Home And Family

Is this your first pregnancy? Yes! Then, congratulations are in order. For women, who are expecting for the first time, it is both an exciting and a nervous moment.

But, how did you find out that you are pregnant? A missed menstrual period is usually the first sign of pregnancy. Don抰 worry, if you do not remember when you last menstruated. There are several other signs of pregnancy that appear during the first few weeks. Some of these early signs of pregnancy are described as follows:

Physical Changes: One of the surest signs of first pregnancy is the change in appearance of your breasts. Your breasts may feel tender, sore, fuller or heavier. This happens because your breasts begin to grow as your body releases a larger quantity of estrogen and progesterone. Another first pregnancy symptom is development of tiny spots called tubercles around your nipples.

Lower Energy Levels: If it is your first pregnancy, you will feel an increased sense of fatigue. This is because your body has been working twice as hard to produce an increased level of hormones and blood to carry nutrients to the foetus. During this time, your body also releases a larger quantity of progesterone hormone, which induces sleepiness and a sense of fatigue.

Implantation Bleeding: When the fertilized egg attaches itself to the lining of uterus, your body sheds a little blood, similar to menstrual blood, only lighter and spottier. This is also accompanied with cramping as your uterus begins to enlarge.

Morning Sickness: Morning sickness is another sign of first pregnancy. Due to an increased level of estrogen, the stomach empties slowly, causing a feeling of nausea. Pregnant women also develop a heightened sense of smell, which can also trigger nausea and vomiting.

Other Indicators: Other indicators of first pregnancy include frequent urination, which is caused by the enlarging uterus pushing on the bladder. Increase in circulation of blood due to pregnancy hormones leads to headaches. Constipation is also a sign of first pregnancy. In the first trimester of pregnancy, a woman also goes through a lot of mood swings under the influence of hormones. Increased oral temperature when you wake up is also an indicator of first pregnancy.

There are a lot of misconceptions about the newborn baby that pregnant women must be aware of. While, most expectant mothers expect their babies to be cute, it does not always happen that way. A lot of babies have a swollen head due to passing through the birth canal. The baby may have random strands of hair or a head full of unruly hair. Swollen eyes and little chicken legs with a huge head is also very common in new-born babies.

Depending on how hard your labor was, a baby may have a pointy head or a bruise on the top of the head, or cephalohematoma. Your baby may also have a flat nose and an invisibly small chin. Delivering the baby through caesarean section reduces the occurrence of such abnormalities to the baby抯 head. However, you do not need to panic if your little bundle of joy is born with some such unusual features, as these fade away in a couple of days.

So, all you women going through your first pregnancy enjoy this period and look forward to welcome a new life into your life.