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Things Mom Never Told You

You May Be Expecting -- but Maybe Not Expecting This

Written by Michele Bloomquist

April 16, 2001 -- There's no doubt about it, pregnancy is a time of discovery and surprises. But for many moms-to-be, the journey includes some symptoms for which they may be unprepared.

In the spirit of full disclosure, we've gathered a group of new or pregnant moms and persuaded them to tell all. The names of the women have been changed to protect their privacy, but the experiences they share are true to life.

Spider veins

What started out as one little red vein quickly grew into a roadmap of red, blue, and purple streaks on 22-year-old Jessica Thompson's legs.

"It started during the fourth month and got nothing but worse," she says. "My legs looked like those of a 60-year-old!"

While alarming, spider veins are actually common during pregnancy, says Michael D. Randell, MD, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Atlanta's Northside Hospital. They are a result of increased estrogen in the system and usually subside after delivery, he says.

Jessica's baby is now 3 months old and her spider veins are 75% gone.

"There is one big patch above my knee that hasn't faded, but even that looked much better within a week after my delivery."

If spider veins stick around, a dermatologist can make them disappear with saline injections or laser zapping, says Randell.

Itchy belly

"Around the seventh month of my pregnancy, the sides of my stomach itched so bad I could hardly stand it," says 28-year-old Laura Smith.

This common annoyance is caused by a combination of dry skin (thanks to pregnancy hormones) and the stretching of the skin as the baby grows, says Lorraine Chrisomalis, MD, assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia Presbyterian Eastside in New York City. But don't scratch -- that can lead to stretch marks, she says.

Instead, slather on moisturizer after bathing and several times throughout the day. And don't worry that you'll be itching for months; it usually passes within a few days.

Bleeding gums and nosebleeds

A common but often surprising symptom during pregnancy is the so-called 'pink toothbrush' effect. Starting in the first trimester, hormonal changes in the body trigger increased blood flow to your mouth and nasal passages that in turn can lead to bleeding gums and nosebleeds.

"When I went to the dentist in my first trimester, she said my gums bled so much during my cleaning that if she hadn't known I was pregnant, she would have been seriously concerned," says 27-year-old Tracy Jacobs, who is now pregnant with her second baby.

Keeping up with good dental hygiene is a must during pregnancy, says Ruth Shaber, MD, the women's health leader for Northern California's Kaiser Permanente Hospital. So keep brushing and flossing as usual throughout pregnancy, pink toothbrush or not, she says.

Changes in sex drive

Jessica recalls a surprising surge in her sex drive during the second trimester of her pregnancy. "I wanted to have sex all the time," she says. "It seemed as if I wasn't having it, I was thinking about it -- I had sex on the brain!"

Her sex drive overdrive continued right up to the final month of her pregnancy. "It's strange because I didn't exactly feel like my body was attractive, but I didn't care," she says.

"Sex drives can go up and down throughout pregnancy," says Ernst G. Bartsich, MD, associate clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Cornell Medical Center in New York City. "Women should follow their instincts and feelings," he says, and fears that having sex will hurt the baby are unfounded.

So unless a woman is experiencing a problem, such as bleeding, let the games begin!

Vivid dreams and disturbing thoughts

Pregnant women and new mothers often are caught off guard by vivid dreams and thoughts, often disturbing ones, says Bartsich. "It's not uncommon, but many women don't talk about this because it is so taboo," he says.

Laura Smith remembers just such a dream.

"I dreamed I was bathing the baby in a tub and there was steam all around. I slowly picked up a towel and put it over the baby's face, smothering it. Then I woke up suddenly," she recalls.

She knew she would never do such a thing but mentioned it during a prenatal visit, where she was reassured by her doctor that such dream are common and normal in pregnancy.

Bartsich says passing thoughts -- for example, stepping out into traffic or feeling ambivalent about motherhood -- also can occur. While distressing, these too are common.

"Even a woman who has been wanting a baby very much may have second thoughts about becoming a parent. It is very normal," he says.

Early lactation

"I had just gotten out of the shower and was bent over blow-drying my hair when I felt something drip on my knees," says Jessica, who was in her final month of pregnancy at the time. "I thought it was water from my hair but when I stood up, the wetness ran down my belly." Shocked, she realized the source of the flow was her nipples.

"Early lactation is very common, but for women who haven't been warned about this, it can be scary," says Shaber.

Milk production can start as early as the second trimester thanks to increasing levels of the hormone prolactin in the blood. Stimulation is usually the cause, such as the heat from a blow dryer or the massage of the shower. Remove the stimulation and the flow usually will stop, Shaber says. If it happens frequently, nursing pads will come in handy.

"It's definitely not dangerous or a sign that anything is wrong," says Shaber. "In fact, it should reassure a woman that she will have plenty of milk when the baby arrives."

Fatigue

Fatigue is a common problem in pregnancy, especially in the first and third trimesters. Tracy was expecting to be tired at the end of her pregnancy, but she was caught off guard by the fatigue in her first few months.

"Afternoons are the worst," she says. "I try to schedule anything I have to get done in the morning, when I have the most energy."

This fatigue may be nature's way of getting a woman to slow down while their fetus is implanting and getting established, says Chrisomalis. "I encourage women to really relax, take naps in the afternoon if possible, go to bed early, and pamper themselves," she says.

Regular exercise and good nutrition also can combat fatigue. If anemia is the cause, iron supplements may be prescribed.

Constipation

An unfortunate drawback of iron supplementation can be constipation, says Randell.

"As soon as I started taking the iron, I completely backed up," says Jessica.

Even without the iron supplements, the extra progesterone in the body during pregnancy can lead to an overall slowing down of the intestinal tract. Randell advises patients to try to prevent constipation by making sure they eat plenty of fiber-rich foods, like fruits and vegetables, and drink eight or more glasses of water a day. If constipation does occur, your doctor can recommend a pregnancy-safe stool softener to get things moving again.

While all of these symptoms are completely normal and common, that doesn't mean you shouldn't mention them during your prenatal visits.

"We want to hear about these things, even if they are routine," says Randell.

And while most are likely nothing to worry about, some symptoms may overlap with those of a more serious condition, he says. For example, itchy belly is normal, but intense itching all over can indicate a serious condition known as fatty liver. So don't hesitate to tell all.

"There is no such thing as a silly question," he says. "That's what we are here for."

Michele Bloomquist is a freelance writer based in Brush Prairie, Wash. She writes frequently about consumer health.

How to determine pregnancy without a test

How to determine pregnancy without a test and what signs indirectly indicate that your beloved baby will be born soon? Of course, only a blood test can give a 100% guarantee, but the presence of certain signs may indicate its possible onset.

Classic signs of pregnancy

The most common early signs and symptoms may include

• Delayed menses. Problems with the regularity of the menstrual cycle may be associated with hormonal imbalance in the body. But if the delay arose for the first time, and before that the cycle was as accurate as a clock, then it is likely that you are pregnant.
• Early toxicosis with severe nausea and vomiting - the most common sign of an interesting situation, but not every woman has.
• Pain in both breasts or enlargement. Nipples can become very sensitive and change color. Sometimes in the early stages, colostrum is released from them with slight pressure.
• Pain in the pelvic region, similar to menstruation. But this sign can also indicate such a serious pathology as an ectopic pregnancy.
• Increased amount of discharge from the genitals. This can usually be observed during ovulation. Normal discharge is clear and odorless. When a whitish tint or a curdled structure appears, thrush can also be assumed, which is a common problem for expectant mothers. But in this case, you can not do without treatment. During the period of bearing a child, it is necessary to protect your body as much as possible from any, even such a safe disease.
• Increased or vice versa reduced libido. Every woman experiences jumps in sexual desire in one direction or the other due to hormonal changes occurring in the body. Therefore, men should treat this with understanding, knowing that they have not become less loved, but these are just signs of pregnancy.
• Frequent urination, despite the fact that you do not drink more often and there are no inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system. A similar phenomenon is associated with a slight relaxation of the sphincter of the bladder due to hormonal processes. And with the growth of the uterus and, accordingly, with the increase in pressure on the bladder, going to the toilet will become even more frequent.

Additional symptoms of pregnancy

There are less obvious signs that may occur during the first trimester. These include:

• Strange Desires . For example, at night I sharply wanted chocolate, and during the day - salted fish. Such desires may not be mere whims. If you want sour, then perhaps there is not enough vitamin C in the body. You want to gnaw on the wall with calcium deficiency, and sniff gasoline - with a lack of iron, anemia.
• Constant irritability, tearfulness. The flow of hormones in a woman's body in the early stages can make her unusually emotional. So-called mood swings can be a clear sign of pregnancy.
• Bloating . Hormonal changes can cause feelings of fullness in the abdomen, as at the beginning of the menstrual cycle.
• Bloody discharge pale pink. This symptom is called implantation bleeding. This happens when a fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus, about 10 to 14 days after conception. Usually occurs during the normal periods of the menstrual period. But not all women have such bleeding is a sign of a normal pregnancy. Therefore, in case of detection of deviations from the normal cycle, consult a gynecologist.
• Chair problems . Hormonal changes cause the digestive system to slow down, which can lead to constipation.
• Food aversions . When you are pregnant, you may become more sensitive to certain smells and your sense of taste may change. Like most other symptoms, these eating habits can be attributed to hormonal changes.
• Nasal congestion . An increase in hormone levels and blood production can lead to swelling of the nasal mucosa. This can cause congestion or runny nose, nosebleeds.

How to recognize pregnancy in the early stages. Infographics | infographic

AiF

Very often, pregnancy becomes a surprise, both for the woman herself and for her environment. Some, on the contrary, plan a pregnancy for a long time and listen to all the changes in their body, sometimes wishful thinking. Our infographic will tell you how to accurately determine pregnancy in the early stages.

Symptoms of pregnancy

Well, of course, based on symptoms alone, it is impossible to accurately determine pregnancy. Although they may suggest doing a test. Let's consider the main symptoms in more detail:

1. Sensitive chest. Already a few days after conception, a pregnant woman may notice the first changes. Nipples become more sensitive than usual. This also applies to the rest of the chest. But not always sensitive breasts are a sign of pregnancy. Similar sensations can occur during ovulation or before menstruation.

2. Delayed menses. One of the main signs indicating pregnancy, but not 100 percent. Perhaps you are experiencing climate change, hormonal failure, or gynecological diseases. This is a serious symptom and it is better to consult a doctor. However, a delay of no more than five days is considered the norm. It can also happen that you are pregnant, but your period continues to go. Here you can only advise: after unprotected intercourse, listen to your body and take a pregnancy test.

3. Frequent urination. Is one of the symptoms of pregnancy. But it can also be a symptom of illness, hypothermia, stress, etc.

4. Darkening of the areola of the nipples. Occurs usually no earlier than two weeks later. However, darkening can be caused by the influence of sex hormones in a non-pregnant woman.

5. Increased salivation. Usually appears with nausea in the first three months of pregnancy. Also, salivation is a characteristic symptom in almost all diseases of the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, and even with inflammation of the trigeminal nerve.

Types of tests

Any symptom characteristic of pregnancy may be a harbinger of a disease. Therefore, you need to listen to your body, but on the basis of symptoms alone, you should not diagnose yourself. Moreover, medicine has long allowed women to determine pregnancy with an accuracy of up to 100%. For a more effective result in the early stages, you can donate blood for the pregnancy hormone hCG (chorionic gonadotropin). Every day of pregnancy, the amount of this hormone in the body increases, but at very early stages only very sensitive tests can catch it. Pregnancy can be determined by the level of hCG in the blood within a few days after conception.

If for one reason or another you cannot go to a medical institution, then home tests will help. Of course, a few days after conception, such a test will not show anything. All tests for the determination of hCG in the urine should be done no earlier than a week before the onset of menstruation. The cheapest test strips will show a valid result only from the first day of delay. More expensive tests - inkjet or tablet, can determine pregnancy just a week before critical days. In general, in order not to guess on coffee grounds - is it too early to take a test, or is it time already - you need to know some values. Such home tests have a sensitivity of 10 to 25 Mme/ml. So the smaller the number, the more sensitive the test. For example, a ten test can show pregnancy as early as four weeks. What a week you can have is easy to calculate, you need to remember the first day of your last menstruation - this will be the starting point.

Test results

Any pregnancy test can show both a false positive and a false negative result. False-negative results are associated, as a rule, with incorrect testing, violation of the instructions. Or too short a pregnancy. It may be that the second band is weakly expressed. This is possible if you took the test before the expected delay, or if you have an ectopic pregnancy. False positive test results are rare, but possible. It can occur due to taking medications containing hCG, tumors, a recent miscarriage, etc.

Ultrasound will show the most accurate result. It will confirm pregnancy and help rule out an ectopic. You can do it no earlier than 3.5-4 weeks after conception. If you do not know when the conception occurred, then you can count about 5-6 weeks from the beginning of the last menstruation. Before this time, there is no point in going to the ultrasound. It is better to consult a gynecologist, and he will prescribe the necessary examinations in the early stages of pregnancy.

See also:

• Seven ways to strengthen the immune system. Tips from a Stavropol doctor →
• The sun is to blame. Why Stavropol residents suffer from edema →
• Not enough vitamins: how to make up for winter losses in spring →

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