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What common pregnancy symptoms do women experience?
In this article, we will describe what common pregnancy symptoms women experience.
First of all .. pregnancy is a normal. It is not a disease. But there are ‘symptoms’ (i.e. physical changes to your body) that are features of normal pregnancy.
Common early pregnancy symptoms include a missed period, tender breasts, nausea (often called “morning sickness”), fatigue, and increased urination.
Here’s a more detailed look at common pregnancy symptoms:
Early symptoms (first trimester)
- Missed period: This is often the first sign of pregnancy.
- Tender, swollen breasts: Hormonal changes can cause breast tenderness, swelling, and tingling.
- Nausea and vomiting (“Morning Sickness”): Nausea, and sometimes vomiting, can occur at any time of the day, not just in the morning.
- Fatigue: Many women experience extreme tiredness, especially in the first trimester.
- Frequent urination: Increased blood volume makes extra work for the kidneys, leading to more frequent trips to the bathroom.
- Food cravings and aversions: You might start craving certain foods or develop aversions to foods you previously enjoyed.
- Changes in taste and smell: Some women experience a heightened sense of smell or a metallic taste in their mouth.
- Spotting: Some women experience light bleeding or spotting around the time of their expected period.
- Mood Swings: Hormonal changes can lead to emotional fluctuations.
- Constipation, bloating, and abdominal cramps.
- Increased vaginal discharge
- Headaches and dizziness.
Note. Dizziness can be due to low blood pressure; as BP goes down in pregnancy, starting in the first trimester. A BP of under 120/70 is quite normal. A BP of 140/90 can be a disease, and a sign of pre-eclampsia – and needs urgent attention.
Later symptoms (second and third trimesters)
- Back pain: As the baby grows, back pain can become more common.
- Swollen ankles and feet: Fluid retention can cause swelling in the ankles and feet.
Note. Significant ankle swelling can also be a sign of pre-eclampsia. So always report ankle swelling to your midwife or doctor.
- Heartburn and indigestion: Hormonal changes can relax the muscles in the digestive tract, leading to heartburn and indigestion.
- Round ligament pain: As the uterus expands, you might experience pain on the sides of your belly, known as round ligament pain.
- Foetal movement: As the baby grows, you’ll start to feel its movements, which can feel like fluttering or kicks.
- Darkening of the areolas
- Nosebleeds, swollen and bleeding gums
Note. Again, these symptoms can be a sign of more serious diseases. Report them to your midwife or doctor.
- Thicker and shinier hair
- Increased vaginal discharge
- Gaining healthy weight.
Summary
We have described what common pregnancy symptoms women experience. We hope it has been helpful.
Other resource
Renal physiology of pregnancy
