Early signs of pregnancy: what should a woman look for? Clinical signs of pregnancy

29.08.2019

Pregnancy for many women is the most anticipated event. And, of course, I would like to understand as soon as possible whether the assumptions are correct. In order to determine the reliable ones, you need to carefully monitor your body even before conception. If a woman knows exactly what sensations she experiences at different stages of the menstrual cycle, namely the period after ovulation, then it is quite easy for her to notice the changes that occur in case of conception.

Cessation of menstruation, nausea, drowsiness, breast tenderness, swelling of the extremities, mood swings, increased appetite and a number of other factors are signs of the desired "position".

During pregnancy, especially in the very early stages, aching pain in the lower back, lower abdomen, a feeling of heaviness, pressure in these areas may sometimes appear. These symptoms are caused by a large blood flow to parts of the small pelvis, namely to the uterus. Also, a woman in the early stages may have minor bleeding and spasms.

A week after the completed conception, the fair sex may experience scanty discharge with drops of blood. Such "implantation" bleeding in the early stages occurs due to the fact that these days the egg begins to attach to the uterine wall. Then the pregnant woman may be disturbed by cramps, which resemble by their nature pulling pains, as with menstruation.

Additional symptoms

However, all of the above symptoms differ from menstruation in their very short-term nature. But there are other reliable signs of pregnancy. The expectant parent may experience pain, which is associated with a thickening of the walls of the uterus. Also, active cell division provokes the appearance of white discharge.

Some breast enlargement along with its increased sensitivity indicates that the woman is in position. The breasts may swell, and the skin around the nipples may darken. Such changes are clear signs of pregnancy, and at the earliest stages they are easiest to notice. Malaise, feeling tired, fatigue are also some of the manifestations of conception.

Frequent urination can be one of the symptoms of "position". This phenomenon can be troubling in the earliest stages of the onset of pregnancy. All this is explained by a change in the hormonal picture in a woman. For early terms, a decrease in pressure is also characteristic. This is due to the flow of blood to the internal organs.

Some women (early) are overtaken by an increased appetite or a changed taste. There is a desire to eat a lot, and the appetite is caused by foods that did not attract in any way before. Addiction to sour, salty and other foods with "extreme" tastes may arise. In the matter of choosing a new unusual menu, everything will depend on the characteristics of the organism. Such manifestations are typical for pregnant women at an early stage. However, they can also mislead a woman, therefore, to be sure, it is better to do the test right away.

True signs

If for some reason you are not satisfied with the usual test, there are more accurate diagnostic methods. For the greatest persuasiveness, a woman should consult a gynecologist. Using various methods, the specialist will be able to accurately answer whether there is a pregnancy or not. First of all, an analysis can be assigned for the presence of a fertilization marker in the blood serum.

Such a study can be carried out within a few hours after fertilization, while conventional tests make it possible to determine pregnancy from about the 10th day of fertilization, when the egg has already attached to the uterine wall.

The most common and reliable method for determining pregnancy is ultrasound. By performing an ultrasound examination with a special transvaginal probe, the doctor will be able to see the embryo at the 3rd or 4th week.

It is important not to confuse the concepts of fertilization and egg implantation. The attachment of the egg is observed only a week after the moment of fertilization.

You can also perform an analysis of hCG, in other words, determine the pregnancy hormone. This study is carried out on the basis of the patient's blood, as well as urine. When a woman is in position, this hormone begins to be actively produced by the placenta.

It performs the function of the endocrine gland, which produces a full range of active hormones required by the body, as well as other substances vital for the development of the fetus, including chorionic gonadotropin. The latter can be found in the blood a week after conception. But in urine, it does not always appear immediately. Then the use of tests can give a negative result.

It is important to remember that the lifestyle of the expectant mother directly affects the development of her baby. If you are just getting ready for conception and, even more so, if you have already suspected pregnancy, completely exclude alcohol from drinking, introduce as many fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet as possible. Try to be outdoors more often and ... don't be nervous!

Feeling of the uterus

The indisputable signs of pregnancy include the identification of parts of the embryo when palpating the uterus with the fingers. The easiest way to determine the dense and round head, sometimes it turns out to probe small parts. The examining physician's hand is able to detect fetal movement. Also, with a stethoscope (or thanks to a cardiac monitor), it is possible to listen to the heartbeat of a new life.

The latter method indicates 100% pregnancy, but refers to late signs that can be seen only at the end of the 4th or at the very beginning of the 5th month of gestation. Another important "late" factor in the diagnosis is the vaginal examination, as well as palpation of the uterus.

Its value in the normal state is no more than 9 cm (if we consider the longitudinal axis). In pregnant women, this indicator changes. If, until the end of the first trimester, the uterus is still located in the plane of the small pelvis, and it can only be felt by examining the vagina itself, then it leaves the small pelvis. At this stage, it can be felt from the side of the peritoneum. Further, a noticeable increase in the female abdomen begins - no tests are needed here.

Another sign of pregnancy is the hardening of the uterus. At first, it is completely soft, but later it becomes denser.

Finally, a delay in menstruation also indicates a possible pregnancy. This classic symptom is a fairly reliable sign for those who are used to a regular cycle of menstruation. And if the delay is combined with swelling of the mammary glands, the appearance of milk in them, we can congratulate you and refer you to a gynecologist.

Every woman should regularly visit a gynecologist, it is not very important for whatever reason - both in the moments of preparation for motherhood, and in the course of ordinary everyday life. After all, there are situations when a woman independently uses tests and does not even suspect about an ectopic pregnancy. This situation is very dangerous for the life of both the woman herself and her unborn child. A fertilized egg, anchored on the walls of the uterus, is actively growing and can damage internal organs, cause severe bleeding, acute pain. That is why it is important to consult a doctor in time to find out the true state of affairs.

Have more children and don't get sick!

Diagnostics of pregnancy is of particular interest not only within the framework of obstetric practice - knowledge of its principles will not interfere with people who are quite far from medicine. The fact is that a lot of time passes from the moment of conception to the appearance of clear signs of its result. Therefore, various indirect manifestations have long been identified, which are less or more likely to indicate the development of pregnancy.

Now, in connection with the widespread use of modern technologies, the significance of such symptoms is gradually being lost. But conceiving a child is not always a planned process - a woman may not expect a pregnancy to develop at all. Despite the informativeness of a blood test for hCG, its conduct is most justified only no earlier than 10 weeks. How then to suspect that an embryo is already growing and developing in the uterine cavity?

For such purposes, since the last century, there are various signs indicating the development of pregnancy. For ease of use, they were divided into several groups - according to information content. Separately, they are not of particular value (except for probable signs), therefore, their assessment is usually carried out in a comprehensive manner. Moreover, each group of symptoms takes on its importance in certain periods of the course of pregnancy.

Questionable signs

These manifestations, although they are of the least value to the investigator, arise first of all. The maximum limit for their appearance is no more than 4 weeks from the moment of conception. The development of such signs is characterized by a number of common points:

The greatest severity of symptoms (especially subjective) is typical for women for whom this pregnancy is the first.
The intensity of manifestations also depends on the age of the pregnant woman - the younger the girl, the more pronounced they will be.
Characterized by a gradual and sequential development of signs - only very rarely do they occur simultaneously. Moreover, it is not necessary for a woman to observe all the phenomena that will be listed below.
First, subjective symptoms always appear, and only after them - objective ones. Moreover, the first are distinguished by relative instability - they can multiply intensify and weaken, arise and disappear again.
Objective manifestations after development usually persist throughout the entire period of gestation, and gradually disappear only in the postpartum period.

Presumptive signs of pregnancy serve more so that the woman herself can suspect this condition in herself even before she goes to the doctor.

Subjective

The essence of these phenomena is to change the woman's well-being, as well as some physiological functions. But the problem is that their severity and nature in individual cases varies greatly. Therefore, you should list the subjective dubious signs of pregnancy only in general terms:

First of all, it is the lability (instability) of the nervous system. It is manifested by severe drowsiness or insomnia, a feeling of malaise and fatigue, and frequent mood swings.
In connection with the same processes, there is an intolerance to some odors - especially colognes and perfumes, tobacco smoke. They contribute to the occurrence of dizziness and nausea in a woman.
A change in food cravings and appetite is noted - an irresistible craving for certain dishes and products appears, along with aversion to others.
Mostly in the morning, there is a transient feeling of nausea, which may even be accompanied by a single act of vomiting.
Frequent urination, not accompanied by pathological symptoms, is also a dubious sign of pregnancy, especially in combination with other phenomena.
A transient feeling of tension in the mammary glands, as well as their increased sensitivity, appears a little later than other manifestations. Although often only its occurrence warns about the onset of pregnancy.

Most pregnant women associate such manifestations with the development of early toxicosis, although this approach is incorrect. Unlike symptoms of pathological origin, they are not persistent, and do not violate the general condition of the woman.

Objective

This group of signs includes only those phenomena that the woman herself or the doctor can see during the examination. Unlike subjective symptoms, their occurrence is characteristic not only of early pregnancy. Therefore, their comprehensive assessment can be carried out in any trimester:

First of all, the appearance of foci of increased pigmentation is noted, due to a progressive change in the hormonal background. The most characteristic localizations are the areola and the white (midline) line of the abdomen. Less commonly, such areas appear on the skin of the face.
Not earlier than the second trimester, striae appear - red or pink "pregnancy stripes" on the skin of the abdomen, thighs and mammary glands. Their occurrence is due to the complex effect of progesterone on the female body.
For later periods, an objective enlargement of the abdomen is a presumptive sign. Quite often, women turn to a doctor only "suddenly" discovering this phenomenon.

Doubtful symptoms are only the first stage in the diagnosis of pregnancy, on the basis of which this condition can only be suspected. But at the same time, their assessment is the simplest and most accessible in the early stages.

Likely signs

From this stage, a professional assessment of the specific manifestations available or absent in a woman is already carried out. Therefore, all detected symptoms are purely objective - their detection and confirmation is possible only with the participation of a doctor. Almost all of them relate to the transformation of the genitals during pregnancy:

The most characteristic, but at the same time the most nonspecific manifestation, is the absence of regular menstruation - delay (physiological amenorrhea). In this case, the main condition for its assessment is the previously existing normal menstrual cycle in a woman of reproductive age.
When viewed in the mirrors, cyanosis is noted - a bluish color - of the vaginal mucosa and the outer surface of the cervix. Evaluation of this symptom is possible only upon examination by a doctor.
During a gynecological two-handed examination, an increase in the size of the uterus is determined, as well as a change in its other parameters. To characterize the detected phenomena in obstetric practice, specific clinical symptoms are used.
In women for whom conception is the first, probable signs of pregnancy also include the appearance of drops of colostrum on the nipples when pressed on them.

A positive result from rapid home confirmation tests is also a likely symptom. Elevated hCG values found in blood are of similar value.

Clinical symptoms

To standardize the data obtained, some of the characteristic features were named after the names of the scientists and physicians who first discovered and described them. Most of the symptoms listed below existed before, but now they serve precisely as probable manifestations of pregnancy:

The general criterion, which does not differ in sufficient specificity, is an enlargement of the uterus. It can be detected during a simple examination no earlier than 12 weeks, when the bottom of the organ reaches the level of the upper edge of the pubic articulation, or is located slightly higher.
The Horvits-Gegara sign is determined during a two-handed gynecological examination. It characterizes the softening of the uterus (mainly in the lower segment), which allows the doctor to make indirect contact with the fingers through the soft tissues.
Chadwick's symptom is used to reflect the bluish discoloration of the vaginal mucosa found on a simple examination in the mirrors.
The sign of Piskacek describes a change in the symmetry of the uterus during the first weeks after conception, which is detected during examination. The change in the shape of the organ is due to the attachment and growth of the embryo in the area of one of the corners. Over time, this phenomenon disappears.
The sign of Gauss and Gubarev also characterizes a decrease in the elasticity of the uterus - upon examination, an increased mobility of the cervix is determined, which does not affect the body of the organ.
A similar mechanism explains the appearance of Snegirev's symptom, which indicates the variability of the soft consistency. Against the background of mechanical irritation (pressure), a noticeable contraction and hardening of the uterus occurs, which soon disappears on its own.
Genter's symptom is rarely found. It is confirmed when a thickening in the form of a dense ridge is found on the anterior surface of the uterus.

Most of the listed signs are available for evaluation in the interval from 5 to 8 weeks, which allows us to say with sufficient confidence about a positive outcome of conception even in the first trimester.

Credible signs

The non-specific nature of the previously listed symptoms is due to the fact that in some cases they accompany the development of some endocrine and gynecological diseases. Therefore, with reliability and accuracy, the fact of pregnancy can only be established by methods that confirm the development and growth of a living fetus inside the uterus. For this purpose, two groups of methods are currently used:

Clinical examination was previously the only way to detect reliable signs of pregnancy. It includes methods of external obstetric examination - Leopold's techniques and listening to the fetal heartbeat. But their assessment is possible only in the second trimester - from about 18 weeks.
Now, instrumental diagnostics are coming to the fore, providing direct visualization of the process taking place in the uterine cavity. Ultrasound examination (ultrasound) allows you to reliably confirm pregnancy already in the first trimester.

Due to the availability and effectiveness of instrumental methods, now the assessment of the alleged and probable manifestations in a pregnant woman is of secondary importance.

Clinical

A comprehensive assessment of reliable signs, carried out according to the examination of a woman, is possible only in the second trimester. Only closer to the 20th week is it possible to say with accuracy that a child is growing and developing inside the uterus. And for this you need to get positive results of an external obstetric examination:

With the help of Leopold's techniques, the location of the main (head, pelvis) and small - limbs - palpable parts of the fetus's body is determined. It is the detection of these signs, as well as the registration of movements - shocks - of the child during palpation that reliably indicates the development of pregnancy.
Another element of diagnosis is auscultation, which allows you to hear the baby's heartbeat using a special instrument (obstetric stethoscope). Normally, it also allows you to hear the beating of a small heart for the first time in the period from 18 to 21 weeks of pregnancy.

Previously, this stage of the study was confirmatory for the first two described earlier. Therefore, it was possible to confirm the fact of conception with accuracy only in the second trimester.

Instrumental

Currently, the duration of pregnancy diagnostics has been shortened as much as possible - all measures taken take no more than two stages. If conception is planned, then you can confirm its result using a reliable method already in the first trimester. Moreover, the method used for this purpose is absolutely safe for both the mother's body and the fetus.

The ultrasound examination completely intercepted the functions that were available in the external obstetric examination. Therefore, it allows you to estimate the same parameters, only with greater accuracy in transmitting information:

Transabdominal ultrasound can be used to diagnose pregnancy as early as 4 weeks. And if the study is carried out transvaginally - through the posterior fornix of the vagina - then conception can be confirmed even earlier.
During the first trimester, an undoubted manifestation of pregnancy is the detection of a developing ovum in the cavity of an organ, as well as visualization of its individual components. These include the embryo itself and the structures surrounding it.
If the assessment is carried out closer to the second trimester, then during the study, a living and formed fetus with the surrounding membranes is already visualized.
An important criterion of vital activity is the registration of the heartbeat in the embryo - with the help of ultrasound, this became possible already from the 5th week of pregnancy. And motor activity can be assessed already at the end of 2 months from the moment of conception.

The high efficiency and safety of ultrasound has made it the leading method used in obstetric practice. And the information content and versatility made it possible to use it not only for the diagnosis of pregnancy, but also for the exclusion of various disorders and diseases in the fetus.

The diagnosis of pregnancy is undoubted if, during the examination, parts of the fetus, heartbeat and movement of the fetus are determined, with ultrasound examination - the ovum. These reliable signs of pregnancy do not appear at the beginning of it, but at a later date (V-VI month). In the early stages, the diagnosis of pregnancy is established on the basis of hypothetical and probable signs.

Suspected (doubtful) signs of pregnancy

Presumptive signs include manifestations of general changes associated with pregnancy:

changes in appetite (aversion to meat, fish, etc.), whims (attraction to spicy dishes, to unusual substances - chalk, clay, etc.), nausea, vomiting in the morning;

changes in olfactory sensations (aversion to perfume, tobacco smoke, etc.);

changes in the nervous system: irritability, drowsiness, mood instability, etc.;

pigmentation of the skin on the face, along the white line of the abdomen, nipples and areola.

Likely signs of pregnancy

This group of signs includes changes in menstrual function and changes in the genitals:

cessation of menstruation;

the appearance of colostrum from the milk ducts opening on the nipple when pressing on the mammary glands;

cyanosis (cyanosis) of the vaginal mucosa and cervix;

change in the size, shape and consistency of the uterus;

laboratory tests (determination of chorionic hormone in urine and blood).

Credible signs

Determination of fetal parts by palpation of a woman's abdomen (Leopold's techniques).

Determination of fetal movements during palpation: the sensation of fetal movement on palpation or ultrasound.

Listening to fetal heart sounds. The diagnosis of pregnancy is confirmed by listening to fetal heart sounds, the frequency of which is 120/140 per minute. Heartbeats can be determined from 5-7 weeks using instrumental research methods: ECG, phonocardiography, cardiotocography, ultrasound, and from 17-19 weeks - auscultation.

The identification of probable signs of pregnancy is done by:

palpation of the mammary glands and squeezing out colostrum;

examination of the external genital organs and the entrance to the vagina;

research using mirrors;

vaginal and two-handed vaginal-abdominal examination of a woman.

A delay in menstruation is an important symptom, especially in women with a regular cycle. The significance of this symptom increases if it is combined with engorgement of the mammary glands and the appearance of colostrum in them, with the onset of cyanosis of the vagina and especially the vaginal part of the cervix, with a change in the size and consistency of the uterus.

With the onset of pregnancy, as pregnancy progresses, the size of the uterus changes. The change in the shape of the uterus is determined with a two-handed (bimanual) examination. The uterus in non-pregnant women is pear-shaped, somewhat compacted in the anteroposterior size. With the onset of pregnancy, the shape of the uterus changes. From 5-6 weeks, the uterus takes on a spherical shape. Starting from 7-8 weeks, the uterus becomes asymmetrical, one of its corners can protrude. By about 10 weeks, the uterus becomes spherical again, and by the end of pregnancy it takes on an ovoid shape.

The following signs indicate pregnancy:

Enlargement of the uterus ... The increase in the uterus is noticeable at 5-6 weeks of pregnancy; The uterus first increases in the anteroposterior direction (becomes spherical), later its transverse size also increases. The longer the gestation period, the clearer the increase in the volume of the uterus. By the end of the second month of pregnancy, the uterus increases to the size of a goose egg, at the end of the third month of pregnancy, the bottom of the uterus is at the level of the symphysis or slightly above it.

Horwitz-Gegar sign ... The consistency of the pregnant uterus is soft, and the softening is especially pronounced in the isthmus. In a two-handed study, the fingers of both hands meet in the isthmus region with almost no resistance. This symptom is very typical for early pregnancy.

Snegirev's sign ... Pregnancy is characterized by a slight change in the consistency of the uterus. The softened pregnant uterus, during a two-handed examination, under the influence of mechanical irritation, becomes denser and shrinks in size. After the termination of irritation, the uterus regains a soft consistency.

Piskacek sign. In the early stages of pregnancy, there is often an asymmetry of the uterus, depending on the dome-shaped protrusion of its right or left corner from 7-8 weeks.

The protrusion corresponds to the site of implantation of the ovum. As the ovum grows, the protrusion gradually disappears (by 10 weeks).

Gubarev and Gaus drew attention to the easy mobility of the cervix in the early stages of pregnancy. Easy displacement of the cervix is associated with significant softening of the isthmus.

Genter's sign. In the early stages of pregnancy, there is an increased bend of the uterus anteriorly, resulting from a strong softening of the isthmus, as well as a ridge-like thickening (protrusion) on the anterior surface of the uterus along the midline. This thickening is not always determined.

Thus, the diagnosis of pregnancy is made on the basis of clinical findings. However, in some cases, when it is difficult to diagnose pregnancy or for the purpose of differential diagnosis, laboratory diagnostic methods are used. Diagnosis of early pregnancy is based on the determination of pregnancy-specific substances in the body fluids of a woman.

Modern methods for diagnosing pregnancy are divided into biological, immunological, echographic (ultrasound diagnostics) and others.

Both biological and immunological methods are based on the determination in biological material (most often in urine) of choriogonadotropin (CG), a hormone secreted by chorion. Choriogonadotropin (CG) is chemically close to pituitary lutropin (LH), it is a glycoprotein with a relative molecular weight of 37900.

The hormone consists of two peptide chains ( and -subunits), one of which () is the same for all glycoproteins - hCG, lutropin (LH), follitropin (FSH) and thyrotropin (TSH), and the other is -specific for each of them. The-subunit of hCG with a relative molecular weight of 23,000 has a specific hormonal activity. The synthesis of hCG begins from the first days of pregnancy and continues until delivery with maximum production 60-70 days after implantation. Then its level decreases and remains stable until delivery.

Currently, immunological methods are used to diagnose early pregnancy. Immunological methods are based on a precipitation reaction with rabbit antiserum, either on complement fixation, or on inhibition of the hemagglutination reaction. The most widely used method of suppressing the hemagglutination reaction, developed simultaneously in two laboratories in 1960, Z. Swierczynska, E. Samochowiec (Poland) and L. Wide, C. Gemzell (Sweden). The method is based on inhibition of the agglutination reaction between "charged" HCG erythrocytes (antigen), anti-HCG antiserum (containing specific antibodies) and added urine. When erythrocytes, "charged" CG (antigen) and the urine of a pregnant woman, are added to the antiserum (antibodies), the CG present in it binds to the antiserum, and the erythrocytes do not agglutinate and settle to the bottom of the ampoule. If urine of a non-pregnant woman, which does not contain hCG, is added, an agglutination reaction occurs, and erythrocytes are distributed evenly in the ampoule. To carry out the diagnostic reaction, the contents of the ampoule are dissolved in 0.4 ml of the phosphate buffer supplied with the kit, and two drops of fresh morning filtered urine are added using the supplied capillary. The contents of the ampoule are mixed and the ampoule is placed at room temperature. After 2 hours, the reaction is taken into account: a uniform distribution of erythrocytes in the ampoule indicates the absence of pregnancy, their settling to the bottom in the form of a ring or a button indicates the presence of pregnancy.

Radioimmunological method 10 times more sensitive than immunological. The most common method of double antibodies, based on the precipitation of antibodies to a hormone. For radioimmunological determination of hCG, it is best to use ready-made kits produced by various companies. The use of radioimmunological methods makes it possible, within 5-7 days after implantation of the ovum, to determine the level of hCG, equal to 0.12-0.50 IU / L. The latest radioimmunological methods for the determination of the -subunit in the CG molecule make it possible to determine its level equal to 3.0 IU / L. The determination time is 1.5-2.5 minutes.

Immunoassay express methods determination of hCG or -hCG in urine makes it possible to diagnose pregnancy 1-2 weeks after nidation of the ovum.

There are test systems for quickly determining the presence or absence of pregnancy, which can be used by women themselves.

Whether conception was a long-awaited miracle or an unplanned surprise, any girl wants to know about it as soon as possible. Therefore, women are so fond of sharing descriptions of the first signs of pregnancy. After all, tests promise results only after a delay. But you still need to live to see it! And what about a girl who is eaten by curiosity, hope, or anxiety?

We warn you right away: it is useful to know about these signs, but you should not attach too much importance to them. Because they are very subjective and can serve as symptoms of very different conditions.

The female egg is capable of fertilization for the first 12 hours after ovulation. If a woman tracks her cycle and knows exactly when the egg was released, she can determine if conception happened after the act or not.

Symptoms of pregnancy in the first days after conception are similar to those of PMS of varying severity. The fact is that during the luteal period, a woman's body always prepares for pregnancy - just in case. And the processes that take place in it after the release of the egg, for about two weeks, are always the same, regardless of whether conception happened or not.

The corpus luteum, which remains in the ovary after ovulation, produces the hormone progesterone, so in women the breasts swell and become sensitive, irritability, drowsiness, fatigue appear, they often want to go to the toilet, and so on. If pregnancy has really come, then the signs continue, intensify and become more characteristic, and if not, menstruation comes.

Therefore, before the onset of menstruation, many women notice certain symptoms in themselves, which are often considered signs of conception. Their presence, severity and strength depend on the characteristics of the organism. They are not at all necessary - neither in the case of pregnancy, nor in the absence of it.

Many symptoms can be caused not even by PMS, but by common illness or stress. Therefore, you should not rely on such signs of conception 100%. But it is useful to know them - at least for your own peace of mind.

If a woman usually has the second phase of the cycle without pronounced symptoms, the presence of such signs can serve as a kind of "beacon" and allow one to suspect an interesting situation.

As a rule, at 1 week, pregnancy is not even considered a pregnancy yet. At this time, the fertilized egg moves through the tubes into the uterus, where it will gain a foothold and spend the next 9 months. There are no obvious signs these days, although there may be discharge uncharacteristic for the phase of the cycle, pulling sensations in the abdomen, drowsiness, headache and irritability. But for many women, the entire second phase is accompanied by just such symptoms - the notorious PMS is formed from them.

Usually, the first signs appear about 8-10 days after conception. This largely depends on the characteristics of the body of each particular woman, on her attentiveness and level of sensitivity. It is at the 2nd week that some expectant mothers are faced with such a phenomenon as implantation bleeding.

After the fertilization of the egg has occurred, it moves to the uterus and is fixed in one of its walls. In this case, micro-ruptures of blood vessels and capillaries may occur, which are accompanied by bleeding. This phenomenon occurs in only 20-30% of all pregnancies, and sometimes it is mistaken for menstruation that began earlier.

However, it is not difficult to distinguish bleeding during embryo implantation from normal menstruation. It lasts only a few hours, less often it goes all day. At the same time, his intensity is weak and does not increase. The color of the discharge is light brown, bright red, or pink. Analysis of the hCG level at this time is not yet informative, since the changes are just beginning.

The signs of pregnancy at 3 weeks are already more pronounced. The sensations in the chest intensify - soreness, sensitivity, tingling sensations, the areola around the nipples darkens. Taste preferences and reaction to smells change, chronic diseases are exacerbated. As a rule, at this time a delay in menstruation is already detected, so it is time to do a test or donate blood for hCG.

How to recognize early pregnancy

Accurately recognizing a pregnancy before a delay is an unrealistic task. After all, the main reliable sign is the absence of bleeding on day X. However, there are certain symptoms that tell a woman that something is wrong with her. However, as mentioned above, you cannot completely rely on it.

Increased BT

Those women who regularly measure basal temperature know that after ovulation it always rises sharply by several tenths of a degree. This usually lasts about two weeks and before menstruation, the temperature returns to normal. If pregnancy occurs, the temperature above 37 will stay for about two more months.

It is believed that a sign of conception after ovulation is an increase in BT to 37-37.5 degrees at the very end. This is noted by many mothers, although there is no exact confirmation of this phenomenon. At 1 week of gestation, this is facilitated by the high level of progesterone produced by the corpus luteum.

Insomnia and nervousness

With hormonal imbalance caused by changes in the female body, many systems and organs work in new ways. This greatly affects the emotional background of a woman. Therefore, the first symptoms of pregnancy can also manifest as irritability, nervousness, which lead to insomnia.

Drowsiness, fatigue, low blood pressure

Sometimes a feeling of drowsiness appears in the first days of pregnancy, a woman gets tired faster and feels tired even after a long rest. The head starts spinning due to low blood pressure. These signs of pregnancy are also subjective and unreliable, they can happen due to the usual overwork.

Discomfort in the abdomen and lower back

Secondary pregnancy symptoms also manifest as strange sensations in the abdomen or lower back. At the beginning of pregnancy, the blood supply to the pelvic organs increases, so women often feel heaviness and squeezing, discomfort in a sitting position.

A pulling back pain may be felt, although this is often a sign of kidney problems. But the growing pain in the lower abdomen can warn of an ectopic or a threat of miscarriage. Changes in the uterus sometimes cause a tingling sensation, although not all girls feel it. Another sign of pregnancy in the second week, and even later, is bloating. Hormonal changes lead to relaxation of the intestinal muscles and flatulence.

Headache

The first signs of pregnancy before menstruation include spontaneous headaches. They are caused by hormonal fluctuations. At the same time, there are no external reasons for migraine - the girl did not catch a cold, slept, did not sit in a stuffy room.

"Zhor" or lack of appetite

Metabolism accelerates after conception, so signs of pregnancy also include increased appetite.

The opposite picture can also be observed - a woman cannot swallow a single spoon. Typically, this is due to changes in the perception of the taste and aromas of food.

Intolerance to certain odors

During pregnancy, many women become very sensitive to smell and taste. This applies not only to food, but also to everything that surrounds a woman - cleaning products, cosmetics, perfumes, flowers. The girl clearly senses smells and tastes that she had not paid attention to before. Or she suddenly "fell out of love" with those that she used to like.

Indigestion

Hormonal changes are often accompanied by changes in the work of the gastrointestinal tract. Girls may suffer from constipation or diarrhea, belching, heartburn. Nausea and vomiting, which are the first signs of pregnancy, are rare before menstruation is delayed. As a rule, toxicosis begins at about 4 weeks.

Fever, colds

So that the body does not reject the embryo, which is a foreign body for it, after conception, the woman's immunity decreases. That is why one of the common symptoms of pregnancy is the common cold (ARVI).

However, an increase in body temperature to 37 degrees is, in principle, typical for the first months of pregnancy, and due to hormonal imbalance, a woman is sometimes thrown into heat or cold.

Acne

After a woman becomes pregnant, her body begins a large-scale hormonal restructuring, so many notice the appearance of skin rashes - acne, acne among the early symptoms of pregnancy. It is especially worth paying attention to those who have not been bothered by such symptoms before. It should be remembered that acne often accompanies the second phase of the cycle, so the symptom is subjective and unreliable.

Dark spots on the face and darkening of the nipples

Many people consider the appearance of various age spots on the face or darkening of the breast areola as a sign of egg fertilization. These signs are also subjective and cannot serve as a reliable guide. In some women, the areoles darken strongly in the first month of pregnancy, while others do not notice this until the very end of pregnancy. The body of every woman is unique, so the birth of a new life always takes place a little differently than that of others.

Frequent urination

Pregnancy before delay can also be determined by the frequency of small trips to the toilet. Frequent urge is associated with both increased blood flow to the female organs, with a hormonal storm. And they can be explained by aggravated inflammatory processes, for example, cystitis.

Is there an early pregnancy without symptoms?

If the child is long-awaited, the expectant mother anxiously monitors the slightest signs and changes in her body. But it happens that a woman finds out about her new position only after a delay. And if the cycle is irregular and her periods are regularly delayed, then even later. It happens that pregnancy is detected only in the third or fifth month after conception, when the belly is already growing. Since there were no symptoms before. Occasionally, even menstruation can persist (or rather, this is no longer menstruation, but bleeding) in the first 1-2 months. This, of course, does not happen often.

As a rule, signs of pregnancy in the first week after conception are practically invisible or may be absent altogether, and this is the norm. At this time, the changes in the woman's body have not yet entered into full force, and basically coincide with the usual sensations in the second phase of the cycle or with the symptoms of PMS.

Signs of pregnancy

The true signs of pregnancy in the first month include characteristic symptoms that appear several weeks after fertilization. As a rule, the time of their appearance is the third or fourth week of pregnancy, when the restructuring in the mother's body is gaining strength. Their appearance can tell a woman that conception has occurred. But not all of them will necessarily appear: the absence of any of these symptoms is only an individual feature of the organism.

Delay of menstruation

Delayed menstruation is one of the most famous and true signs of conception. But only if the woman has a more or less regular cycle and does not suffer from diseases that cause long delays.

As a rule, in a healthy woman, menstruation occurs at the same time, although small fluctuations of 1-2 days in one direction or another are possible due to illness or stress. Therefore, a delay of 4 days is already a reason to listen more carefully to the sensations and conduct a pregnancy test.

If the cycle is not too regular, then a delay of up to 5-6 days, not accompanied by other symptoms, still cannot serve as a reliable sign of pregnancy. In this case, it is advisable to postpone the test for a 7-8 day delay, since earlier it can give either a false positive or false negative result.

Signs of pregnancy in the first days of the delay are already manifested more noticeably, so if the absence of menstruation is accompanied by abundant white discharge, increased fatigue and drowsiness, chest pain and nausea, a woman may well think about her interesting position.

Swelling of the breast

Another characteristic symptom is changes in the mammary glands. They can swell, become painful, sensitive, the areola darkens - although all this refers to unreliable signs. Typically, the increase in progesterone secretion associated with conception causes a noticeable increase in breast size, as well as the appearance of nipple bumps. Colostrum can sometimes ooze.

Pigment strip on the belly

Almost all pregnant women notice the appearance of a dark pigment strip on the abdomen - it goes from the navel to the pubic bone. Sometimes this sign of pregnancy appears even in the early stages, although this usually happens later - by about 4-5 months.

Nausea

Many women fear pregnancy, having heard the horrors of toxicosis. Of course, it also happens that nausea and vomiting simply bring the expectant mother to exhaustion, and the smell of some products literally turns her inside out. But for many girls, morning sickness quickly passes, almost without causing any inconvenience. And some women note that they have not experienced toxicosis at all.

How to identify early pregnancy

Early diagnosis of pregnancy is possible starting from the day of the expected delay in menstruation. The earliest is the tenth day after conception, until this time no one will give a reliable result.

Diagnostic methods include:

While expecting pregnancy, a woman can take any manifestations and reactions of her body for her signs. Therefore, buying a test with a loss of appetite is still not worth it, it is better to wait for a delay. In addition, many signs are only secondary and subjective. They are caused by the hormone progesterone, which is actively produced in the second phase of the cycle, regardless of whether conception has occurred or not.

Diagnosis of pregnancy
Pregnancy is a process in the female body in which a fetus develops from a fertilized egg. Conception or not is a question that worries many women. A possible pregnancy is suspected in women after the appearance of a number of symptoms specific to this condition.
The diagnosis of pregnancy is made on the basis of a survey, an objective examination of a woman and laboratory research methods.

According to their diagnostic value, signs of pregnancy are divided into:
Presumptive signs of pregnancy are the subjective feelings of a woman and changes in the body that do not relate to changes in the genitals.

Probable signs of pregnancy, objective signs, determined in the genitals, mammary glands, positive biological immunological tests for pregnancy. They appear relatively early.

Credible, or undoubted, signs of pregnancy are signs that appear in the second half of pregnancy and indicate the presence of a fetus in the uterine cavity, its cardiac activity, and its movements. With reliable signs, the diagnosis of pregnancy is beyond doubt.

Suspected signs of pregnancy

Symptoms appear 2-8 weeks after fertilization
Functional disorders of the nervous system and psyche: the formation of a generic dominant, irritability, emotional lability, fatigue, drowsiness, mood instability, weakness, dizziness, tearfulness, withdrawal. Signs are associated with a change in the content of hormones, with the onset of pregnancy.

Metabolic changes: deposition of subcutaneous fat, especially on the abdomen, pigmentation, engorgement, enlargement and soreness of the nipples and areola, protrusion of the veins of the chest; pigmentation of the white line, and sometimes the face; the appearance of stripes (scars) of pregnancy.
General changes in well-being: a feeling of heaviness in the epigastric region, salivation, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to odors, a sharp change in addiction to aromas and tastes, exacerbation of smell and hearing, a strange "metallic" taste in the mouth, constipation, a slight increase in temperature. These signs may be the result of overwork, poisoning, flu, heatstroke.
At 6-8 weeks after fertilization, there is an increase in the urge to urinate, an increase in vaginal discharge. Another cause is inflammation of the urinary tract, diuretics, diabetes.

Likely signs

The uterus increases in size, becomes softer and looser in shape. Blueness of the vaginal mucosa and cervix. Enlargement of the mammary glands, their tension, the appearance of colostrum from the milk ducts opening on the nipple when pressing on the mammary glands (in primary pregnant women). The signs of pregnancy, determined by the doctor, are available after a month of pregnancy (the first week of delay in menstruation). Before this period, pregnancy does not yet lead to tangible changes in the uterus. Even with a longer period, sometimes complete confidence in the accuracy of the data obtained is not created. Signs diagnosed using a bimanual study: the appearance of a dome-shaped protrusion in one of the corners of the uterus (7-12 weeks of pregnancy), compaction of the soft pregnant uterus during its palpation, during early pregnancy due to softening of the isthmus, the fingertips of both hands easily approach each other, easy mobility of the cervix in the early stages of pregnancy, bending of the uterus anteriorly and ridge-like thickening on the anterior surface of the uterus. Another reason for these phenomena is the occurrence of fibroids.

Cessation of menstruation in a healthy, sexually active woman of childbearing age (with a regular menstrual cycle, a delay of 4-6 days is a relatively reliable sign of pregnancy). Other reasons for the absence of menstruation: long travel, fatigue, anxiety about pregnancy, hormonal disorders or serious illness, extreme weight or thinness, breastfeeding, emotional and physical overload, a sharp change in climate, the result of stress. However, if your period is not on time, you can start taking your morning temperature the next morning. The thermometer should be inserted into the rectum to a depth of 2 cm for 5-7 minutes. If the temperature for several days in a row exceeds 37. ° C, this may indicate a possible pregnancy.

Also, if menstruation is delayed, a woman needs to do a rapid pregnancy test. After fertilization of the egg, the woman's body begins to intensively produce a special hormone - chorionic gonadotropin (CG), which contributes to the formation of the fetus and placenta, which is determined in the woman's blood already 7-8 days after conception. In the urine, hCG appears a little later and can be determined at home on the 1st day of the delay in menstruation (express test), and sometimes even 3-5 days before the delay. The hCG content increases every next two days (therefore, for reliability, the study should be carried out 2 times with an interval of 48 hours, using test kits from different manufacturers). After treatment of the test system with urine, with a positive result, the second strip is stained. The test may give an incorrect result, in case of impaired kidney function, heavy drinking of the test (dilution of the hormone concentration), improper storage or use. HCG does not indicate the location of pregnancy (normal intrauterine position of the fetus, or ectopic pregnancy). It should be remembered that a home test cannot replace a consultation and medical examination performed by an experienced professional. In case of doubtful examination results and in clinical situations, laboratory tests for pregnancy are carried out: laboratory urine analysis, like home, detects chorionic gonadotropin in urine with an accuracy close to 100%, within 7-10 days after fertilization (performed by a specialist); a laboratory blood test can provide information about a week after a possible fertilization, it is also based on the detection of hCG, and with the help of a repeated blood test, it is possible to distinguish between a uterine or ectopic pregnancy, and whether a pregnancy is developing. For the most accurate determination of the level of hCG in the blood of a woman, an enzyme immunoassay is performed.

Reliable (undoubted) signs of pregnancy

Fetal heartbeat. Determined at 5-20 weeks (depending on the device used). The earliest way to hear a small heart is to use a vaginal ultrasound probe, the latest is to use a conventional obstetric stethoscope from 16-18 weeks.

Various fetal movements, fetal movement determined by the examiner's hand.
Determination of parts of the fetus by palpation of the woman's abdomen (Leopold's techniques), by feeling the uterus, the anterior abdominal wall of the pregnant woman's abdomen. That is possible only at 4-6 months of pregnancy (before this period, pregnancy does not yet lead to tangible changes in the uterus).

The most common hardware method for diagnosing pregnancy is ultrasound. Ultrasound can detect pregnancy (including ectopic) about 5-6 days of delayed menstruation, and when using a transvaginal sensor (inserted into the vagina) - 1-3 days earlier. Already in the early stages (from 3-4 weeks approximately) on ultrasound, you can see the ovum. In the second trimester of pregnancy, using ultrasound, the fetus can be diagnosed with malformations. In later stages of pregnancy, it is possible to determine the location of the placenta and the volume of amniotic fluid.

Thus, it can be concluded that it is possible to accurately diagnose pregnancy in the early stages of pregnancy.