Constipation
Many pregnant women are plagued with constipation in the early stages of pregnancy due to the hormonal increase of progesterone. Since progesterone works to soften muscles and ligaments as the body slowly prepares itself to give birth, it also relaxes the bowel wall. This slows the rate at which food is processed through the digestive tract. The iron found in the majority of prenatal vitamins compounds this problem. Iron, however, is an essential mineral that must be consumed in proper amounts while pregnant as it assists the body with the growth and changes that occur to accommodate the baby. It also helps in the production of healthy red blood cells, preventing anemia and other various complications as a result. That is why it is important to also consume enough Vitamin C, which helps with iron absorption. Constipation may continue to persist throughout the remainder of a pregnancy as well as the uterus swells and gradually applies more and more pressure against the stomach.
Bloating and Gas
As another unfortunate digestive problem associated with increased hormonal levels, bloating and gas are two very common symptoms that women experience during the early stages of being pregnant. Especially after eating, many pregnant women experience considerable discomfort, as they tend to pass gas and burp frequently. Just like constipation, feeling bloated and passing gas can persist throughout the pregnancy as well as the growth of the uterus applies more and more pressure.
Mood Swings
With all of these lovely side effects of becoming pregnant, it is no surprise that mothers-to-be can get a little … testy, even in the early stages of pregnancy. With hormone levels running wild during this time, many women find that they have a hard time controlling their emotions and temperaments - especially in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. These mood swings can also persist and make several encore presentations - particularly in the latter stages of the third trimester when things start to get physically and mentally uncomfortable as your body prepares itself to go into labour. Although very difficult at times, it is very important to try and get as much rest as possible and eat well in order to keep your stress, fatigue and possible anxieties in check.
Dizziness, Lightheadedness & Fainting
The major cardiovascular changes that occur during the early parts of pregnancy make dizziness a fairly common side effect. First your heart rate will increase in early pregnancy. In a normal pregnancy, blood vessels eventually begin to dilate and the body’s blood pressure will start to gradually drop. Near the end of a pregnancy these levels rise again to their normal levels. These adjustments can sometimes hinder adequate and timely blood flow to the brain, which can sometimes result in dizziness, lightheadedness and/or fainting. To avoid these things, it is recommended that pregnant women make sure they get enough food and drink, get plenty of rest and be careful not to get up too fast from a lying-down position.
Spotting & Bleeding
It is very common as a sign of early pregnancy, occurring statistically in 1 or every 3 cases, for women to experience bleeding and spotting during the first 2 to 3 months of pregnancy. Although this is a normal occurrence as many women who experience vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy go on to give birth to healthy babies, it can sometimes be an indication of a possible miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is symptomatically characterized by vaginal bleeding and lower abdominal pain and is defined as a pregnancy that occurs outside of the uterus. These fears can usually be squashed by a series of tests including those that test hCG hormone levels or ultrasounds that can be administered after the 7th week.
An Increase In Basal Body Temperature
Your Elevated Basal Body Temperature (BBT) remains elevated throughout pregnancy. Normally, this temperature rises dramatically right after ovulation and falls again shortly thereafter until your next period. But if your BBT remains elevated two weeks after you ovulate, then this often an obvious sign of being pregnant. But nothing can really confirm this to be true like a positive pregnancy test or paying a visit to your family doctor.
Positive Pregnancy Test
Pregnancy tests detect the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone in urine, as the levels of the hCG hormone increase dramatically during pregnancy. High quality tests, like our Midstream Pregnancy Test, can detect a positive result within 6-8 days after implantation at a detection level of 20mIU/ml. Our Ultra Sensitive Midstream Pregnancy Test can detect the hCG hormone at 10mIU/ml in as few as 3-5 days after implantation. We also offer Pregnancy Strip Tests, which have the same detection rates, but are dipped into the urine specimen while the midstream tests are administered during urination.