Pregnancy Symptoms (cont.)
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
In this Article
- Am I pregnant?
- Pregnancy facts
- What are the most common pregnancy symptoms?
- Missed period
- Breast swelling, tenderness, and pain
- Abdominal cramps and bloating
- Food cravings
- Fatigue and tiredness
- Elevated basal body temperature
- Nausea and vomiting
- Frequent urination
- Changes in nipple color
- Melasma (darkening of the skin)
- Mood swings and stress
- Headaches
- Pictures of Early Pregnancy Symptoms - Slideshow
- Pictures of Fetal Development - Slideshow
- Take the Early Pregnancy Symptoms Quiz
- Early Pregnancy Symptoms FAQs
- Find a local Obstetrician-Gynecologist in your town
Nausea and vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are also common in early pregnancy. Traditionally referred to as "morning sickness," the nausea and vomiting associated with early pregnancy can occur at any time of the day or night. It's typical onset is anywhere between the 2nd and 8th weeks of pregnancy. Most women who have morning sickness develop nausea and vomiting about one month after conception, but it may develop sooner in some women. Sometimes women report an increased in sensitivity to certain odors or smells that can sometimes cause nausea and/or vomiting.
Elevations in estrogen that occur early in pregnancy are thought to slow the emptying of the stomach and may be related to the development of nausea. Accompanying the characteristic "morning sickness" may be cravings for, or aversions to, specific foods or even smells. It is not unusual for a pregnant woman to change her dietary preferences, often having no desire to eat previous "favorite" foods, and desiring to eat foods that were previously not preferred. In most women, nausea and vomiting begin to subside by the second trimester of pregnancy.
Frequent urination
A woman in the early stages of pregnancy may feel she has to urinate frequently, especially at nighttime, and she may leak urine with a cough, sneeze, or laugh. The increased desire to urinate may have both physical and hormonal causes. Once the embryo has implanted in the uterus, it begins to produce the hormone known as human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), which is believed to stimulate frequent urination. Another cause of frequent urination that develops later is the pressure exerted by the growing uterus on the bladder, but this does not cause frequent urination until the second and third trimesters when the fetus is substantially larger.
Next: Changes in nipple color
Patient Comments
Viewers share their comments
- •
- Submit »
- •
- Submit »
- •
- Submit »
- •
- Submit »
http://www.medicinenet.com/pregnancy_symptoms/article.htm
Parenting and Pregnancy
Get tips for baby and you.
Updated & New
