Pregnancy symptoms, which are followed carefully by women who want a baby, may differ from each other. Although the delay in the expected menstrual period is the most important symptom, some symptoms seen in the early stages may also suggest pregnancy. Among the simplest pregnancy symptoms seen before the delayed menstrual period are; Nausea, vomiting, breast swollen-pain and sensitivity to food odors may occur. However, these symptoms may not be the same in every woman, and all or some of the early pregnancy symptoms may be observed. Taking a blood test to ensure the existence of pregnancy is important for the most accurate diagnosis. You can find more comprehensive information about “Pregnancy symptoms in the first week” by following the rest of the article.
What are the early pregnancy symptoms?
Early pregnancy symptoms refer to physiological or emotional changes experienced before the expected menstrual period is delayed. Early pregnancy symptoms may appear differently in women. In addition, early pregnancy symptoms may be similar to the symptoms seen in the days just before menstruation. Therefore, if some of the symptoms are observed, it may be beneficial to wait for the delay in menstruation and take a pregnancy test. Some of the common early pregnancy symptoms and the answers to the question “How do you know you are pregnant?” are as follows:
- Spotting: After fertilization, the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall. As a result of this situation, a reddish, light spotting may be observed and this may also be called implantation bleeding. Spotting may occur approximately 6 to 12 days after fertilization.
- Cramps: Cramps, which can be seen in the first days of pregnancy, may resemble menstrual pains. For this reason, cramps may not be perceived as a sign of pregnancy by most women.
- Discharge: Vaginal discharge seen in the first days is mostly white and fluid in texture. This condition occurs due to thickening of the vaginal wall after fertilization. Cells attached to the vaginal wall grow and can cause vaginal discharge. This discharge may occur during pregnancy and is generally considered harmless.
- Breast Changes: From the first day of pregnancy, changes begin to occur in hormone levels. These changes; It may cause swelling, pain, tingling and sensitivity in the breasts. In addition, the color of the nipple and its surroundings may darken. This situation may be felt more intensely at the beginning of pregnancy, but may decrease over time as you get used to hormonal changes.
- Fatigue and Weakness: Fatigue and weakness, which are among the early symptoms of pregnancy, are considered normal. This situation is caused by the increase in progesterone hormone and the decrease in blood sugar and blood pressure. In order to control fatigue-weakness complaints during pregnancy, it may be beneficial to consume foods rich in protein and iron and get plenty of rest.
- Nausea: Nausea , which is among the experiences in the first week of pregnancy , is a condition that most pregnant women experience. Nausea, especially in the morning, may occur sometimes with vomiting and sometimes without vomiting. Nausea may sometimes be accompanied by food aversion and sensitivity to food odors.
What are the first symptoms of pregnancy?
The first signs of pregnancy can appear as different symptoms, ranging from nausea, which is seen in most pregnant women, to changes in emotional state. Doctors consider the beginning of pregnancy to be from the first day of the last menstrual period. Pregnancy week calculations and estimated birth date are carried out on this plan. The first signs of pregnancy may present other symptoms in addition to early pregnancy symptoms. In general, the first symptoms of pregnancy and the experiences in the first week of pregnancy can be listed as follows:
- Menstrual Delay: The most obvious sign of pregnancy is the absence of the expected menstrual period. A delay of 1 week or more in the menstrual period of women of childbearing age may strengthen the suspicion of pregnancy. However, this may be misleading in women with irregular menstrual cycles and in cases of doubt, a pregnancy test should be performed.
- Frequent Urination: Frequent urination may occur throughout pregnancy. The reason for this can be explained as the kidneys sending more fluid to the bladder as the body’s blood production increases during pregnancy.
- Constipation: The rapid hormonal change that begins with pregnancy can cause the digestive system to slow down. The hormone progesterone, in particular, can cause food to pass through the intestines more slowly than normal. Drinking plenty of water and eating fiber-rich foods may be beneficial for constipation complaints.
- Headache: Headaches, which are among the symptoms of the first week of pregnancy, can be seen more frequently, especially in the first weeks. Increased hormone levels, worry, anxiety and mood swings during pregnancy can cause tension headaches. Headaches usually decrease or may disappear completely as pregnancy progresses.
- Nasal Congestion-Nose Bleeding: Increased hormone levels and blood production during pregnancy can cause the mucous membranes in the nose to swell and dry out. This can sometimes lead to nasal congestion and sometimes nose bleeding.
- Changing Mood: Changing mood may have an important place among the symptoms of the first week of pregnancy. This condition, especially seen in the early stages, can make pregnant women feel more emotional, tearful and restless than usual.
- Dizziness and Fainting: In the first days of pregnancy, occasional dizziness and fainting are associated with dilation of blood vessels, low blood sugar and low blood pressure.
What to Pay Attention to in the First Week of Pregnancy?
The first week of pregnancy is not the first week after intercourse according to the detection method calculated by gynecologists, but the date calculated based on the first day of the last menstrual date . This means that, on average, the 4th or 5th week of pregnancy is considered the first weeks. In the first week of pregnancy or in the following days, you should definitely go to a gynecologist and have the necessary checks and scans done. During the gynecological examination, the placement of the baby in the uterus and the condition of the sac are checked. The mother’s uterus and ovaries are checked, and if there is any myoma, cyst, infection or any other health problem, their treatment is started. The mother is informed by her doctor about what to pay attention to during pregnancy , and folic acid may be recommended first for the healthy development of the baby. In general, some answers to the question “What should be taken into consideration in the first week of pregnancy?” are as follows:
- Switching to a healthy diet
- Reducing tea and coffee consumption
- Avoiding ready-made, processed and packaged foods
- Quitting smoking and alcohol use, if any
- Paying attention to sleep patterns
- Resting as much as possible
- Light exercise and walking
- Ensuring you stay away from stress
- Avoiding sexual intercourse without consulting a doctor
Is 1 Week Pregnancy Shown on the Test?
The first question that comes to the mind of women who have some doubts about pregnancy may be “Am I pregnant?” The clearest answer to this is undoubtedly pregnancy tests. Pregnancy tests are of two types: urine tests and blood tests. Urine tests give accurate results approximately 2-3 days after the expected menstrual date is delayed. Pregnancy tests measured from urine give positive or negative results by measuring hormone levels in the urine. However, urine tests may give negative results even if there is pregnancy before the menstrual delay, since hormone levels are not yet high in the early stages of pregnancy. For this reason, it may be more appropriate to wait for the menstrual period to pass. Pregnancy tests taken from blood can be detected up to a few days before the menstrual delay. In general, pregnancy is calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period and the week of pregnancy is determined accordingly. However, pregnancy cannot be determined by any test method performed 1 week after intercourse. If you suspect that you are pregnant and are experiencing early pregnancy symptoms, you can contact a healthcare provider and get the final result. For a confirmed pregnancy, you can make an appointment with your gynecologist and start routine pregnancy follow-up.
