Early signs of pregnancy

Posted by Master, Doctor Huynh Vu Khanh Linh - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Phu Quoc International Hospital

For women who are expecting a baby, the 2 weeks from ovulation to the missed period is a long time. A woman can feel the early signs of implantation, about 8-10 days after ovulation.

At 8 weeks pregnant, 90% of women will feel the changes of pregnancy. Early pregnancy symptoms and premenstrual (premenstrual) symptoms are often the same, making it easy for a woman to confuse them. If you suspect that you are pregnant, you should go to a medical facility for regular check-ups, pregnancy care and monitoring.

1. Missed period A missed period is often the earliest symptom. Sometimes you may have light bleeding and that is normal. Embryo implantation in the endometrium can cause mild bleeding and is sometimes mistaken for premenstrual symptoms, usually with a few bright red drops and lasting for about 1 day, occurring before the next period. according to.
2. Nausea Nausea is the most common symptom of pregnancy. However, not all pregnant women have this symptom. Nausea can appear as early as 5 weeks gestation and more severe at 8 weeks.

3. Breast changes Breast changes are an early sign of pregnancy. The mammary gland tissue will grow in preparation for milk production. Veins are more prominent and nipples darker. Breasts and nipples become more sensitive to stimulation.
4. Urinary incontinence The uterus becomes larger with changes in Hormones that increase blood circulation and cause uncomfortable symptoms for women in the second trimester. Later, the growing fetus increases pressure on the bladder and causes urinary frequency symptoms in pregnant women. If pregnant women have symptoms of urinary urgency, they need to be checked to see if they have a UTI and the best way is to go to a medical facility to check.
5. Fatigue Fatigue is often an early symptom of pregnancy and it is a normal symptom. Pregnant women should get more sleep, a more nutritious diet, and light exercise. Fatigue can persist into the second trimester due to a sudden loss of energy.

6. Contractions Sometimes it feels like menstrual cramps. The uterus has mild contractions but no bleeding in the first trimester due to the change in size. If you are pregnant and have more abdominal pain along with vaginal bleeding, you should go to a medical facility to check.
7. Bloating, heartburn or constipation Bloating, heartburn or constipation are early symptoms of pregnancy.
8. Nasal congestion Nasal congestion can sometimes be overlooked. Along with the increase in circulating volume, more blood reaches the nose, congesting the blood vessels, causing symptoms of nasal obstruction.

9. Food cravings or loss of appetite Cravings or loss of appetite can be early and late pregnancy symptoms. During pregnancy, it is necessary to provide enough calories and nutrients such as protein and folic acid. You should choose and change your diet to be able to provide enough nutrients for pregnancy.
10. Emotional changes Emotional changes due to hormonal changes, fatigue as well as stress in early pregnancy, pregnant women increase sensitivity to external changes, anxiety and can lead to depression.
11. Dizziness, restlessness, dizziness especially when changing positions Dizziness, restlessness, dizziness especially when changing positions. This is normal but should be noticed if you are lying down but your dizziness still does not go away. To limit this situation, you should change your position slowly, drink lots of water and eat small, easily digestible foods, divided into many small meals. Sometimes this symptom can also be caused by anemia, if symptoms persist for a long time, then you should see a doctor and get more advice.
12. Headache Headache is a common symptom in early pregnancy due to hormonal changes. You should see your doctor for over-the-counter pain relievers that won't affect your pregnancy.

Diagnosis of pregnancy
The early symptoms of pregnancy are diverse, and for the definitive diagnosis of pregnancy. Doctors usually use 3 methods as follows:
First: Test beta-hCG in blood or urine. beta-hCG is a hormone produced after the embryo implants. There are several medical conditions associated with elevated hCG.
Blood test and urine test are done by 2 different methods. A blood test can measure beta-hCG blood levels on day 10 of implantation. Urine test for beta-hCG, slower result, result (+) on day 14 after embryo implantation.
Second: Fetal ultrasound is a commonly used method to confirm pregnancy. In early pregnancy, a transvaginal ultrasound can be used to detect pregnancy. Transvaginal ultrasound detects early pregnancy better than transvaginal ultrasound.

Third: Doppler ultrasound confirms fetal heart: after pregnancy is confirmed, we can use Doppler ultrasound to check fetal heart activity.
To protect the health of pregnant women and their babies during pregnancy, Vinmec International General Hospital provides a package of maternity services as a solution to help pregnant women feel secure because of the companionship of the medical team. doctor throughout pregnancy. When choosing Maternity Package, pregnant women can:
The pregnancy process is monitored by a team of highly qualified doctors Regular check-ups, early detection of abnormalities The package pregnancy helps to facilitate Convenience for the birthing process Newborns receive comprehensive care To register for examination and treatment at Vinmec International General Hospital, you can contact the nationwide Vinmec Health System Hotline, or register Check online HERE.