Symptoms of
Pregnancy
What You May be Feeling
The First Month
You may experience all of these symptoms at one time or another, or only
one or two.
Physically:
- Absence of menstruation (though you may stain slightly when your period
would have been expected or when the fertilized egg implants in the uterus)
- Frequent urination
- Nausea, with or without vomiting, and/or excessive salivation (ptyalism)
- Heartburn, indigestion, flatulence, bloating
-
Food aversions and cravings
- Breast changes (most pronounced in women who have breast changes prior
to menstruation): fullness, heaviness, tenderness, tingling; darkening of
the areola (the pigmented area surrounding the nipple). Sweat glands in the
areola become prominent (Montgomery's tu- bercles), looking like large goose
bumps; a network of bluish lines appear under the skin as blood supply to
the breast
Emotionally:
- Instability comparable to premenstrual
syndrome, which may include irritability, mood swings, irrationality, weepiness
- Misgivings, fear, joy, elation - any or all of
these
The Second Month
You may experience all of these symptoms at one time or another, or only
one or two. Some may have continued from last month, others may be new. Don't
be surprised, no matter what Your symptoms, if you don't feel pregnant yet.
Physically:
- Fatigue
and sleepiness
- A need to urinate frequently
- Nausea, with or without vomiting, and/or
excessive salivation (ptyalism)
- Constipation
- Heartburn, indigestion, flatulence,
bloating
- Food aversions and cravings
- Breast changes: fullness, heaviness, ten
derness, tingling; darkening of areola
(the pigmented area around the nip. Plc); swear glands in the areola become
Prominent (Montgomery's tubercles), like large goose bumps; a network of bluish
lines appear under the skin as blood supply to the breasts increases
-
Occasional headaches similar to head. ache, in women taking birth control
pills)
- Occasional faintness or dizziness
- Tightness of clothing around waist and
bust; abdomen may appear enlarged, probably due to bowel distention rather
than uterine growth
Emotionally:
- Instability comparable to premenstrual
syndrome, which may include irritability, mood swings, irrationality, weepiness
- Misgivings, fear, joy, elation - any or all of these.
The Third Month
You may experience all of these symptoms at one time or another, or only
a few of them. Some may have continued from last month, others may be new.
You may also have additional, less common, symptoms.
Physically:
- Fatigue and sleepiness
- A need to urinate frequently
- Nausea, with or without vomiting, and/or
excessive salivation
-
Constipation
-
Heartburn,
indigestion, flatulence,
bloating
- Food aversions and cravings
- Breast changes: fullness, heaviness, ten- - darkening of the areola (the
pigmented area surrounding the
nipple); sweat glands in the areola become prominent (Montgomery's tubercles),
like large goose bumps; network of bluish lines under the skin expands
-
Additional veins visible elsewhere, as blood supply to abdomen and legs
also increases
- occasional
headaches
- occasional faintness or dizziness
- Tightness of clothing around waist and bust, if it wasn't tight already;
abdomen may appear enlarged by end of month
-
increasing appetite
Emotionally:
- Instability comparable to premenstrual syndrome, which may include irritability,
mood swings, irrationality, weepiness
- Misgivings, fear, joy, elation - any or all
- A new sense of calmness
The Fourth Month
You may experience all of these symptoms at one time or another, or only
a few of them. Some may have continued from last month, others may be new.
You may also have other, less common, symptoms.
Physically:
- Fatigue
- Decreased urinary frequency
- An end to, or a decrease in, nausea and vomiting (in a few women, 'morning
sickness' - continue, in a very few it is just beginning)
- Constipation
- Heartburn, indigestion, flatulence,
bloating
- Continued breast enlargement, but usual
ly decreased tenderness and swelling
- occasional headaches
- Occasional faintness or dizziness, parti
cularly with sudden change of position
- Nasal congestion and occasional nose
bleeds; ear sniffiness
- 'Pink toothbrush' from bleeding gums
- Increase in appetite
- Mild swelling of ankles and feet, and
occasionally of hands and face
- Varicose veins of legs and/or
- Slight
whitish vaginal discharge
(leukorrhoea)
- Foetal movement
near the end of the month (but usually this early only if you are very slender
or if this is not your first pregnancy)
Emotionally:
-
Instability comparable to premenstrual syndrome, which may include irritability
mood swings, irrationality, weepiness
-
Joy and/or apprehension - if you have
started to feel pregnant at last
-
Frustration - if you don't really feel
pregnant yet but are too big for your regular wardrobe and too small for
maternity clothes
- A feeling you're not quite together. You're a scatterbrain, you forget
things, drop things, have trouble concentrating
The Fifth Month
You may experience all of these symptoms at one time or another, or only
a few of them. Some may have continued from last month, others may be new.
Still others may hardly be noticed because you've become so used to them.
You may also have other, less common, symptoms.
Physically:
- Foetal movement
- increasing whitish vaginal discharge (leukorrhoea)
- Lower abdominal achiness (from stretchsupporting the uterus)
- Constipation
- Heartburn, indigestion, flatulence, bloating
- Occasional headaches, faintness or dizziness
- Nasal congestion and occasional nose
bleeds; car sniffiness
- 'Pink toothbrush' from bleeding gums
- Hearty appetite
- Leg cramps
- mild swelling of ankles and feet, and
occasionally of hands and face
-
Varicose veins of legs and/or haemorrhoids
- Increased pulse (heart rate)
- Easier - or more difficult - orgasm
- Backache
- Skin pigmentation changes on abdomen
and/or face
Emotionally:
- An acceptance of the reality of pregnancy
- Fewer
mood swings, but irritability still occasionally occurs; continued absent
mindedness
The Sixth Month
You may experience all of these symptoms at one time or another, or only a
few of them, Some may have continued from last month, others may be new. Still
others may hardly be noticed because you've become so used to them. You may
also have other, less common, symptoms.
Physically:
- more definite foetal activity
- Whitish vaginal discharge (leukorrhoea)
- Lower abdominal achiness (from stretch
ing of ligaments supporting the uterus)
- Constipation
- Heartburn, indigestion, flatulence, bloating
-
occasional headaches, faintness or dizzi
ness
- Nasal congestion and occasional nose
bleeds; ear stuffiness
- 'Pink toothbrush' from bleeding gums
- Hearty appetite
- Leg cramps
- Mild swelling of ankles and feet, and
occasionally of hands and face
- Varicose veins of legs and/or haemor
rhoids
- itchy abdomen
- Backache
- Skin pigmentation changes on abdomen
and/or face
- Enlarged breasts
Emotionally:
- Fewer mood swings; continued absent
mindedness
- A beginning of boredom with the pregnancy ('Can't anyone think about anything
else?')
- Some anxiety about the future
The Seventh Month
You may experience all of these symptoms at one time or another, or only
a few of them. Some may have continued from last month, others may be new.
Still others may hardly be noticed because you've become so used to them.
You may also have other, less common, symptoms.
Physically:
-
Stronger and more frequent foetal
activity
- Increasingly heavy whitish vaginal dis
charge (leukorrhoea)
- Lower abdominal achiness
- Constipation
- Heartburn, indigestion, flatulence,
bloating
- Occasional headaches, faintness, or diz
ziness
- Nasal congestion and occasional nose
bleeds; ear stuffiness
- 'Pink toothbrush' from bleeding gums
- Leg cramps
- Backache
- Mild swelling of ankles and feet, and
occasionally of hands and face
- Varicose veins of the legs
- Haemorrhoids
- Itchy abdomen
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty sleeping
- Scattered Braxton Hicks contraction usually painless (the uterus hardens
for a minute, then returns to normal)
- Clumsiness (which increases the risk of
falling)
- Colostrum, either leaking or expressed,
from enlarged breasts
Emotionally:
- Increasing apprehension about motherhood, baby's health, and about labour
and delivery
-
Continued absentmindedness
-
Increased dreaming and fantasizing
about the baby
- Increased boredom and weariness with
the pregnancy, the beginning of anxious
ness for it to be over
The Eighth Month
You may experience all of these symptoms
at one time or another, or only a few of
them. Some may have continued from last
month, others may be new or hardly notice
able. You may also have other, less common,
symptoms.
Physically:
- Strong, regular foetal activity
- Increasingly heavy whitish vaginal dis
charge (leukorrhoea)
- Increased constipation
- Heartburn, indigestion, flatulence,
bloating
- Occasional headaches, faintness or
dizziness
- Nasal congestion and occasional nose
bleeds; ear stuffiness
- Bleeding gums
- Leg cramps
- Backache
- Mild swelling of ankles and feet, and
occasionally of hands and face
- Varicose veins of legs
- Haemorrhoids
- Itchy abdomen, protruding navel
- Increasing shortness of breath as uterus crowds the lungs, which eases
when the baby drops
- Difficulty sleeping
- Increasing Braxton Hicks contractions
- Increasing clumsiness
- Colostrum, either leaking or expressed, from breasts (though this premilk
substance may not appear until after delivery)
Emotionally:
- increasing eagerness for the pregnancy
to be over
- Apprehension about the baby's health,
about labour and delivery
- Increasing absentmindedness
- Excitement at the realization that it
won't be long now
The Ninth Month
You may experience all of these symptoms at one time or another, or only
a few of them. Some may have continued from last month, others may be new.
Still others may hardly be noticed because you are used to them and/or because
they are eclipsed by
new and more exciting signs indicating that labour may not be far off.
Physically:
- Changes in foetal activity (more squirming and less kicking, as the foetus
has progressively less room to move around In)
-
Vaginal discharge (leukorrhoea) becomes heavier and contains more mucus,
which may be streaked red with blood or tinged brown or pink after
intercourse or a pelvic exam
- Constipation
-
Heartburn, indigestion, flatulence,
bloating
- occasional headaches, faintness,
dizziness
-
Nasal congestion and occasional nose
bleeds; car stuffiness
- Bleeding gums
- Leg cramps during sleep
- increased backache and heaviness
- Buttock and pelvic discomfort and
achiness
- Increased swelling of ankles and feet, and
occasionally of hands and face
- itchy abdomen, protruding navel
- Varicose veins of the legs
- Haemorrhoids
- Easier breathing after the baby drops
- More frequent urination after the baby
drops
- Increased difficulty sleeping
- More frequent and more intense Braxton Hicks contractions (some may be
painful)
- Increasing clumsiness and difficulty get
ting around
- Colostrum, either leaking or expressable from breasts (though this premilk
substance may not appear until after delivery)
- Fatigue or extra energy, or alternate
periods of each
- Increase in appetite, or loss of appetite
- Relief that you're almost there
- irritability and oversensitivity (especially with people who keep saying:
'Are you still around?')
- Impatience and restlessness
- Dreaming and fantasizing about the baby
Source: What to Expect When You Are Expecting [Book]