Strange Taste In The Mouth
Hormones could play strange games during pregnancy, and you may find yourself having a strange awkward taste in your mouth, also called Dysgeusia. You could feel like you have swallowed some unsavoury metal. This metallic taste could well be an early sign to tell you that you have started your journey to motherhood. The symptom generally disappears after the first trimester, but could last longer in some women.
When Should I Call My Doctor About A New Pregnancy
If you have missed a period, taken a pregnancy test and gotten a positive result, your next step will be to call your healthcare provider for your first appointment. While scheduling, your provider may ask if you have already started taking a prenatal vitamin with at least 400mcg of folic acid. These vitamins are important in early pregnancy because they help in the development of your babys neural tube. The neural tube will become the brain and spine. Many healthcare providers recommend that any women who could become pregnant take folic acid at all times.
If you are planning a pregnancy, a preconception appointment with your healthcare provider is a good place to start. A preconception appointment is especially important if you take medication for a chronic illness or have other medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension or lupus.
During this appointment, your provider will discuss any current medical conditions, as well as your general health before pregnancy. This appointment is meant to get you into the best place for a new pregnancy.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 04/01/2020.
References
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Other Causes Of Pregnancy Symptoms
In very early pregnancy, symptoms are usually mild. Due to this, it is easy to mistake pregnancy symptoms for normal aches and pains.
Hormonal shifts that happen as a womans period approaches may cause symptoms that also appear in pregnancy for example, breast tenderness and swelling. Some women with PMS can experience these symptoms ahead of every period.
In some cases, a woman may still experience the symptoms of early pregnancy despite not being pregnant. Possible reasons for this include:
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About Our Fertility Expert Dr Amin Gorgy
Dr Gorgy co-founded The Fertility & Gynaecology Academy in 2004 and is now its co-director. Previously, he was the deputy director of the Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and a member of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.
Food Cravings/ Dislikes/ Heightened Smell Change In Taste
Some people develop strange food cravings as well as aversions. You might also experience a change in taste whereby foods that used to appeal to you suddenly start tasting horrible.
Cravings for certain foods may also develop.
These cravings and aversions may last for the first trimester only but sometimes they last throughout the pregnancy.
When I was pregnant with my firstborn I hated the smell of onions in the first few months of pregnancy and it would make me feel nauseated.
As with other symptoms, these are caused by the hormonal changes in your body.
Try to incorporate a healthy diet that will keep both you and baby healthy.
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Other Causes Of A Missed Period
A missed period can occur for many reasons, including:
- Period delay: If a woman ovulates a few days later than usual, this may delay her period by a few days.
- Hormone disorders: Numerous conditions can cause hormonal imbalances that delay ovulation, or even suppress it, resulting in a missed period.
- An early pregnancy loss: A chemical pregnancy, or early pregnancy loss, can sometimes cause a positive test that a negative test then follows. In some cases, the late period that occurs is an early pregnancy loss.
- Malnourishment: Women who are very underweight or eating too few calories may not ovulate, which can cause their periods to disappear. Doctors refer to this as amenorrhea.
- Perimenopause: A woman entering menopause may ovulate less frequently, causing fewer periods. This stage is known as perimenopause.
When To See A Doctor
It is important to see a doctor for:
- a period that is very late, even if a pregnancy test is negative this is especially important if the woman is trying to get pregnant or is worried that she may have a hormone issue
- symptoms of pregnancy that do not go away following a negative test, as they may signal another problem, such as an infection
- a positive pregnancy test
- bleeding following a positive pregnancy test
- persistent or severe abdominal pain
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Signs Youre Expectant While Breastfeeding
When you conceive while you are still breastfeeding, you may experience most if not all of the early pregnancy signs we have discussed above. In summary, the following are symptoms and signs of pregnancy when breastfeeding:
Acne And Pimple Spots
Pimple spots and acne bumps on your face could a physical symptom you are pregnant. Hormonal changes can give your skin a flush and leave you looking brighter than usual.
You can also get a few spots and bumps, or just an acne breakout as soon as you conceive.
Try not to pick at the pimples and acne spots. You can end up with infected zits on your face. Note that you may get a few acne bumps on your chin or face even if you never get them at all or during your PMS.
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Early Pregnancy Symptoms Before Missed Period
For most women, their missed period is one of the first early signs of pregnancy. But there are some early pregnancy symptoms before missed period that can indicate pregnancy. We have listed below some of the more common early signs of pregnancy that can help you guess whether you have a bun in the oven.
But remember that in order to be pregnant, you dont need to have all these symptoms . Even if you have a few of these symptoms, it is a good sign to take the home pregnancy test and know for sure.
The following are some of the early pregnancy symptoms before missed period:
1. Missed period: I know what you are thinking, how can missed period be one of the early pregnancy symptoms before missed period?? Because missed period is the most common early sign of pregnancy, we had to include it.
If your period train comes on time every month, then missing it can be a clear sign that you are pregnant. As soon as you conceive, the body will stop producing the hormones required for ovulating as well as shedding of the uterine wall lining. This stops your menstrual cycle and you will not get your periods again till the baby is born.
However, missed periods is not a sure shot indicator of pregnancy, especially if you have a history of irregular periods. Missed periods can also be due to dieting , hormone imbalances, PCOS, excessive exercise, etc.
Can I Be Pregnant If I Still Get My Period
Once you are pregnant, the hormones released in the body will stop your menstrual cycle. This means you will not get your period till after the baby is born. But you can get some light bleeding in the initial few days because of implantation.
You can experience implantation bleeding around the same time as your missed period or even before that. Unlike your regular periods, this bleeding will be very light, almost like spotting. It will go on for a few days and then stop. You dont need to worry about it, but if the bleeding is accompanied by severe pain then it may be time to contact your doctor.
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Cravings Or Disgust For Certain Foods
Everyone knows the cliche of food cravings for pickles alternating with huge amounts of ice cream during pregnancy. There is definitely some truth in it for some women. Sometimes pregnancy can cause new cravings and food aversions within the first few weeks after conception.
The exact explanation behind it has not yet been clarified though. Scientists again have concluded a context with the pregnancy hormone HCG.
Implantation Bleeding And Cramping
If you have unprotected sex during your fertile window, there is a chance that you might get pregnant. Implantation takes place when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus. If that happens, you may experience implantation bleeding around the same time your period is due .
Implantation bleeding is light, and you may notice just a few drops of blood in your panty or while wiping your vagina. Therefore, you may or may not notice it.
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Food Aversions And Sensitivity To Smell
Sensitivity to certain smells is a common symptom for pregnant women. You may also find that your tastes have changed for certain types of food.
Any of the above signs can mean youre pregnant, but there are women who conceive and experience none of them. Likewise, you can experience all ten and not be pregnant. The best way to confirm pregnancy is to schedule an appointment with a provider, preferably your gynecologist.
If you notice a few of the early pregnancy symptoms above and think you may be pregnant, wait one or two days after your missed period and take a pregnancy test. If the test is negative, wait a few more days and take another, just in case the first was a false negative. If the test is positive, schedule an appointment with your OB/GYN.
At Baptist Health, were committed to helping women through every stage of their health journeys. If youre trying to conceive or thinking about getting pregnant, read through our preconception to-do list, or if you have an upcoming OB/GYN appointment, learn how you can get the most out of your visit.
Headaches In First Weeks Of Pregnancy
The basic triggers of this early sign of pregnancy are dehydration and stress on the body, according to Dr. Diane Christopher, M.D. The hormone progesterone can cause an increase in blood flow that may in turn stress your body.
- Adjusting to the new pregnancy, in itself, can be a challenge to the body. The resultant stress is said to be the cause of headaches.
- Headaches are more common within the first 12 weeks of a pregnancy.
Other than hormonal changes, the fatigue that has been discussed above can also be a source of migraines and headaches.
Occasional headaches may persist later in your term. They are often caused by increased hunger as the baby puts a stain on the body for nutrients. Other causes include emotional and physical stress, sinus congestion etc.
If the headaches persist longer than four hours, see a doctor especially if they are accompanied by other experiences such as puffy face, poor vision or blurred vision, weight gain, etc. Women who usually have migraines are more likely to get headaches during pregnancy.
Try to relax to relieve tension headaches. Spend some time in a dark, quiet room to relieve tension headaches. If they persist, see a doctor.
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Light Spotting And Cramping
Light spotting, also known as implantation bleeding, can occur when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining. This can happen about 10 to 14 days after conception, around the same time that you are supposed to have your period. Light spotting may also be accompanied by cramping, which can feel similar to menstrual cramps.
Signs And Symptoms Of Pregnancy Before A Missed Period
A pregnancy test is undoubtedly the most accurate way to assess if you are pregnant. However, experiencing a few common symptoms could reveal those first signs of pregnancy, much before a missed period. Here is a list of some early symptoms of pregnancy, which could help gauge if you are pregnant, prior to the agonizing wait to take the tests.
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What Can I Do Now That I Am Having Early Pregnancy Symptoms
If you started experiencing some of these early pregnancy sings or symptoms before you’ve missed your period, don’t buy the baby announcements just yet. In the meantime, before you are able to know for certain that you are pregnant, you should still be taking care of yourself like you are pregnant. This means that you should get enough sleep, stay hydrated, take your prenatal vitamins, stop smoking, stop drinking, and make a conscious decision to be healthier for your potential baby.
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One thing that I have to remind you NOT to do now is compare yourself to other women. Like I mentioned earlier, every woman is unique. Your body will respond to pregnancy hormones differently than the woman next door. You may feel completely different signs of early pregnancy than she doesor you might experience none at all! Whatever you do, don’t upset yourself by analyzing every sign, symptom, and feeling compared to every pregnant Jane Doe that you run into.
Tingling And Numbness In Your Hands
Carpal tunnel syndrome tingling and numbness in your hands affects up to 60 per cent of women during pregnancy. It is caused by compression of the median nerve due to an increase in the tissue fluids during pregnancy.
Carpal tunnel syndrome may be mild, intermittently painful, or severe, which may cause partial paralysis of the thumb or loss of sensation. Symptoms usually resolve on their own soon after birth.
If you are experiencing tingling and numbness in your hands, inform your doctor or midwife. In very severe cases, your doctor may recommend corticosteroid injections or surgical treatment.
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Heightened Sense Of Smell
Do you have an increased sense of smell? Believe it or not, it could be an indication that you are with child. The reason for this is not known scientifically. However, high sensitivity to odors starting in the first days of of your term may be related to the increased estrogen in the body.
- Your nose will be more sensitive to smells of perfume, colognes, foods etc.
- You may start complaining of nausea as early as just a few weeks after conception due to this.
- Like many other initial symptoms the superhuman sense of smell is likely to go away sometime in the second trimester.
Hormones that are strongly linked to be the causes of morning sickness are said to cause increased power of smell as soon as a woman gets pregnant. As we shall see below, nausea is also said to be one of the things you will note.
Rising levels of estrogen and human chorionic gonadotropin in the first trimester trigger nausea, vomiting, and morning sickness. The author of The Mommy Docs Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy and Birth, Yvonne Bohn, MD.