of possible preeclampsia, or a blood clot. These symptoms can manifest suddenly.
Prenatal Care in Lone Tree & Castle Rock, CO
After your pregnancy test comes back positive, the best next step is to start your prenatal visits. Give our LoneTree OB/GYN & Midwives a call to schedule an appointment or if you’re thinking about transferring to our practice. We have offices in LoneTree and Castle Rock.
About Lone Tree’s Mission
Lone Tree OB/GYN & Midwives is a full-service obstetrics and gynecology office with a team of highly regarded providers recognized throughout the Castle Rock, Colorado, community for their exceptional care.