Less Known Questions and Answers About Pregnancy

Pregnancy Over 40, Your Questions Answered

 I remember thinking how I was surprised about so many things going on during my pregnancy.  I had a huge increase in appetite from the very beginning and I had some pretty severe nausea at the same time.
My site: www.getpregnantover40.com for more on strange pregnancy symptoms
 Most people know the major changes their body is going through, but there are other less talked about issues as well.  this article talks about some less known questions and answers about pregnancy:

Here's a few questions from the article:

Q I seem to have had continuous hiccups for the past five months of my pregnancy. Will this affect my baby?
A Again, this is very common. Don’t worry, it won’t affect it at all.
Q I’ve been having some very strange dreams. Is this an effect of pregnancy?
A A lot of women report strange dreams, especially in the first trimester when they might be ­panicking more about whether the baby will be OK.
Towards the later part of ­pregnancy many women also grow worried about the labour so this ­surfaces in dreams.
They can be quite disturbing but you shouldn’t worry.

from:
mirror.co.uk

25 Signs Of Pregnancy, Early Pregnancy Symptoms - Strange Pregnancy Signs

Early Pregnancy Symptoms

It seems like I never cease to find more possible signs of being pregnant. Even if you take an early pregnancy test, it can be incorrect if you take it too early. Some of these signs might actually be a better predictor of pregnancy.  When I was pregnant with my daughter I had symptoms withing a week of conception.  Some people are just more sensitive to the hormonal and physical changes in their body.  Read more:
See Also: Early Strange Pregnancy Symptoms (www.getpregnantover40.com)

Pregnancy Sign Category
Missed period Possible
Unusual or abnormal period Possible
Just "feeling" pregnant Possible
Nausea and Vomiting Possible
Changes in libido Possible
Soreness of the Breasts Possible
Enlargement of the Breasts Possible
Frequent Urination Possible
Strange Cravings Possible
Fatigue Possible
Montgomery's Tubercules Possible
Skin Changes Possible
Stretch Marks Possible
Enlarging Uterus Possible
Movement Possible
Colostrum from Breasts Possible
Enlarged Abdomen Probable
Change in uterine shape Probable
Braxton Hicks Contractions Probable
Palpation of the Baby Probable
Positive Pregnancy Test Positive
Fetal Heart Tones Positive
Ultrasound Detection Positive
X-ray Detection 
from: 
pregnancy.about.com

Early and Late Pregnancy Symptoms Which Could Signal Trouble

Early and Late Pregnancy Symptoms To Have Checked

At the risk of creating more stress for pregnant women, there are some things you should get checked out if you experience them while pregnant.
My site: www.getpregnantover40.com for more on pregnancy symptoms and getting pregnant over 40
 I had a number of alarming symptoms when I was pregnant.  Some of the pregnancies with spotting ended in miscarriage, but my successful pregnancy had spotting as well.  Not all "problems" end in miscarriage, but some things can be dealt with medically so you should have them checked out.  Read more:


• Severe or persistent abdominal pain or tenderness.

• Vaginal bleeding or spotting.

• An increase in vaginal discharge or a change in the type of discharge — that is, if it becomes watery, mucousy, or bloody (even if it's only pink or blood-tinged). Note: After 37 weeks, an increase in mucus discharge is normal and may indicate that you'll be going into labor soon.

• Pelvic pressure (a feeling that your baby is pushing down), lower back pain (especially if it's a new problem for you), menstrual-like cramping or abdominal pain, or more than four contractions in an hour (even if they don't hurt) before 37 weeks.

• Painful or burning urination, or little or no urination.

• Severe or persistent vomiting, or any vomiting accompanied by pain or fever.

• Chills or fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

• Visual disturbances such as double vision, blurring, dimming, flashing lights, or "floaters" (spots in your field of vision).

• Persistent or severe headache, or any headache accompanied by blurred vision, slurred speech, or numbness.

• Any swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, anything more than a little swelling in your hands, severe and sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, or a rapid weight gain (more than 4 pounds in a week).

• A persistent or severe leg cramp or calf pain that doesn't ease up when you flex your ankle and point your toes toward your nose or when you walk around, or one leg being significantly more swollen than the other.

• Trauma to the abdomen.

• Fainting, frequent dizziness, a rapid heartbeat, or heart palpitations.

• Difficulty breathing, coughing up blood, or chest pain.

• Severe constipation accompanied by abdominal pain or severe diarrhea that lasts more than 24 hours.

• Persistent intense itching of your torso, arms, legs, palms, or soles, or a feeling of itchiness all over your body.
from www.babycenter.com

EARLY AND LATE PREGNANCY SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS

Pregnancy Over 40, Symptoms

I really did have some symptoms in pregnancy that nobody ever told me about. This article talks about everything from balance to heartburn to itching. Read more:

Unpredictable Allergies

Seasonal allergies and asthma may become unpredictable during pregnancy. Stein tells WebMD some women see their symptoms improve, while others notice the opposite. She says expectant moms with asthma generally should continue using their inhalers. "If you don't breathe, your baby won't either."

SEE ALSO: ODD AND STRANGE EARLY PREGNANCY SYMPTOMS (www.getpregnantover40.com)

Changes in Balance

In the third trimester, many women find they are perpetually off-balance. "This change happens later in pregnancy, but I notice very few women expect it," Stein tells WebMD. While a growing belly tends to throw off your center of gravity, there's more to it than that. "A hormone called relaxin kicks in toward the end of pregnancy," Stein explains. "Its main purpose is to loosen the pelvic joints so they are more flexible during labor. But this hormone also works on the hips, knees and ankles. This makes [expectant mothers] more wobbly and achy and likely to fall."
Abnormal Pregnancy Symptoms

With so many changes taking place in your body, you may be tempted to dismiss any new discomfort as normal during pregnancy. But certain symptoms could signal a serious problem:

* Bleeding or spotting - According to Lindsay, "bleeding or spotting is never felt to be normal during pregnancy." Spotting is common in the first trimester and probably not a cause for alarm. However, in the second and third trimester, bleeding could provide advance warning of a serious complication, such as preterm labor or problems with the placenta. Always report any bleeding or spotting to your doctor or midwife.
* Severe itching - In the late second and third trimester, severe itching may signal a rare liver problem that sometimes develops during pregnancy, known as intrahepatic cholestasis. "This condition requires increased fetal surveillance and early delivery," Lindsay says.
* Blurred vision, severe headaches and pain in the right side of abdomen - These symptoms, whether they occur alone or in combination, may indicate severe preeclampsia - the medical term for dangerously high blood pressure during pregnancy. "Women who experience any of these symptoms should contact their health care provider immediately," Lindsay advises. Early delivery may be necessary "to avoid life-threatening maternal and fetal complications."
excerpted from
www.webmed.com