SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

OF PREGNANCY

DANNY F. MARIBAOHigh School – FacultyBLWC

Women should start taking care of themselves before becoming pregnant

Good health habits during childhood and adolescence help prepare a woman for childbearing

“Be good to your baby before it is born”

As soon as she believes she is pregnant seek prenatal care◦Always need good medical care, whether it is her first, second, or a later pregnancy.

Most of the time, a woman does not know she is pregnant until several weeks after conception.

Many signs can indicate pregnancy◦No single sign is, by itself, a sure sign of pregnancy.

1. Missed menstrual period◦Delay of 10 or more days◦May stop for other reasons:

•Emotional stress•Changes in climate•diet

•Exercise•Rapid change in body weigh•Chronic diseases

2. Changes in breastsSwelling and tenderness

3. Nausea - Morning SicknessMay occur at any time of the day

About 1/2-1/3 experience

Occurring at the same time daily through 4th month –12th week good sign.

Usually occurs in 1st trimester as body adjusts.

FatiguePoor dietEmpty stomach Get plenty of sleep

Eat nutritious foods

Eating several small meals rather than 2-3 large ones

May add to the problem

May help:

If severe enough to cause routine vomiting, consult doctor.

4. Frequent UrinationGrowing uterus puts pressure on the bladder

Hormones may also cause more frequent urination

5. FatigueAs body adjusts to pregnancy, may feel very tired

May sleep more than usual and need to take naps

For some – lasts throughout 1st trimester

Factors That Affect The Baby’s Health

Mother’s Age◦Ideal time to have a baby

is between the ages of 21 to 28

◦Teens and women over 30 are high-risk mothers-to-be

◦Teens tend to have premature babies, stillborn and malformed babies

◦Women over age 36 tend to have more babies with birth defects

Mothers Weight◦Non-pregnant weight is below 85% of her proper

weight could endanger her and her child’s health Mother’s body meets her dietary need before it

meets the needs of her baby. Underweight woman’s body will first use her food

intake to correct her own vitamin deficiencies. Thus pass fewer nutrients to the baby

Underweight women often have low-birth weight infants

( under 5 ½ pounds)◦Women whose nonpregnant weight is above 120%

Uses a greater proportion of her food intake for energy

High blood pressure, diabetes (body’s inability to utilize sugar) and delivery problems are more likely.

Physical Changes During Pregnancy Body undergoes dramatic changes

during pregnancy Most obvious changes during

pregnancy are the increased size of breasts and abdomen

As skin stretches, the tissues just below the skin surface may tear◦ Can cause pink or red marks called

stretch marks◦ Usually fade into faint, silvery lines◦ Slow even weight gain within the

doctor’s recommendations is the best way to prevent stretch marks.

Internal pressure also affect the bladder.◦Early in pregnancy, growing uterus pushes against the bladder and causes the woman to urinate more often.

◦In middle months, fetus moves out of the pelvic region and into the abdomen, which lessens pressure on the bladder.

◦Late in pregnancy, baby again puts pressure on the bladder, causing a need to urinate more frequently

Emotional Changes During Pregnancy

Not as obvious as physical ones- just as real.

Important influence on emotions is how she feels about being pregnant.

Hormones cause many of a woman’s emotional changes during pregnancy.

Positive thoughts and feelings are impossible for a woman to have a health baby.

Feelings stimulate the nervous system and the flow of adrenaline (hormone that prepares the body to cope with stress; makes person feel more energetic.)

When happy adrenaline level is low, heartbeat and breathing are slow, and muscles are relaxed.

When stressed, adrenaline crosses placenta to baby, carrying stress signals.

Mother’s stress increases her heartbeat and muscle tension as well as the baby’s.

If stress is long lasting, severe, or frequent, the baby may be smaller, fussy, or quite active

May also affect a woman’s digestive system◦During 1st trimester may experience nausea

◦Toward end of pregnancy, as growing fetus exerts more pressure on her stomach and intestines, may feel heartburn and indigestion.

◦Often changing what she eats can help

The End

DANNY F. MARIBAOHigh School – FacultyBLWC