Usually women become aware of their pregnancy for the first time when they miss their regular menstrual period. Some other early markers of pregnancy that are quite common are morning sickness and/or weakness and fatigue, heavy swollen and tender breasts, dizziness etc. But much before the menstruation cycle date, some women tend to notice a vaginal discharge that may be heavy or light, but is very different from what is normally experienced every month. The color of the discharge is light and is more watery. It tends to stop on its own and is, usually not a reason to be alarmed. Only, that it is one more indicator for the things to come.

Like all other pregnancy symptoms this one too is not a universal sign of pregnancy. This is one essential characteristic of all pregnancy markers. Also quite often these symptoms can be mistaken for some other problem. Taken together it means detecting pregnancy is not so easy. It takes a woman’s sixth sense and a qualified doctor’s skill to determine whether a pregnancy has occurred or not. Sometimes, a pregnancy test has to be undertaken for the purpose. The correct administration of the test is important to get reliable results.

Once pregnancy is established, a lot of preparation is needed. In fact, there may be a need to change your lifestyle to incorporate the changes accompanying pregnancy. Depending on the doctor’s advice and your own assessment of your health, it may be necessary to take complete bed rest or step up your physical exercise regime suitably. You need to take ample care of yourself at all levels, physical, mental, and emotional, in order to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy to be followed by an equally safe and healthy childbirth. Care means not missing the doctor’s appointment, eating sensibly, and balancing work and rest schedules. Most important care also means following a one-point agenda to remain not only stress-free but positively happy as well, as what you do when you are pregnant profoundly affects your child throughout life. One should never undermine this aspect of parenthood

Like the rose has thorns and even the brightest object has a shadow, the most beautiful and gratifying phase of a woman’s life has its depressing aspects. Probably that is the reason why God has packed pregnancy in a mystery that is scary and enchanting at the same time. For the woman who has become pregnant for the first time the experience would tend to be loaded with unknown fears. The nine month long time can spring up many surprises causing much anxiety that is understandable. However, much of the uncertainty and fear is avoidable as the Internet provides you all the requisite knowledge. There are sites that discuss pregnancy day by day.

With that knowledge at hand, you can actually enjoy your pregnancy on a day to day basis. Knowing what to expect and how to tackle what comes up makes you a watchful person so that you do not miss on anything that is important, be it your diet, your posture or your medicines. Pregnancy symptoms will not catch you unawares, in fact you would be well prepared and careful about the oncoming changes, physical or mental. Now all that knowledge and the accompanying confidence should make your experience of pregnancy a safe, healthy, and pleasant one.

But before we miss, let me remind you to include something very important - light exercises during pregnancy. Do consult your doctor to advise you on appropriate pregnancy exercises so that you do not miss this aspect at all. All the increased weight of the fetus has its own effect on your physique that needs to be balanced with proper exercise that does not tax your fragile health in an adverse manner. In fact it helps tone up your muscles and provides much needed strength to bear the baby. But beware of overdoing it. The keyword is balance