It’s in the Stars : Signs of Pregnancy

If there’s one thing about your body that you would like some advance notice of, it is probably going to be signs of pregnancy. However, some women evoke the envy of countless nauseous mothers by experiencing virtually none of these syndromes. Even the bump itself, immortalised by the art of every civilisation, isn’t inevitable.  (In case you’re wondering, it’s not necessarily because they are obese. Sometimes it just doesn’t show.)

But never mind the few. Most of us will experience at least some changes by the time implantation takes place.  The baby itself is barely a few cells wide at this point, but our bodies would have taken on enormous hormonal changes in anticipation of its future needs.

Some Signs

Light spotting is likely to happen seven days after conception or right before a period commences. It begins as a light flow and peaks before tapering off again.

Unusual fatigue is another common complaint, because the body has depleted much of its resources in making these new arrangements.  This is boosted by a dose of progesterone which causes drowsiness, and a faster heartbeat to cater to an escalated demand for blood. As you might know, the placenta will be exchanging a staggering amount of nutrients and wastes as the foetus grows into a more complex existence.

While rather fewer women after the advent of the Pill have stuck to a routine of taking their oral temperature in the morning, it might be a good idea to pick the thermometer back up if you’re contemplating pregnancy.  A sustained elevation of basal temperature is one of the strongest indications available.

Go With Your Gut

The most important thing to recognise when it comes to signs of pregnancy is this: most of us won’t go looking for them unless there’s a good reason behind it. Separating the physiological from the psychological is a practice from a male chauvinistic professional viewpoint, but in the case of pregnancy, the two are inextricably linked. So take a break and think about how you’re feeling. Chances are if you really think and feel you are pregnant, you just might be (provided you’d been trying.)