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Pregnancy Symptoms
Early Signs and Symptoms of Pregnancy

Following implantation of the egg, however, the body undergoes many changes, and the levels of fertility hormones like progesterone increase drastically. Pregnancy symptoms typically do not appear until 1-2 weeks after you miss your period - and fetal movement is not typically detected until 16 weeks post-conception. Earliest symptoms include:

• Implantation bleeding after ovulation.
• An elevated basal temperature following ovulation, luteal phase (and beyond...)
• A missed menstrual period is a big one!
• Even before your missed period, test for pregnancy with early-detection pregnancy tests!

The First Trimester: Week 1 - Week 12
Some common symptoms by trimester include, lower abdominal cramps, atypical food cravings, nausea or "Morning Sickness" at 3-10 weeks after conception, tender, swollen breasts at 3-4 weeks after conception (also, your nipples and the area around the nipples get larger/darker), fatigue and tiredness at 3-10 weeks after conception, and you may have heartburn and constipation - along with headaches and mood swings. Not everyone will experience these symptoms and intensity and duration will vary! Here are the top ten symptoms in detail.

1. Missed Period?
The classic early symptom of pregnancy. If you've missed your period, it's probably time to take a home pregnancy test. Home pregnancy tests work by determining the amount of hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) present in your urine. Remember - your first urine of the day tends to have the most concentrated amount of hCG. Early morning urine will give you your best chance at detecting the small concentrations of hCG that are present in the early days of pregnancy.

2. Morning Sickness
About one-half of all pregnant women experience some form of morning sickness (nausea, vomiting, etc.) in early pregnancy.

3.Sore Breasts and Changes in Areola.
Breasts may feel more sensitive. This is one more sign that you may be pregnant. Breast sensitivity is a common phenomenon in early pregnancy. Along with more sensitive breasts, you may notice a slight darkening of the areola, the concentric zone which surrounds the nipple.

4. Mucus Plug / Cervical Mucus Discharge
In early pregnancy, cervical mucous will form a mucous plug, a barrier that helps protect the baby. As a result, you may notice a bit of vaginal discharge.

5. Frequent Urination
As the baby grows larger in your uterus, you will likely feel that you need to urinate more often. Also, bloating may be experienced as well.

6. Headaches
Besides morning sickness, you may experience headaches as well, due to hormonal changes.

7. Implantation Bleeding
Around the time when implantation occurs (the moment when the embryo attaches to the lining of the uterine wall), it's not uncommon to notice a bit of spotting. You would look for this sign at around eight to ten days after you last ovulated. Spotting as a result of implantation usually looks a bit different than your regular period; it tends to be light in volume and pinkish in color, as opposed to the deep red color associated with regular menstrual bleeding.

8. Elevated Basal Temperature
An elevated basal body temperature past the time when your period is due is another possible indicator of pregnancy. Women who are fertility charting with our basal thermometer will be looking for this.

9. Constipation
Another sign of pregnancy is constipation. This is caused by certain hormones which are present in early pregnancy relaxing your intestines and slowing the digestive process.

10. From Enhanced Smell to Complexion Problems
These above pregnancy signs are ones often experienced in early pregnancy - but that's not to say there aren't others, including an enhanced sense of smell, fatigue, hunger, weepiness, heartburn, complexion problems.

The Second Trimester: Week 13 - Week 26

Here is what you can expect to experience during your second trimester.

Weight gain - and, after 16 weeks, fetal movement!
Dryness of the skin on the stomach. Feelings of tightness.
Breasts become larger.
Continued heartburn and constipation.
Edema - or the swelling of your ankles, hands, feet, and face.
A dark line may appear between your belly and pubic regions.

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