| Stress, illness, or a change in exercise or | | | | baby will be. |
| diet can delay menstruation. Thus, its | | | | |
| important to pay attention to other symptoms | | | | Important! |
| of early pregnancy: | | | | |
| | | | Seek medical help immediately if you suspect |
| Tender, swollen breasts | | | | that you are pregnant or are in early |
| | | | pregnancy and are experiencing any of these |
| Change in nipple color | | | | symptoms: |
| | | | |
| Spotting or a very light menstrual period | | | | Severe abdominal pain |
| | | | |
| Fatigue | | | | Spotting that lasts for more than one day |
| | | | |
| Nausea | | | | Blood clots or flesh-like tissue from your |
| | | | vagina |
| Feeling bloated | | | | |
| | | | Heavy bleeding that is soaking more than one |
| Increased frequency in urination | | | | sanitary pad an hour |
| | | | |
| Moodiness | | | | Foul smelling vaginal discharge |
| | | | |
| Headache | | | | Faintness or dizziness |
| | | | |
| If you have missed your period and are | | | | Painful urination |
| experiencing one or more of these symptoms, | | | | |
| you may be pregnant. This is possible even if | | | | Severe vomiting |
| you were using birth control. The next step | | | | |
| is either to buy a home pregnancy test or | | | | The baby blues, as mentioned, is the most |
| contact your doctor. | | | | common. It occurs within the first week or so |
| | | | after delivery. The symptoms may include |
| Because of advances in testing, pregnancy can | | | | irritability, tearfulness, anxiety, insomnia, |
| now be detected as early as four days before | | | | loss of energy, decreased appetite, and |
| a missed period. These tests detect the | | | | difficulty concentrating. These problems |
| hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin | | | | usually resolve themselves in a couple of |
| (hCG) that is produced by a developing | | | | weeks, but should not be ignored. The best |
| placenta. The hormone is released into a | | | | way to deal with them is through support, |
| pregnant womans urine and blood and is | | | | physical and emotional, by friends and |
| detected by a pregnancy test. | | | | family. |
| | | | |
| Home pregnancy tests are simple to use. Most | | | | Postpartum depression is obviously more |
| tests involve urinating on a chemically | | | | serious in nature and requires medical |
| treated stick. If hCG is present, the | | | | attention. The symptoms are similar to the |
| chemicals in the stick react to the hormone | | | | blues, but last much longer. This mom can |
| and produce a signal in the tests result | | | | experience depression so severe that its a |
| window. The tests are extremely accurate if | | | | challenge, to say the least, to care for her |
| they are used correctly. However, they do | | | | new baby. It may have long term ramifications |
| occasionally give incorrect results if they | | | | on the childs long term development. It may |
| are not used properly or if you are taking | | | | occur anytime during the first six months. |
| certain medications. If a home test result is | | | | Experts note that two out of every three moms |
| negative, but your period doesnt start in a | | | | recover within a years time, but it has to be |
| few days, repeat the test or ask your doctor | | | | managed by a doctor. They say that if the |
| to give you a test. If a home test is | | | | baby blues symptoms last longer than 2 weeks, |
| positive, visit your doctor as soon as | | | | the mom truly needs to seek medical |
| possible. The sooner that you start your | | | | attention. Treatment is available for this |
| antenatal care, the better off you and your | | | | problem. Dont go through this alone! |