What are the signs in pregnant women? The very first, the earliest - all about the signs of pregnancy before and after the delay

A friend told me that after 2 days from conception she felt that she was pregnant and this confidence grew stronger in her every day.

But with my three pregnancies, I guessed about each of them only after a delay.

However, if conception has taken place in the body, then changes begin and you can notice the earliest signs of pregnancy and then just confirm your guess with a pregnancy test or by donating blood to check the hCG level.

When to expect the first symptoms of pregnancy?

If you are a sensitive type of woman, then within a week after conception you may notice early symptoms of his position.

Interesting! It happens that a woman knows the date of conception down to the day, although she did not consciously plan the pregnancy, she just gets the feeling that you are not alone.

Conventionally, all signs of pregnancy can be divided into 2 large groups:

1. Signs of pregnancy before missed period
2. Signs after a missed period.

Let's deal with both so that you don't worry in vain and can determine whether your pregnancy has taken place.

Signs of pregnancy before delay

Subjective sensations

Pregnancy can only occur after ovulation. This happens differently for each woman, but on average 12-14 days after the start of the last menstruation.

But sometimes ovulation can occur earlier or later due to hormonal changes in the body or stress.

Usually ovulation manifests itself in one way or another at the body level. If you carefully observe your feelings, you may notice:

• nagging pain in the side or lower back,
• increase in the number of secretions,
• increased sexual desire.

Even if you had intimacy with your husband on the day of ovulation, it is too early to look for symptoms of pregnancy in the first week after it. And nausea or headache during this period, most likely, are not associated with the onset of pregnancy.

9-10 days after ovulation, subjective sensations may already appear that can indicate pregnancy:

• Loss of strength and fatigue.

This occurs because the immune system naturally declines so that the embryo can grow and develop. After all, whatever one may say, it is a foreign object for your body, but this is how nature provided for its consolidation and growth inside the mother.

• Deterioration in general health.

Absolutely all expectant mothers encounter this problem. The cause of increased fatigue is progesterone, the level of which increases sharply during this period. As a result, you may feel sleepy all the time.

This symptom usually accompanies pregnant women until the beginning of the second trimester. However, by the beginning of the third, increased fatigue may return again. In this case, the cause will be weight gain and a growing belly, which often prevents expectant mothers from getting a full night's rest.

• Change of mood.

One of the first early signs of pregnancy before a delay is mood swings, from tearfulness to excessive joy. Emotions replace each other with terrible speed and abruptly move from negative to positive. Mood changes will continue throughout pregnancy. This is normal, but it’s hard for those close to you.

• Changes in appetite.

You may experience an aversion to food, or, conversely, suffer from brutal hunger and eat non-stop.

• Changes in taste.

Already in the first weeks after conception, you may notice that some foods make you feel sick, and you are drawn to others. You can start eating non-standard combinations of foods: herring with oranges - this is something that is very typical for the capricious state of pregnancy.

• Change in libido. Usually you want intimacy more and more often.
• Feeling of heaviness in the pelvic area. This is due to increased blood circulation in the pelvis.
• Nagging pain in the lower abdomen.

• Dizziness and fainting.

Most often they occur from pressure changes or poor nutrition. During pregnancy, nutrition becomes more important than ever. Your well-being and the health of your unborn baby will depend on nutrition.

• Increased breast sensitivity. Some women note that they cannot even touch their mammary glands.
• Chills or feeling hot, which constantly replace each other. At the same time, body temperature does not change;
• Toxicosis.
  

Usually, expectant mothers are very frightened by possible early attacks of nausea, sometimes accompanied by vomiting. In most cases, pregnant women begin to feel sick around the 4-5th week of conception. But sometimes these dates shift and early toxicosis occurs already in the first month. In addition to nausea, headaches, pressure surges, apathy, weakness, and reluctance to eat any food may occur.

• Heartburn.

This symptom refers to those that can occur at the very beginning of pregnancy and accompany the expectant mother until the birth itself. In the early stages, this occurs due to a sharp change in hormonal levels.

• Sensitivity to odors. At this time, you may feel disgusted with your favorite perfume, and for example, the smell of gasoline or paint will seem quite attractive to you.

If you notice at least some of the listed signs, you should not immediately run to the pharmacy for a test, since even the most expensive and sensitive of them are not able to detect pregnancy before 3 weeks have passed since the start of the menstrual cycle.

External changes

If nausea, headache or changes in appetite are purely individual, then almost all pregnant women pay attention to changes in their appearance immediately after conception. In this case, the following are possible:

1. Swelling of the arms, legs or face.
2. The appearance of acne. This change in appearance is associated with hormonal changes. expectant mother. Acne can occur even in those who have never experienced it before.
3. Redness of the face, which is associated with increased blood circulation in the body.
4. Breast augmentation.

To the first signs of pregnancy early stages include enlargement (swelling) of the breast and a change in the shade of the nipples to a darker one.

Sometimes, even before the date of menstruation, a woman may notice that her bra has become too small for her. However, even a slight touch to the breast can cause discomfort and even pain.

1. Implantation bleeding.

Physiological changes

• Increased basal temperature. If you have been planning a pregnancy for a long time, you are probably familiar with the method of measuring basal temperature. Measuring it throughout the cycle, you can notice that in the middle it rises to a value of 37 degrees, and then after some time it decreases. If this decrease is not observed, then fertilization has probably occurred.

Signs of pregnancy after a delay

Absence of menstruation - this symptom is the most reliable sign of pregnancy. Therefore, as soon as your period does not start on a certain day, you immediately begin to suspect your new condition.

Although there are a number of reasons that can cause a delay: changes in weather or climate conditions, stress or overexertion.

All these factors can “push back” your period by 1 to 5 days. If the delay lasts longer, and there are no obvious signs of infection, most likely you can be congratulated on a successful conception.

What other changes in your physiological state should lead you to think about a possible pregnancy?

External changes

1. Constipation. These may be the first signs of pregnancy after a delay. Intestinal motility slows down due to the hormone progesterone, which relaxes all smooth muscles. This is necessary so that the uterus does not contract and reject the implanted embryo. To cope with constipation, add more vegetables to your diet and drink more water (read the article: Constipation during pregnancy >>>).
2. Bloating. Unfortunately, such symptoms can bother the mother throughout pregnancy. Read more about bloating during pregnancy >>>
3. Tingling in the lower abdomen is an early sign that may indicate 2 conditions:

• the imminent onset of menstrual periods;
• completed pregnancy and uterine growth.

Physiological changes

1. Exacerbation of hemorrhoids, which is associated with increased blood circulation in the pelvic area;
2. Decline blood pressure. This is why some may feel weak, dizzy, or even lose consciousness;
3. Decreased immunity. Most women claim that before finding out about their situation, they caught a runny nose or a viral infection;
4. Increased salivation. It is often accompanied by nausea;
5. Frequent urination. This symptom is typical for all pregnant women. The reason for frequent urination lies in the increase in the volume of circulating blood. Over time, the problem becomes even worse, since the main cause will also be joined by the uterus, which is continuously increasing in size. It begins to put pressure on the bladder, causing the urge to urinate (see article Frequent urination during pregnancy >>>).

But, if in addition to this, there are other symptoms of pregnancy that were observed before the delay, then, with a high degree of probability, you will soon become a mother.

However, The most important and reliable sign of pregnancy is a delay in the cycle.

As soon as this happens, you can take a pregnancy test or donate blood for hCG (read the article

Any woman wants to know as early as possible whether she is pregnant or not. A number of signs can be used to determine the presence or absence this state from a representative of the fair sex.

Each woman’s body is very individual and reacts differently to the process of conception and therefore it is not always possible to determine by indirect signs whether a woman is really in an interesting position, or whether the changes in the body are caused by various health problems. The process of self-hypnosis is also important, leveling out a number of indirect methods of detecting pregnancy in the early stages - if a woman very much wants or does not want a child, and is definitely tuned in to it, then the signs can be imaginary.

The most effective from the point of view of reliability, of course, however, they are available only after 5–6 weeks after conception, but the fair sex usually want to know about its onset earlier, before the menstrual cycle is delayed, so we can only rely on other diagnostic methods, which will be discussed below.

Some experts argue that indirect and dubious signs of early pregnancy help determine the presence or absence of the condition already from the 7th day after ovulation and conception, however, their reliability very much depends on the individual characteristics of the woman’s body, the presence of additional factors, as well as the degree of subjectivity in assessing factors .

More reliable signs begin to appear after two weeks from the expected date of conception - the more time has passed, the higher the likelihood of a correct answer to the question of interest.

Signs of pregnancy before delay

The first month of an expected pregnancy is very exciting - an examination by a gynecologist and even an ultra-sensitive ultrasound examination do not show the presence of a fetus in a representative of the fair sex, but I want to find out the actual state of affairs as early as possible.

Chorionic gonadotropin in the blood

This hormone is secreted by placental structures in large quantities, starting from the 1st day after fertilization and further, its concentration is constantly growing. With modern methods of blood diagnostics, taking into account the individual characteristics of a woman’s body, it can be detected starting from 10–12 days. The concentration reaches its peak by the 11th week of pregnancy, after which it begins to gradually disappear.

"2 strips" pregnancy test

One of the popular methods for detecting pregnancy is rapid urine tests performed at home using special indicative elements. The test determines the presence of the same human chorionic gonadotropin, only not in the blood, but in the urine. It should be borne in mind that this hormone appears in the urine from 15–18 days after fertilization, while the most sensitive and reliable tests can detect it at least by the second or third week of pregnancy.

It should be borne in mind that the error of pregnancy tests is quite high if you have health problems: for example, in men and women, hCG is an indicator of producing tumors of various etiologies.

Implantation bleeding

Bloody discharge of light colors and liquid consistency in small quantities usually appears during the process of fertilization of the egg on days 8–10 after ovulation and fertilization.

In monthly rhythms, implantation bleeding may begin a week before your menstrual cycle. It manifests itself clearly in a third of pregnant women, and almost imperceptibly in more than half of the fair sex in an interesting position.

Increased basal temperature

If a woman does not conceive, then increased basal temperature after the luteal phase, it decreases to normal and regular menstruation occurs at its natural time. If BT remains high, this may indicate pregnancy. It can be diagnosed in this way 10–15 days after conception.

Frequent urination

Chorionic gonadotropin, generated by placental structures, significantly increases blood supply to the pelvic area, as a result of which the urinary tract gives a signal of filling earlier, mainly at night. This happens a week after the child is conceived.

Emotional instability

One of the popular subjective signs of pregnancy is sudden mood swings, from severe sadness and even hysteria to fun and joy. Also, the change in state is accompanied by severe irritability, often spilled out on others. Such emotional swings can manifest themselves from the first days of pregnancy until the third trimester.

Toxicosis

Toxicosis early stage pregnancy is a fairly common phenomenon. With the onset of fetal formation, the body, which changes at the hormonal level, especially in the first pregnancy, can present very unpleasant surprises in the form of headaches, frequent nausea and vomiting, regular loss of consciousness, significant changes in taste preferences, and the appearance of mania. unpleasant odor and other "delights".

Fatigue and restless sleep

After conception, a woman’s body actively produces progesterone - this hormone depresses the psyche and leads to frequent drowsiness, depression, etc. These symptoms begin in the first week and go away by the tenth, thanks to the active production of estrogen.

Common health problems

All the body’s forces are devoted to growing and protecting the fetus; the immune system of the fair sex during pregnancy is suppressed by hormones to preserve the fetus, so during this period a woman very easily picks up various infections, from colds and problems with bowel movements to the appearance of acne and intestinal spasms.

Copious natural discharge

Progesterone induces active production of cervical mucus, which provokes more saturated natural mucus, starting from the second week after fertilization and until the end of pregnancy. Have you started to change panty liners very often and still have no problems with thrush? Most likely, this means that conception was successful.

Tingling in the uterus, pain in the sacral spine

In the first or second week after the start of pregnancy, many women complain of tingling in the uterus and pain in the sacral vertebral region, caused by the influence of hCG in these areas.

What signs of pregnancy appear in the first or second week?

During the first two weeks of pregnancy, a woman begins to produce human chorionic gonadotropin and also increases progesterone levels, which in turn can cause frequent urination, high basal temperature, and increased natural discharge. The expectant mother sometimes has problems with early toxicosis, her mood often changes unreasonably, she is bothered by tingling in the uterus and moderate pain in the sacral region, and reduced immunity provokes the development of colds, rashes of various etiologies and other problems.

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First signs of pregnancy. Doctor Ekaterina Makarova

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Early signs of pregnancy. Dr. Elena Berezovskaya

Question answer

How quickly do signs of pregnancy appear?

Indirect and implicit signs of pregnancy may appear a few days after the child is conceived, but a more or less real picture before a missed period will be shown by a blood test for hCG - it is recommended to be carried out no earlier than 10 days after the expected date of fertilization.

On what day does the test show pregnancy?

All pregnancy tests are based on indicating the presence of hCG in the urine. During pregnancy, this hormone begins to manifest itself from 15–18 days after conception, i.e., before this time period, it is hypothetically impossible to determine pregnancy using tests. You will receive a high probability of a correct answer no earlier than the 20th day, and it depends on the quality of the product, the degree of its sensitivity, etc.

If the pregnancy is not only planned, but also long-awaited, then the woman is almost always eager to find out about her situation as soon as possible. Sometimes this is necessary for medical reasons, for example, if tests show low level progesterone and to maintain vital functions ovum you need to start taking a synthetic analogue of this hormone as soon as possible.

The peculiarity of the first signs of pregnancy in the early stages is that most of them cannot say with one hundred percent probability that the woman is really expecting a child.

After ovulation, there comes a period when the expectant mother begins to listen sensitively to any, even the slightest, changes in her well-being, which can sometimes indicate problems with the gastrointestinal tract or organ pathologies reproductive system or about hormonal changes in the second phase of the cycle.

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Signs of pregnancy in the early stages - 1 week

You may have heard from someone that a woman felt the first symptoms of her new position literally in the first hours after intercourse. Such statements give hope, but from a medical point of view they are implausible.

Even in the earliest stages, the first signs of pregnancy appear only when the female body begins to produce the hCG hormone.

After fertilization, the fertilized egg must travel from the fallopian tubes to the uterus. This journey takes him several days (from 3 to 12), roughly 1 week. Once in the uterus, the embryo is implanted into the mucous membrane of one of its walls and only after that the pregnancy hormone begins to be produced.

But in the first hours its concentration is too low for the woman’s body to begin to somehow react to changes in endocrine status. Must pass at least 24 – 26 hours, when the concentration of hCG increases so much that some changes occur in the state of health.

Thus, the earliest changes that the expectant mother can feel will occur only at least 4 days after conception, and then only if the fertilized egg reaches the uterus from the fallopian tubes in 3 days.

A woman is able to notice the following signs of pregnancy in the earliest stages of the 1st week:

• Changes from the BT schedule: The temperature does not fall below 37 degrees; it may show a sharp drop for a day and an equally sharp rise to its previous position. This behavior of the graph is called implantation retraction. But it doesn’t happen to all women.
• Changes in the state of the gastrointestinal tract: Heartburn may occur. Those who have suffered from it before will notice its intensification, and those who have not had such problems before will notice a short-term appearance of this condition.
• Changes in hCG levels: the very first blood test for hCG can be taken only on the seventh day after ovulation. Even if the fertilized egg reaches the uterus in the shortest possible time (in 3 days), the doubling of hCG concentration occurs only once every two days.
• Change in appetite: an indirect sign of pregnancy can be a sharp increase in appetite at the end of the first week after conception. But it can also be a reaction to an increase in the concentration of progesterone in the blood.

The test may not show pregnancy yet!

In the second week after ovulation, the process of moving the fertilized egg from the fallopian tubes to the uterus is completed. And in those women in whom it was implanted on the third, fourth or fifth day, the concentration of hCG increases so much that the signs of pregnancy intensify and increase in number, even though the test is still negative.

• Change from the BT schedule: the temperature continues to remain elevated; an increase of 0.2 - 0.3 degrees may be observed. Towards the end of the second week there is no decrease, which usually foreshadows the imminent onset of menstruation.
• Changes in hCG levels: in the second week from conception, a blood test will already show an increase in the level of the pregnancy hormone, which will give the most reliable answer to the question of whether it was possible to conceive a child. If necessary, you can monitor hCG in dynamics by taking a test every 2 days.
• Change in appetite: the feeling of hunger intensifies in the evening, sometimes the expectant mother may feel hungry even at night and go to empty the refrigerator. Moreover, already at this time a craving for a specific product may appear.
• The appearance of unusual sensations in the pelvic area: by the end of the second week, a woman may begin to feel unusual warmth (even heat) in the lower abdomen. This is due to two factors: implantation of the fertilized egg stimulated increased blood flow to the pelvis, and to this is added the increased work of the corpus luteum, which is now responsible for feeding the developing embryo.
• Breast changes: By the 14th day after ovulation, the breasts become painful to the touch. In about half of pregnant women, this pain is felt on both sides, starting from armpits. This is due to increased blood flow to the mammary glands.
• Change in cervical mucus: In the second week, the nature of the discharge can be interpreted as an early sign of pregnancy. They intensify, become translucent, but do not have any specific odors.

Symptoms in the 3rd week from conception

During the third week, signs begin to appear in those women whose fertilized egg reached the uterus at a later date and implantation occurred later. At the beginning of this period, most expectant mothers notice a delay in their menstruation and, before buying a test, begin to pay closer attention to the changes that occur in their body.

At this time there are two signs that can be confidently called reliable confirmation of the fact of conception:

1. HCG analysis: if the dynamics are good, the doctor can determine the pregnancy as uterine.
2. Result ultrasound examination: on ultrasound, signs of pregnancy in the early stages are displayed in the form of a “lush” layer of the endometrium, a functioning corpus luteum and the presence of a dark spot in the body of the uterus measuring 2 - 3 mm in diameter (embryo and its fetal membranes).

In addition, there are also a number of symptoms that may indirectly indicate the presence of pregnancy:

• Changes in the mammary glands: the breasts are full, painful to the touch. The veins on it become clearly visible, and at times it seems as if heat is emanating from it. However, this symptom may not be observed in everyone. Some women do not feel pain at all and do not notice an increase in the volume of the mammary glands in the first trimester.
• Changes in the gastrointestinal tract: at the end of the 3rd week, toxicosis may begin, since by this time the level of hCG increases so much that the body can react to it in the same way as to intoxication. If there is no nausea, then the appetite that plagued the pregnant woman before her missed period does not decrease. Predilections for a particular product may become more pronounced.
• Change in the nature of cervical mucus: the discharge changes from watery to thicker and acquires a yellowish tint. This is due to an increase in progesterone levels.
• Changes in the central nervous system: a woman may notice unusual drowsiness. There will be a desire to sleep during the day, or there will be an urge to go to bed early and get up later in the morning. Mood swings become noticeable, tearfulness, short temper appear, or vice versa - imperturbable calm and tranquility.

General manifestations for phase 2 of the cycle and pregnancy

All signs of pregnancy in the early stages, both before and after the delay, are relative (except for hCG and ultrasound).

If a woman is not planning to conceive a child for the first month, then she may often mistakenly rely on symptoms that are also characteristic of the second phase of the menstrual cycle in the absence of pregnancy:

• Elevated temperature on the BT chart. It is not at all necessary that it indicates conception - it can only indicate that there is no insufficiency of the second phase.
• Breast tenderness. The mammary glands may also hurt before menstruation. The venous network on them may also become brighter before the start of menstruation.
• Increased appetite. For many women, food cravings are characteristic symptom natural increase progesterone after ovulation.

It is also worth saying that it is absolutely pointless to do any pregnancy tests earlier than 10 days after the date of expected conception.

Even if hCG is present, before the specified period its concentration in the urine will not yet reach the level to which the test systems can respond.

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Early signs of pregnancy are perhaps the only signs that can signal the expectant mother about the onset of a long-awaited event. The first signs of the first pregnancy are understood as the reaction of the female body to hormonal changes, which begins immediately after conception. However, each organism is individual and reacts in its own way to internal changes. It is possible that the physical signs of pregnancy in one woman will not appear for a long time, while in another they will make themselves felt fully in the first month. Each symptom of pregnancy, its nature and time of appearance depend solely on each organism individually.

Every sensual woman who dreams of a child is able to notice and clearly identify the signs of pregnancy long before the delay. A large amount of literature read, observation and careful preparation make the first signs of pregnancy in the first week an unambiguous identifier of the onset of a wonderful event in the family.

1. Minor bleeding.

In the first days, and in some cases weeks, of pregnancy, the fertilized egg is implanted deep into the walls of the uterus for further formation of the fetus. This process is accompanied by early symptoms of pregnancy - slight pink spots, called implantation bleeding in gynecology, which begin to appear even before the delay. This sign of pregnancy appears in 80% of women before the delay. Such a seemingly insignificant symptom should not be discounted if there is a possibility of early pregnancy. Often, women perceive this as menstrual flow and find out about their situation when the first signs of pregnancy become more numerous.

1. Increase in basal temperature.

Basal temperature is the lowest level of body temperature to which it drops during sleep. Measuring such a temperature is not an easy process for an unprepared person, and an important part of its correct determination is the state of complete rest after sleep. While at complete rest and without moving, insert the thermometer while lying down directly into the rectum. During the period of ovulation, a woman’s basal temperature rises to 37°C and above. Then she gradually returns to normal. In pregnant women, it remains at the same level throughout the entire period of gestation. The first and one of the most reliable signs of the first pregnancy is a non-decreasing basal temperature. However, there are exceptions - during various types of inflammation and illness, it can also be slightly increased.

1. Breast changes.

One of the early signs of pregnancy is breast enlargement and increased sensitivity. Also, one of the symptoms of pregnancy in the early stages before the delay is possible darkening of the circles around the nipples and the release of a small amount of fluid from the nipples.

1. Fatigue, changes in tastes, sensitivity to smells.

One of the first signs of pregnancy for many women is that in the first week they begin to feel fatigue and drowsiness, and their senses of smell and taste become more acute.

1. Nausea.

One of the early but optional symptoms of pregnancy before a delay is nausea. It does not appear in every woman and does not appear in everyone in the same way. For example, along with its absolute absence, it can be small in the morning or widespread throughout the day. In any case, everything depends on individual hormonal changes and the characteristics of the expectant mother’s body.

1. Frequent urination.

Already in the first week of pregnancy, mothers will observe such a sign as more frequent urge to the toilet. This symptom is associated with the release of the so-called pregnancy hormone by the fetus. It ensures rapid blood circulation in the pelvic area, which leads to an imaginary bladder fullness and an urination signal.

1. Minor cold.

A normal sign of pregnancy in the female body, which can be clearly identified before the delay, is a slight cold. This is due to the fact that the body is deliberately slightly weakened during pregnancy so that the developing fetus is not rejected. It is for this reason that a woman’s health is so susceptible to diseases during the prenatal period.

The listed early symptoms of pregnancy can clearly indicate to the expectant mother her situation even before the delay. Depending on the characteristics of the body and condition, each of them, with scientific point vision may manifest itself to varying degrees or be absent altogether. In addition, there are a number of subjective signs and symptoms of pregnancy, which are more likely determined by the intuition awaiting a woman’s happy event, rather than can be clearly determined from a medical point of view. For example, such an early sign of pregnancy as a fish that you dreamed about the day before is a common folk sign, but has absolutely no scientific basis.

Signs and symptoms of pregnancy after a delay

1. Mild cramps in the abdominal area.

Pains such as the first signs of the first pregnancy determine the tone of the uterus that changes with the future development of the fetus. This contraction of the uterus is completely normal and occurs not only in pregnant women, but also in women during the premenstrual period. Such contractions become especially frequent before regular bleeding and when there is a threat of loss. Therefore, pregnant women need to carefully monitor such spasms, their frequency and frequency. Expecting such symptoms in the early stages, it is better for women to stock up on mild antispasmodic drugs, but under no circumstances abuse them.

1. Increase in the number of discharges.

Hormonal changes in the body, in connection with preparation for growing a fetus, cause an increase in the amount of progesterone in the blood, which is responsible for the natural secretion of cervical mucus. It is possible, but not necessarily, an increase in discharge in a pregnant woman, although every third woman experiences such a symptom of pregnancy. A small amount of colorless or slightly pink stretchy discharge in the form of mucus should in no case be confused with bloody discharge from the vagina. If you feel like your periods are too scanty, take an additional pregnancy test.

1. Lack of menstruation.

In these times of dynamics and stress, not all women immediately pay attention to the delay. Often, a disruption in the menstrual bleeding schedule for several days can be a habitual reaction to a woman’s stress and irregular lifestyle. If the delay continues for more than 7 days, be sure to consult a doctor or take a pregnancy test. A pregnant woman does not have regular menstrual bleeding throughout the entire period, and the cycle is restored only 2 to 3 months after birth.

1. Positive result.

In pharmacy, so-called preliminary, 99% reliable pregnancy tests, there are two positions: one strip and two. Pregnancy is confirmed when you see two clear lines on the applicator. There are cases of controversial states - when the identifiers on the applicator are not clearly visible or two states are shown at the same time. This can happen in the first weeks after a miscarriage, with a frozen or ectopic pregnancy, or with certain congenital pathologies. In any case, having seen such a picture, it is better to seek additional examination from a doctor or take the test again - perhaps this is a defect in the applicator itself.

1. Examination by a gynecologist.

In the early stages of pregnancy, the symptom of an enlarged uterus is still difficult to notice. In this case, it can only be determined during a vaginal examination. Whereas already in the second trimester the uterus becomes large enough for an external examination on the couch, which is what the gynecologist does at every visit to the expectant mother. Such regular appointments with a doctor are mandatory to monitor the proper development of the fetus. Already after 5 gynecological weeks, obvious signs of pregnancy are a bluish tint of the labia, deviation of the cervix, deformation of the uterus to a circular state and a constant increase in size.

1. Analyzes.

At the first signs of pregnancy, many women preparing to become mothers immediately do a urine and blood test. In such cases, there is no need for a pregnancy test, since the correct result is more likely to be obtained through a medical urine test. These tests determine the level of gonadotropin, a hormone that is released during pregnancy. Its level begins to increase from the first days of conception and by the 11th week increases several thousand times. It reaches the required concentration for measurement 7 days after conception, so it is recommended that preliminary pregnancy tests be carried out exactly at this time.

1. Ultrasound examination.

The appearance of the first signs of pregnancy before the delay does not 100% guarantee pregnancy itself. The fact is that after fertilization, the egg is attached to the wall of the uterus and only then does the development of the embryo begin. But even this fertilized egg, which is immediately visible on ultrasound, does not provide an absolute guarantee of its development into a fetus. At a later date, when the doctor confirms the formation and growth of the embryo, a woman’s pregnancy can be accurately confirmed.

First signs of pregnancy: pregnancy test

First signs of pregnancy: principles and differences of pregnancy tests

Immunochromatographic analysis is a determination of the level of gonadotropin in the human body. All pregnancy tests are based on this type of urine analysis, so they differ only in the method of presentation, level of quality and competent marketing. From the first day after a fertilized egg appears in a woman’s body, the glycoprotein begins to be produced by the placenta in large quantities. Before the onset of scheduled menstruation, its amount in the blood reaches the required level for diagnosing pregnancy using a test. However, there are exceptions to the timing and amount of gonadotropin accumulation, for example, with pathological features of the uterine cavity, timing of ovulation and embryo development. In this case, the test may not show entirely reliable information, but this is why there are more reliable symptoms of pregnancy.

First signs of pregnancy: composition of a pregnancy test

The applicator looks like a small stick with an active strip. The strip is coated with gonadotropin hormone with tagged antibody strips at pregnancy control sites. When urine comes into contact with active ingredients, chemical reaction, and pronounced lines corresponding to your condition appear in the test zones.

Pregnancy test kit kit:

• applicator with an active dough strip in a protective, moisture-proof sealed package;
• special absorbers for protection against moisture;
• instructions with mandatory rules for storage and use.

Be sure to check the manufacturing date of the test on the packaging before purchasing it at the pharmacy. Be sure to store it in a dry place at a temperature not exceeding 28°C. Prepare for the test by bringing your urine sample to room temperature. A test to determine pregnancy can be performed at any time from 3 days. For the very first days and weeks, use morning urine - it is believed that in the morning the concentration of gonadotropin is highest.

• Be sure to collect urine in a dry, clean container immediately before testing;
• the amount of urine should be sufficient to completely immerse the strip;
• Under no circumstances should you shake or tilt the urine sample while the test strip is there and before;
• Do not reuse the sample under any circumstances.

First signs of pregnancy: how to take a pregnancy test

1. Carefully open the protective bag and remove the strip with dry hands.
2. Lower the strip into a container with a pre-prepared sample to the limit line indicated by the arrows.
3. After 1 - 2 minutes, remove the strip and place it on a horizontal, dry surface.
4. You can determine the result within 5 – 7 minutes. If the term is early or there is no delay yet and the likelihood of pregnancy is minimal, it is recommended to wait up to 10 minutes before checking. In the early stages, the amount of gonadotropin is not yet very large, so the second strip may appear unclearly or an order of magnitude later than expected.

First signs of pregnancy: determining the results

1. Negative result: the appearance of only one bright pink stripe in the test control zone.
2. Positive result: in this case, the test shows two bright lines in both control zones.
3. If you carried out all the manipulations consistently and correctly, and not a single line appeared on the strip, it means that the test was initially defective or stitched, and the analysis must be repeated using another, higher-quality specimen.

First signs of pregnancy: early diagnosis of pregnancy

Despite such an abundance of early signs and symptoms of pregnancy before delay, they are all, to one degree or another, subjective and contradictory. The fact is that each of them can be the cause of things completely unrelated to pregnancy. Often the symptoms can be confused with those of various diseases and pathologies. Be the consequences of elementary gland disorders internal secretion, side effects of taking medications, nervous tension, etc. Such contradictions can mislead not only a woman dreaming of a child, but also a professional doctor. In order to unambiguously conclude the cause of the first symptoms of pregnancy, as a result of hormonal changes during pregnancy, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive diagnostic examination. Such examinations usually include: visual examination, ultrasound, blood and urine tests for chronic gonadotropin. But even after the presence of a fertilized egg in a woman’s body is unambiguously determined, the complex analysis does not end there.

To determine the viability of the egg and its proper attachment to the walls of the uterus, it is also necessary to examine the site of attachment and the presence of a heartbeat in the fetus.

First signs of pregnancy: imaginary pregnancy and its signs

IN medical practice There are cases when all the early signs of pregnancy are present, but there is no actual pregnancy. This usually happens among representatives of the fair sex, who have been dreaming of pregnancy for a long time, but unsuccessfully, and among women who are clearly afraid of this event. The difference between these signs and actually pregnant women lies in the nature of their origin. If an expectant mother's symptoms in the early stages of pregnancy are associated with global hormonal changes, then in imaginary pregnant women the reasons may be very different. From stress and depression, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, infections and diseases, poor nutrition and general poor condition - to an elementary hormonal imbalance that is in no way related to pregnancy. But the desire for pregnancy, or the fear of it, can create an identical state of illusion of this event. In this case, only a comprehensive medical examination for the presence of a fertilized egg will dispel all doubts and dot the i’s. Therefore, if you discover early symptoms of pregnancy before your period is missed, you must consult a doctor to find out the overall picture. If pregnancy is nevertheless confirmed, it will be necessary to correctly diagnose it, undergo additional tests, monitor and appropriately treat signs of pregnancy that create discomfort.

First signs of pregnancy. Video

First signs of pregnancy Pregnancy is a mysterious process, especially at the very beginning, when very impatient women want to know about its onset even before their period is missed. The first signs of pregnancy in the early stages can be confused with symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, but laboratory and instrumental methods research. Why is it so important to establish the presence of a long-awaited pregnancy as early as possible? To reconsider your lifestyle and diet, if this has not been done in advance, eliminate, if possible, harmful factors and prepare to become a mother.

The process of conception: how it happens

Conception refers to a series of processes that follow after fertilization, as a result of which a new organism is born and continues to develop in the female body, that is, pregnancy occurs. The moment of pregnancy is preceded by several factors:

The period of time from sexual intercourse to implantation takes 7–12 days, so it is premature to talk about the first signs of pregnancy in the early stages 1 week after coitus.

Diagnosis of pregnancy in the early stages

Diagnosing pregnancy in the earliest stages is quite difficult, since the first symptoms, which both the woman and the doctor can regard as pregnancy, are also possible with various pathologies. Disorders such as premenstrual syndrome, disruption of the endocrine organs, neuropsychiatric diseases or an overdose of certain medications.

But if a happy moment has occurred, then the first signs of pregnancy that confirm its presence are laboratory and instrumental studies. Early signs of pregnancy are caused by hormonal changes (production of hCG and progesterone).

Among the laboratory methods to confirm pregnancy, the determination of hCG in urine and blood serum is used. Determination of the level of hCG in the blood can be carried out 14–21 days after sexual intercourse, when conception has already occurred and the trophoblast of the embryo begins to intensively synthesize hCG. An increase in the level of the hormone in the blood is determined in a special laboratory.

Pregnancy tests

Pregnancy test Such tests are an alternative to laboratory determination of hCG levels and are carried out at home. It is recommended to carry out the test no earlier than 4 - 5 weeks after coitus, that is, after a delay in menstruation. But it is possible to find out about pregnancy earlier, even before your expected period, if you have a long (35 days or more) menstrual cycle. The test is based on detecting hCG in urine.

Test rules:

• test with morning urine ( morning urine concentrated, which means the hCG content in it is higher);
• do not increase fluid intake if the test needs to be done during the day (the urine is diluted and the concentration of the hormone decreases);
• Before performing the test, carefully study the instructions and act according to them;
• Do not use tests that have expired.

A false positive result during pregnancy testing is possible in the following cases:

• 1 – 1.5 months ago there was an abortion, miscarriage or childbirth (hCG is not immediately cleared from the body);
• expired;
• treatment with hCG-containing medications (pregnyl, choragon);
• trophoblastic disease (hydatidiform mole, chorionic carcinoma).

A false negative result is also possible if:

• the test was performed too early (fertilization has occurred, but implantation has not yet occurred);
• threat of miscarriage (hCG levels in the blood drop);
• violation of test instructions;
• drink a lot of liquid before performing the test;
• renal pathology;
• arterial hypertension.

In any case, after a negative result, you should repeat the procedure again after a few days.

Ultrasonography

Determining pregnancy by ultrasound in the early stages The conclusion after an ultrasound is another sign of early pregnancy. However, in too early stages, ultrasound cannot serve as a 100% guarantee, since the doctor may not notice the future embryo until it has reached a certain size. When performing this instrumental study, in addition to confirming pregnancy, the following indicators are revealed:

• localization of the fertilized egg (in the uterus or in the tube, ovary, etc.);
• determining the viability of the embryo (whether there is a heartbeat);
• the presence of the embryo itself in the fertilized egg (detection of anembryony).

First signs of pregnancy before missed period

When do the first signs of pregnancy appear? As already noted, no earlier than 7 days after sexual intercourse.

The following signs allow you to suspect pregnancy even before a missed period:

Implantation retraction
This sign is determined by a graph of basal temperature, which is measured in the rectum. Only a woman who carefully and for a long time (at least 3 months) keeps a graph of the temperature curve can identify this sign.

On the eve of ovulation, the temperature decreases by 0.2 - 0.4 degrees, but from the moment the egg leaves the follicle, the temperature rises sharply and becomes above 37 degrees. It stays at this level for about 12–14 days, and before the onset of menstruation it begins to decrease. Before the introduction of the egg into the endometrium, the production of progesterone decreases somewhat (after all, it is towards the end of the menstrual cycle), since the body is not yet aware of the fertilization that has occurred. But as soon as implantation has occurred and connections have been established between the fertilized egg and the maternal body, the trophoblast begins to produce hCG, thanks to which the body adapts to a program for maintaining pregnancy. That is corpus luteum continues to produce progesterone, which supports further growth and development of the embryo, and, accordingly, the basal temperature rises.

Later, after a delay in menstruation, the basal temperature exceeds 37 degrees and indirectly confirms pregnancy.

Implantation bleeding
The process of implantation of the blastocyst into the thickness of the uterine mucosa may (but not necessarily) be accompanied by small bloody discharge. Bloody discharge is caused by the destruction of the walls of the vessels of the uterine mucosa. You should not expect obvious and too noticeable discharge. A bloody or pinkish discharge may appear in the form of a couple of drops on linen or toilet paper. Implantation bleeding should be expected within 7–12 days from the date of sexual intercourse. If there were no “suspicious” discharge, this is not considered a pathology, just as it does not confirm or deny a possible pregnancy.

Feelings in the lower abdomen
After implantation, the blood supply to the genital organs, in particular the uterus, changes. Blood flow to the pelvic organs, in particular to the uterus, increases significantly, which improves its blood supply and provides for the embryo nutrients and oxygen. Therefore, for many women, one of the first signs of pregnancy before a delay is a feeling of fullness in the lower abdomen. Mild tingling and even stretching are also possible, which is not a pathology (after all, the uterus begins its increased growth).

For the same reason (increased blood flow in the pelvis), hemorrhoids may appear or worsen, or veins may appear in the legs (the first sign of varicose veins). Undoubtedly, hemorrhoids and varicose veins are more likely to occur in the second half of pregnancy, when the uterus is already large and compresses the inferior vena cava, but in multiparous women these phenomena can appear very early, even before the delay.

Unstable emotional state
Before the expected menstruation arrives, most women, unaware of the new life that has arisen in them, become distracted and forgetful, or, on the contrary, overly irritable and aggressive. Unexpected tears suddenly give way to laughter and vice versa. The reason for this is progesterone, which is produced to maintain pregnancy. But mental lability is quite possible with premenstrual syndrome, so only those women who have not experienced PMS symptoms before can suspect pregnancy based on this symptom.

Mild feeling
In a very short time, a woman may feel signs of a cold: mild malaise, increased fatigue, headache. A slight increase in body temperature is also possible, which again is associated with the effect of progesterone on the thermoregulation center. As soon as the embryo has established itself in the uterine wall and begins to actively “cooperate” with the mother’s body, the immunity in the mother’s body decreases, which prevents rejection of the fertilized egg as a foreign body.

Feelings in the chest
This symptom can also be attributed to the phenomena of PMS. From the moment of conception, sensations in the mammary glands change dramatically. That is, before the woman did not feel the breasts at all, but now the slightest touch to the breasts causes pain. Swelling and swelling of the breasts is also noted.

Arterial hypotension
A decrease in blood pressure is observed from the first days of pregnancy. Under the influence of progesterone, the tone of smooth muscles, including the muscular layer of the vascular wall, decreases, which leads to relaxation of blood vessels and an increase in their diameter.

Frequent urination
From the first days of pregnancy, urination becomes more frequent, but remains painless. This symptom is due to the action of the same progesterone, increased blood supply to the pelvic organs, including the bladder and kidneys, which increases renal filtration and urine production. Frequent urination persists until childbirth (in later stages, frequent visits to the toilet also provoke pressure from the pregnant uterus on the bladder).

Signs of early toxicosis
Nausea, perversion of taste and smell, intolerance to various odors, salivation - all these phenomena belong to early toxicosis, although they are also possible with a number of other diseases (poisoning, pathology of the digestive tract, infection). Symptoms of early toxicosis are not so often observed before a delay in menstruation, and even after pregnancy has been established, not all women have them.

Is a missed period a pregnancy?

Delayed menstruation is not considered a reliable sign of pregnancy, especially in those women menstrual cycle which was marked by irregularity. Before you run to the doctor with joy or panic, you should wait at least 5–7 days (counting from the first day of expected and non-occurring menstruation). Then conduct a pregnancy test, taking into account all the rules. If the result is negative, it is recommended to repeat the test after 3, at least 1 day.

In addition to a positive test, other signs of pregnancy are possible:

• early toxicosis has become more pronounced or has just appeared;
• breast tenderness, engorgement and swelling;
• appearance of the venous pattern on the mammary glands;
• skin problems (the appearance of acne, even if there was none before);
• gain vaginal discharge, they became creamy and milky in color;
• stretching in the lumbar region and/or lower abdomen;
• constipation, which is replaced by diarrhea (action of progesterone);
• drowsiness during the day, insomnia at night;
• sudden mood swings;
• possible fainting (as a sign of arterial hypotension);
• increased appetite or its complete absence (in case of toxicosis);
• tendency to edema (swelling of the face after the legs, slight swelling of the arms and legs);
• darkening of the linea alba and areola;
• basal temperature is consistently elevated (above 37);
• the appearance of headaches and migraines;
• change in libido (increased or weakened).

To completely dispel doubts, you should visit a doctor. During a gynecological examination (even in the early stages of pregnancy), the doctor identifies the following signs that indirectly confirm an “interesting situation”:

• darkening of the skin, even dark brown, of the external genitalia;
• softening of the neck, changing its color from pale pink to cyanotic (bluish);
• softening of the uterus, perhaps some enlargement in the early stages, and later the enlarged uterus is clearly palpable according to the period of delay (8 weeks - a woman’s fist, 10 weeks - a man’s fist, and so on).

To establish a final diagnosis, the gynecologist will prescribe an ultrasound (preferably with a transvaginal sensor), and in controversial cases, he will recommend donating blood for hCG.