In this Article

• What is pregnancy planning and why is it important?
• What are pregnancy symptoms?
• How can diet and nutrition affect early pregnancy?
• How does alcohol affect pregnancy?
• How do high blood pressure and diabetes affect pregnancy?
• What are examples of commonly-used medications that are dangerous in pregnancy?
• How do kidney and heart disease affect pregnancy?
• What infections affect pregnancy?
• What inherited (genetic) diseases can play a role in pregnancy planning?
• Is it safe to exercise during pregnancy?
• Can I travel by air during pregnancy?
• Can I have intercourse during pregnancy?
• How soon after stopping birth control can I become pregnant?
• How do we maximize our chances of becoming pregnant?
• Can I do something to help my chances of conceiving a boy or a girl?
• Pregnancy Planning At A Glance
• Pictures of Fetal Development - Slideshow
• Patient Discussions: Pregnancy Planning: Lifestyle Changes Made in Preparation
• Pregnancy Planning Glossary
• Pregnancy Planning Index

What are pregnancy symptoms?

There are both symptoms and signs of pregnancy. These symptoms and signs depend upon the time in pregnancy. In the first trimester of pregnancy, the first sign of pregnancy is most often a missed menstrual period. If a sexually active woman's periods are generally regular, missing a period for a week or more is presumptive evidence of pregnancy.

Early symptoms of pregnancy also include feelings of breast swelling and tenderness, and nausea sometimes with vomiting. "Morning sickness" does not always occur in the morning. Many women become fatigued early in pregnancy, and some may feel abdominal enlargement (bloating).

Early in pregnancy, the woman may feel she has to urinate frequently, especially at nighttime, and she may leak urine when coughing, sneezing or laughing. This is also normal later in pregnancy and is not a problem.

Other changes characteristic of pregnancy include the deepening color of the areola (area surrounding the nipple), increased body temperature, the mask of pregnancy (darkening of skin on the forehead, bridge of the nose, or cheekbones), and a dark line going down from the middle of the central abdomen area to the pubic area. Eventually, enlargement of the abdomen is a normal feature of the growing fetus.

Pregnancy Planning: Lifestyle Changes Made in Preparation

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