What are the early signs of pregnancy

The arrival of pregnancy is one of the most memorable moments in a woman’s life. Your heart is sure to miss a beat when you know that you are pregnant! The Joy of happiness knows no bounds. At the same time, hundreds of questions start going through the mind. Is everything OK? How the pregnancy proceeds further? Is the baby alright? Is it a boy or girl?

The earliest sign of pregnancy is a missed period. They may include:

• Tender and swollen breast.
• Fatigue and weakness
• Slight bleeding or cramping
• Palpitations and Heartburn
• Nausea with or without vomiting
• Food aversions or cravings
• Headaches
• Constipation
• Mood swings

These symptoms may not necessarily appear in all women. They differ from women to women. In the first pregnancy, these symptoms are highly prominent as compared to the following pregnancies. Each pregnancy is unique. Even consecutive pregnancies may give rise to different symptoms in the same woman.

Some women have early signs of pregnancy by the time they are 6 weeks along, and some have them by the time they are 8 weeks.

If your menstrual cycle varies from one month to the next, you may not be sure when to expect your period. But if you start to feel some of the symptoms, you may very well be pregnant.

The next step is to take a home pregnancy test! If it’s positive, visit your doctor.

Do’s and Don’ts during pregnancy

Do’s

• Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, drugs, which are linked with heavy bleeding.
• Relieve breast tenderness by purchasing a comfortable maternity bra. Cotton, underwire-free bra is often the most relaxed.
• Keep some salty snacks by your bed and eating a few before you get up in the morning can help settle morning sickness.
• Raised body temperature may also be a sign of early pregnancy. Make sure to drink enough water during this time.
• Start some pregnancy-friendly exercises and yoga.
•  Keep a track on your blood pressure regularly.
•  Ask your doctor and follow certain personal dietary guidelines to help reduce  blood pressure.
• Drinking plenty of water and snacking regularly may help to prevent dizziness. Standing up slowly when getting up from a chair may also help.
• Eating several small meals a day instead of larger ones helps prevent heartburn.
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
• The early weeks of pregnancy can make you feel tired. Your progesterone levels will rise, which can make you feel sleepy. Try to get proper sleep.

Don’ts

• The mother-to-be should not sit on surfaces that are too hard, uneven or rough. She should develop the habit to sit with her spine straight at all the times. This will help the foetus take a suitable position in the womb.
• It is advisable not to sleep on your back, as there are chances that the umbilical cord could twist itself around the neck of the foetus. Try to sleep on the left side as far as possible.
• Bright red clothes may attract negative energies, so are best avoided. And it is generally advisable to avoid wearing bright colours during pregnancy.
• Not to look into the bottom of a well, or down from the top of a vertical cliff, or into a valley. These could cause fear or a physical jerk which could harm the baby.
• Avoid music at high volumes, harsh sounds, noise made by fireworks or any sounds that can disturb you.
• Unnecessary physical work or improper exercise that involves too much twisting and turning will hamper the growth of the foetus. Gym exercises, forceful aerobics, swimming or lifting heavy weights can harm the foetus.
• Food in general should not be too spicy and hot.
• Travelling on uneven roads or vehicles that vibrate a lot should be avoided. Jerks and bumps of all kind should be avoided.
• Women should not travel long distances during early days of pregnancy. Travel only when it is necessary and in conditions that will be very comfortable.
• Wear loose and comfortable garments, not tight fitting clothes that will hinder circulation.
• Do not read books that are meant to excite or watch horror films which could cause fear. The unborn child is very sensitive and could easily be affected by these.
• Avoid sexual intercourse throughout pregnancy. This could bring miscarriage quite easily.
• Sleeping too much (more that 8 to 9 hours) causes laziness, listlessness and even mental retardation in the child. It also slows the child’s metabolism.
• In Indian culture, it is said that a pregnant woman should not look at snakes. It causes fear and makes one temporarily mentally weak. This is definitely harmful to the foetus growing inside.

The pregnant women always need to act carefully during early days of pregnancy.

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