The first signs of pregnancy. How to recognize them?

The symptoms of pregnancy can be quite confusing in the first days. After fertilization, you can notice some changes to yourself quite soon. Even at a time when the pregnancy test does not reveal anything yet . They can occur even  before the expected menstruation .
Several factors are needed for the new mother's uterus to start growing. The woman must be in the period of ovulation, when the female germ cell - the egg - is released from the ovary. It must then be fertilized with a male germ cell - sperm.
You can read more about fertilization and the woman's menstrual cycle in the article: Ovulation, calculation of fertile and infertile days. How to plan a pregnancy?
The most common questions include :
When do the first symptoms of pregnancy begin ?
What are the very first symptoms?
The very first signs of pregnancy
Some women do not occur at all. Sometimes they just  don't notice  if they don't attach much importance. So let's look at the most common ones together.
Skipping menstruation
One of the very first and clear symptoms is the omission of menstruation. The absence of menstruation , however, can also be a manifestation of other changes in the body. There may be a number of other reasons why the menstrual cycle did not occur or it is delayed.
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Possible causes of cycle failure or absence of menstruation:
pregnancy
stress
fluctuations in hormone levels
physical exercise
menopause
cysts on the ovaries
anorexia
inflammation
zrasty
endometriosis
cancer
Excessive and sudden exercise, or a decrease in subcutaneous fat, lowers estrogen levels. This can cause menstrual disorders. Many professional sportswomen miss menstruation altogether.
Read more about the menstrual cycle in the articles:
How does the menstrual calendar work?
Why is my period delayed?
Tense and sensitive breasts
Sensitivity and  breast pain  may also indicate a  possible pregnancy.  However, both abdominal pain and tight and painful breasts often occur  before the onset of menstruation .
In many cases, it is easy to confuse the first symptoms of pregnancy with the so-called premenstrual syndrome. Pressure in the lower abdomen, tight breasts, irritability, fatigue, or increased appetite commonly occur even before the onset of the menstrual cycle. It's all the action of hormones.
Also read about  premenstrual syndrome .
Abdominal pain and cramps
Uncomfortable pain or cramps is largely attributable to  the growing uterus and other physiologic changes ,  which occur in the female body. However, they also occur in the  first days after fertilization. Then hormones and digestive problems are mainly to  blame .
The pain is similar to that seen during menstruation.  In this case, however, menstruation itself is missing.

You can read more about cramps and abdominal pain at any stage of pregnancy in the article: Are you pregnant and do you suffer from abdominal pain? Watch out for this
Inflated abdomen, constipation
Not only pain in the lower abdomen, but also around the abdomen may be caused and incurred digestive difficulties .
Flatulence , constipation  and other digestive problems make the pregnancy uncomfortable for many future mothers. This is mainly due to hormones that weaken the tone, ie tension of the internal muscles of the intestines . As a result, the  intestinal contents slow down .
With long-term problems, hemorrhoids can develop . The treatment consists mainly in  adjusting eating habits .
Prevention and treatment of constipation in pregnancy:
plenty of fluids
enough exercise
a diet rich in fiber
plenty of sour milk products in the diet
In case of persistent severe constipation, drugs such as suppositories or probiotics may be used  . However, always consult your doctor about dealing with constipation with medication.
You can read more in the article: Dangerous constipation in pregnancy? What a constipation and how to empty without difficulty
Nausea, vomiting, but also a change in taste

The term morning sickness is well known in connection with pregnancy. It is really a common symptom of pregnancy, although not every woman has to feel it.
Approximately 60 to 80% of women suffer from general physical weakness , nausea and  vomiting . A relatively normal phenomenon is when a woman vomits 1-2 times a day. And it doesn't have to be the morning hours at all.
The cause of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy is still not entirely clear. It is probably related to changes in hormone levels in a woman's body.
Nausea, feeling sick or vomiting is also related to changes in the digestive system . Digestion slows during pregnancy , the stomach becomes more difficult to empty . All this adds to the feeling of fullness, harvesting and  nausea.
Many women feel sick on an empty stomach. Therefore, it is recommended that a pregnant woman always have something small to eat. These difficulties usually last until the third to fourth month.
Treatment for pregnant women is usually not necessary. In fact, it is not a pathological, ie disease state and does not seriously endanger the mother or fetus.
However, if persistent vomiting persists in the expectant mother for a long time , the health of the mother and fetus may be endangered. This condition belongs to the hands of an expert. Therefore, if in doubt, do not hesitate to contact your doctor .

How to avoid, minimize pregnancy nausea and vomiting:
Avoid unpleasant odors and unventilated rooms
give yourself enough rest
try to keep something small in your stomach
eat more often in small amounts
Nausea in pregnancy is often associated with low blood sugar. Therefore, do not be fasting. Although you may lose your appetite and want to eat anything, a small portion of the right food will help lift your blood sugar and make you feel a little relieved. This is because nausea and vomiting often appear before the feeling of hunger.
Sensitivity to various odors and odors
In addition to nausea, many women develop  increased sensitivity to various odors and odors. Common situations include when pregnant women start to smell unpleasantly with coffee, cigarettes, alcohol , but also, for example, shower shampoo or some foods.
Again, hormones are to blame . It is likely that they are trying to protect the body from potentially harmful substances.
Frequent urination
The fetus is still too small to push on the bladder. However, frequent urination is still heard . The reason is an increase in the level of fluids in a woman's body.
The kidneys work faster, thus getting rid of more waste products . In connection with this, the formation of urine in the kidneys and thus also the excretion of fluids in the urine increases.
However, if you feel pain when urinating, have a fever, or blood has appeared in your urine, feel free to contact your doctor.
Moodiness, depression
Pregnancy represents a huge change for a woman's body from the very first days . Not only the future mother's body has to cope with this. Of course, hormonal changes are also reflected in the psyche.
It is quite common for a woman to feel depressed, to have frequent mood swings , or to cry for no reason.
Read more in the article: Depression in Pregnancy. What causes it in future mothers?

When to do a pregnancy test?
The pregnancy test works based on the presence of the hormone hCG. It is excreted by the placenta when the egg is nested in the uterus . This hormone is first present in the  blood,  and in a few days in the  urine of a pregnant woman.
More sensitive tests can detect the presence of the hCG hormone as early as one week after its nesting . However, it is more reliable to perform the test at the earliest on the  day of the expected menstruation , or a few days after skipping it.
It is best to use the first morning urine for testing. Don't rush too hard to test. You will not achieve the most reliable result until a few days after missing your period.
You have tested negative, but still feel that changes are taking place in your body ?  Repeat the test a few days later. The already weak line on the test shows the presence of a small amount of the hormone hCG, ie pregnancy.
False positive or false negative test?
If the test is performed correctly and the woman's urine already contains the hormone hCG , the result is relatively reliable.  However, there are certain factors that can change the result.
The table lists possible causes of a false pregnancy test
False positive pregnancy testFalse negative testsome cancerstoo thin urinecysts on the ovariestaking diuretics - medicines to promote urinary excretionsome hormonal drugsuse of antihistamines - drugs blocking the effect of histamine (in allergies)condition after childbirth, abortion, curettage

With pregnancy, a huge number of changes occur in a woman's body. Coping with them can often be challenging. You may also be interested in our other articles on pregnancy:
Beware of anemia during pregnancy. What are its causes and symptoms?
Itchy skin in pregnancy? What causes skin burning and what helps?
How to recognize preeclampsia and its symptoms in pregnancy? Know the risks

Menstruation or bleeding after fertilizing an egg?
Mild vaginal bleeding may occur in some women , approximately 11 to 12 days after fertilization.
However, this is not menstrual bleeding!
This bleeding causes the fertilized egg to nest in the lining of the uterine wall. It's more of a bloody discharge or spotting.
If the bleeding is heavy or accompanied by pain, contact your doctor. It may be an  ectopic pregnancy .

In an ectopic pregnancy, the egg is nested elsewhere than the uterus. It is most often a nest in the fallopian tube. This condition is serious and carries a relatively high risk for the mother.
Therefore, if you have a positive pregnancy test and you feel  pain, heavy bleeding, or if you have any doubts, seek medical attention.
Unfortunately, in in vitro fertilization, most such pregnancies end in fetal death. The ideal conditions for its delivery are the environment in the womb, not outside it.

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