We discuss your pregnancy symptoms week by week…
Finding out you’re pregnant is one of the most joyful moments of your life. But it can also be stressful as your body is going through many changes. There is new life growing inside you and yes, it will cause some strain on your body. You will be experiencing multiple symptoms, many at once. The following article will discuss your pregnancy symptoms week by week.
Early Symptoms
- missed period
- nausea and vomiting
- swollen, tender breasts
- spotting
- fatigue
- dizzy spells or fainting
- headache or backaches
- food cravings
- sensitivity to smells
- frequent urination
- mood swings
- darkening of areolas
Once you have determined that you are in fact expecting a baby, you should find schedule an appointment with a prenatal doctor for your initial consultation, testing and blood work. They will discuss your pregnancy symptoms with you and advise you as to what course of action you should take. Now that you have a general idea of the early symptoms, we will discuss pregnancy symptoms week by week.
First Trimester
Week 1: At this point you are not yet aware that you are pregnant and will be experiencing little to no symptoms. If you are however, consciously trying to conceive, you should begin taking your prenatal vitamins once you start the process.
Week 2: At this point you may experience symptoms to those similar to menstruation, which it is why it is so difficult to determine pregnancy at this early age. You may start feeling crampy and tired and your breasts may feel tender. One of the few differences it that you may experience a tingling sensation in your breasts as your hormones are increasing the blood supply to your breasts.
Week 3:
- cramps
- vaginal discharge
- nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite
You should increase your nutrient intake at this point if you expect that you are pregnant and eat more food rich in iron, folate and calcium.
Week 4: At this point, you probably have missed your first period. You will be experiencing all of the above symptoms as well the following:
Week 5:
- nausea
- bloating
- frequent urination
- sore breasts
- mood swings
Week 6: At this point you will start to feel the full signs and symptoms of your pregnancy
- increasingly sore and tender breasts
- moderate morning sickness
- frequent urination
- more severe mood swings due to increased hormones
- hot flashes or chills
Week 7: At this stage, you may notice the first signs of a pregnancy bump, though it may be very slight. In addition to the above you may experience:
- excessive salivation
- metallic taste in your mouth
- noticeable weight gain
Week 8:
- increased urination
- noticeable swelling and increase in size of breasts
Week 9: At your hormones are steadily increasing you may experience an increased elevation of all previous symptoms, particularly with exaggerated mood swings
Week 10: Constipation will become an issue so you will need to increase your fiber intake.
Week 11: You will start to feel almost normal again as the early signs of pregnancy begin to lessen
Week 12: As you notice some of the previous symptoms start to decrease, you will notice that the size of your tummy is starting to noticeably increase.
Week 13: You may experience a loss of interest in your sex drive.
Second Trimester
Week 14:
- drastic decrease in morning sickness and breast tenderness
- you may feel your energy level start to increase again
Week 15:
- increased headaches
- first baby movements
- possible nosebleeds and bleeding gums
Week 16: You may start to experience sharp pulls in your abdominal muscles as your belly is expanding and your baby bump is now visible.
Week 17:
- dry eyes
- unbalanced equilibrium
Week 18:
- rapid increase in baby movement
- back pain
Week 19:
- leg cramps
- possible UTI’s due to hormonal changes
Week 20: At this point, your doctor should be able to determine the sex of your baby!
- sleep disturbances
Week 21:
- swelling in feet or legs
- stretch marks
Week 22:
- heartburn
- increased sex drive
Week 23:
- redness on palms of hands and feet
- skin tags
- “fuzzy” mind
Week 24:
- itchy, flaky skin
- colostrum: your breasts may start to produce (and leak) small amounts of early baby milk. (this is common and not a cause for concern)
- possible Braxton Hicks Contractions: see your doctor is these become severe.
Week 25:
- thicker, fuller hair
- hemorrhoids
- dehydration
Week 26:
- slight increase in blood pressure
- rib pain
- consistent weight gain
- increased fatigue and difficulty sleeping
Week 27:
- increased edema (swelling)
- belly button may “pop out”
- increased dizziness
- Restless Leg Syndrome
Third Trimester
Week 28:
- sciatica: sharp tingling sensations in your back and buttocks
- frequent backaches
Week 29:
- increased appetite
- varicose veins
- increased urination
Week 30:
- increased mood swings
- loss of sense of balance
- return of some of the early pregnancy symptoms
Week 31:
- shortness of breath
- overall feeling of discomfort
Week 32:
- increase in possible Braxton-Hicks contractions
- lower back pain
Week 33:
- increased loss of energy
- increase in baby movements
- insomnia
Week 34:
- increased swelling
- tired eyes
Week 35:
- dry or brittle hair
- pelvic pain and numbness
- belly button sensitivity
Week 36:
- pregnancy waddle
- pressure on pelvic cavity due to baby dropping
Weeks 37-40
- vaginal discharge or “bloody” mucus
- intense dreams and trouble sleeping
- slight dilation of the cervix
- abnormal swelling and cramping
- anxiety
Signs Of Labor:
- Your water breaks
- Strong, consistent contractions
- increased in vaginal discharge
- diarrhea
- back pain [18]
Of course not every woman will experience all of these symptoms and you may experience them at a varying levels and times during your pregnancy. You need to consult your doctor if any of the above symptoms are extreme or severe as they could be signs of preeclampsia, preterm delivery, gestational diabetes, anemia, and other such pregnancy complications. You will want to contact your doctor immediately if you experience severe bleeding, cramping, nausea, dizziness or any extreme variation of the above pregnancy symptoms. Your baby’s health, as well as yours is at risk, so contact your doctor at the first sign of distress!