Pregnancy being the most wonderful event of your life, both for men and women, is very magical event. This article is all about early pregnancy and the related information. Most women are worried and tensed at the initial time only.
Why? Because they have a very little knowledge of what is going to happen. Are you curious to know what is about to come? Are you curious to know how the things will happen?
Is this your first pregnancy? You must be excited, thrilled and a little conscious as well. Do not worry. We are going to help you with all your problems and queries!
Early Signs of Pregnancy
Early signs as understood are a set of signs and symptoms that occur at the earliest. They help you to identify whether you are pregnant or not. Early signs do not mean you will be able to detect your pregnancy just within a day or two of conception.
Many women have a misconception that taking a test within 3 days gives you the perfect result. But, tell me one thing very clearly, how can you be pregnant when the fertilisation has not even taken place?
Biology says, the fusion of male and female gamete gives rise to a zygote. This zygote will grow up into your baby. The pregnancy test kits depend on this fertilisation process only.
If the fertilisation has not even taken place yet, then how will you get the correct results? Then why are you putting your money in buying the pregnancy test kit?
Be careful about what you chose to do and at what time. We suggest that at least wait for a week before taking a pregnancy test.
The signs will appear after fertilisation has occurred. Even the earliest signs begin to occur in the second week.
Early pregnancy symptoms
When you carry the fertilised egg inside your uterus, the symptoms begin to show. Just check if you have any of these:
- Your basal body temperature rises. This is not a physical or chemical change. This is just a physiological change, which usually goes unnoticed.
- You may begin to have minor vaginal discharge by now. The white milky fluid may be observed.
- Hormonal changes are very obvious. HCG and estrogens level gradually rise.
- A missed period!
- The physical changes in body include the abdominal cramps. These are usually less in intensity because you are not carrying the baby in your womb yet.
- Another physical change is swollen or sore breasts.
- You may begin to feel nauseous and dizzy. This is the beginning of your morning sickness.
- You may also witness some spotting or light bleeding, as this is pretty common during implantation.
- You may become very choosy about the food.
- You may also develop some high supernatural smelling power. Some odours may not fit you, and you may feel like vomiting.
- You may also feel tired and restless! A small work can give you fatigue.
- You may have mood swings!
There are many other symptoms. It is to be noted that all these symptoms do not occur all at once in the initial weeks.
The symptoms have their own manner to come up and become observable. Week by week, changes in body occur externally as well as internally. Watch out for these!
Early pregnancy test
An early pregnancy test is the one which depends upon HCG hormone level. The tests available in the market usually carry a test strip which measures the HCG concentration and makes use of the indicative lines to deliver the result.
Home-made pregnancy tests are also very popular amongst the women. This is because they are easy to make and can be used under own comfort. The results are also as accurate as of the ones available in the market.
But, these tests experience tough competition from the digital tests. Digital pregnancy tests are gaining much admiration and popularity in the advancing era. This is because they detect pregnancy about 5 days before the missed period.
No, nothing magical or astrology based. These tests are much sensitive to even the lowest concentrations of HCG. Also, they give 99% accurate results. What else a woman wants at such an initial time, right?
But, keep in mind that no pregnancy tests are 100% accurate. They are reliable and may help you with some manual approach. Please have a blood test to get the confirmation.
How early can you detect pregnancy?
A pregnancy test can be taken after a missed period, if it is a manual one or home-made. However, digital tests can give you an early result, even before the missed period.
Why take missed period as a mark of taking pregnancy test?
Let’s get a little biological once again. As the egg fertilises with the sperm, a zygote is formed. This meeting takes place dark inside the fallopian tube. Gradually, it moves towards the uterus to get implanted.
This event gives rise to secretion of pregnancy hormones, for example, HCG, which is the actual cause of a missed period.
Pregnancy tests, whether urine based or blood based, detect concentrations of HCG. As long as you do not have HCG hormone in your body, any pregnancy test cannot show you pregnant.
The best time to take test is after the first week.
Cramping in early pregnancy
Cramping occurs dominantly during the mid weeks. But, it can also occur at the initial time period. It will be of mild intensity as the baby is not yet fully developed in your womb. The baby is not yet there, then why the cramping is happening?
Your uterus is a muscle. And, you know that the muscle contracts and relaxes. The more the motion a muscle does, the more it exerts pressure. This will result in cramping! This will last for a few days, and then your uterus muscles will get aligned.
Bleeding in early pregnancy
You may have observed that “light bleeding”, “spotting” and “early bleeding” are very common in symptom list. When you have a missed period, why does the bleeding happen?
This bleeding can be the consequence of your implantation process. There are chances of being the due date of your menstrual cycle to be covered up now. Do not worry, it will just last for a few days.
Cervix undergoes changes during this time period. The bleeding could also be the result of the undergoing changes.
However, if you witness excessive bleeding, you should consult a doctor. This may be a red alert for possible complications such as ectopic pregnancy.
Spotting early pregnancy
Spotting? Something related to a spot. Spotting is also termed as light bleeding. The bleeding occurs along with the vaginal discharge. But, what you observe is a very light spot. The colour may range from red to dark brown.
Spotting is very common in early pregnancy. Maintaining hygiene is a must during this time.
Early stages of pregnancy
Early stages of pregnancy are very confusing. A lot of questions arise in your mind, and you want to find their answers. The suitable time to test, the symptoms which will be observed and will these symptoms be harmful for the health, all these questions keep on brainstorming.
You can easily find your answers on the internet, if you find it uncomfortable to talk upon with your elders.
At the early stage, all it happens is the fertilisation followed by implantation. The hormonal levels will change and in turn affect your body physically and mentally. The symptoms which we have mentioned above will now slowly show up.
You may take the test and check upon your pregnancy as well. Be sure of it, and begin with proper planning.
If you are pregnant, then you need to make a list of arrangements which should be done within the nine month time period. You need to focus on your economical status as well as social front. You need to have a proper diet to meet all the nutritional requirements.
Also, you need to be less stressful and must know the precautions to be taken during the pregnancy time period. Everything needs to be planned. After you decide all the things, just ask yourself once again, “Are we ready now?” Check it all once again!
Discharge early pregnancy
A white milky discharge is common during early pregnancy. You may always have a wet feeling down there. This is the thick mucus, which may be milky white or creamy in appearance. It is slimy and sticky.
Mucus is secreted to provide resistance to vaginal infections. Any sort of infection can have a negative impact upon your pregnancy. Infection may be caused by yeast or bacteria.
If the discharge is continuous and heavy, then it may be the consequence of STD (sexually transmitted disease) or infection. We suggest that you consult your doctor and do not take any chances.
Also, you should keep up with sanitation and hygiene to prevent such infections.
Best early pregnancy test
No pregnancy test can be termed as “best”, as to become the best; it has to fulfil many criteria.
- It should be easy to understand and use.
- The instructions should be easy to understand.
- It should display accurate results.
- It should display results in “easy to read” manner.
- It should be affordable.
No pregnancy test is accurate, except the blood test. Accuracy and the result quality define the standard of the test. Some tests display confusing results. To avoid the confusion, take the urine test first and get the confirmation by blood test. You can take the blood test when you find it comfortable.
Advancing technology has now given the digital pregnancy tests, which give 99% accurate results and at the earliest. They are a little expensive, but you can trust these. However, this does not mean that the digital test is going to give you the result even before the fertilisation. It is a scientific device, not a magic ball of future.
How early do pregnancy symptoms start?
Pregnancy symptoms arise when the fertilisation has occurred. The hormones are secreted which are responsible for the symptoms. The HCG hormone and the estrogens are beginning to rise. All the symptoms we mentioned above will slowly show up.
To say it in exact words, symptoms will start to come up as early as the second week starts. The first week is used up by the egg and the sperm to make a short journey to the fallopian tube for mating, and then back to uterus for implantation.
Some women may experience the symptoms late as the hormones do not directly reach the peak level. Or maybe, the implantation process is taking time. Reason could be any.
Early pregnancy symptoms
Week 1: The first week goes in mating time. After the sexual intercourse, the egg reaches the fallopian tube and waits for the sperm to get fused with. After fertilisation, a zygote is formed, which now needs to be transferred to the uterus.
This whole series of events takes the full first week. Hardly any signs show up. However, some women reckon about having vaginal discharge during this time followed by abdominal cramps. And, some women, on the other hand, may not even realise that they are pregnant.
You cannot even take a pregnancy test during this week. The result will be negative even if you are pregnant.
Yes, the basal body temperature does rise. This is not something which gets observed. Wait for the next week to show you some symptoms!
Week 2: The second week can bring a turning point in your life. In this second week, you can take a pregnancy test and hear the perfect news which you have been eager to listen to! This week can mark a beginning to all your thought processes.
The fertilisation has taken place, and now the implantation process will be carried out. As soon as this gets done, the hormonal levels will change. Many physical and emotional changes will occur in your body, which you may be able to experience well enough. Did you miss your period?
Go, buy a pregnancy test or make it on your own at home. This is just the beginning! Get ready for the nine month journey!
Early sign of pregnancy before missed period
Often the missed period is taken as an important milestone for pregnancy. The confirmation is based on missed period only. But, do you understand the science behind it?
Missed period occurs when the egg is fertilised. If the egg had not been fertilised, your menstrual cycle must have continued this month as well.
A missed period marks the rise of HCG hormone. This hormone is the most important hormone in pregnancy. The detection of pregnancy is also on the basis of this hormone and its level in body fluids.
The pregnancy tests are sensitive to the HCG hormone concentration. If the HCG hormone is present in the urine, a positive result is displayed. If not, a negative result is displayed.
Some tests detect pregnancy even before the missed period. How can they do it?
It all depends on the sensitivity of a test to the HCG concentration. Some tests have the ability to detect even the minute levels of HCG. As soon as they detect the HCG level, they deliver the results.
The levels of HCG are low before the missed period. For the common tests, it is difficult to detect the very low levels. Hence, the digital tests do the perfect job.
Take the correct test at correct time! All the best!
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