Pregnancy Symptoms (cont.)
Medical Author:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MDMelissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology. Medical Editor:
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACRDr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology. In this Article
 Abdominal cramps and bloatingSome women may experience feelings of abdominal enlargement or bloating, but there is usually only a small amount of weight gain in the first trimester of pregnancy. In this early stage of pregnancy a weight gain of about one pound per month is typical. Sometimes women also experience mild abdominal cramps during the early weeks of pregnancy, which may be similar to the cramps that occur prior to or during the menstrual period. Food cravings
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Many women report cravings for certain foods during the early stages of pregnancy. These cravings can persist throughout the entire pregnancy. Fatigue and tirednessFatigue and tiredness are symptoms experienced by many women in the early stages of pregnancy, and some women report feeling fatigued even in the weeks immediately prior to conception. The cause of this fatigue has not been fully determined, but it is believed to be related to rising levels of the hormone progesterone. Of course, fatigue is a very nonspecific symptom that can be related to many causes other than pregnancy. Elevated basal body temperatureA persistently elevated basal body temperature (the oral temperature measured first thing in the morning, upon arising from sleep) is another characteristic sign of early pregnancy. An elevation in the basal body temperature occurs shortly after ovulation and persists until the next menstrual period occurs. Persistence of the elevated basal body temperature beyond the time of the expected menstrual period is another sign of early pregnancy. Reviewed by William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR on 10/1/2012 Patient CommentsViewers share their comments
Pregnancy Symptoms - First Symptoms
Question: What were your very first signs or symptoms of pregnancy? Did you suspect you were pregnant before taking a test?
Pregnancy Symptoms - Week By Week
Question: How did your pregnancy symptoms vary week by week?
Pregnancy Symptoms - Food Cravings
Question: What were the foods you craved early in your pregnancy?
Pregnancy Symptoms - Nausea and Vomiting
Question: What remedies were effective in treating your nausea and vomiting early in your pregnancy?
Pregnancy Symptoms - Headaches
Question: If you experienced headaches in the early stages of your pregnancy, what remedies did you find effective?
Pregnancy Symptoms - Experience
Question: Please describe your pregnancy symptoms.
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