Signs of pregnancy
Missing your period is a good reason l to take that at-home pregnancy test you’ve been keeping in your bathroom drawer! These tests detect hCG, the human Chorionic Gonadotropin hormone. It’s always a good idea to follow up home tests with a blood test or an additional hCG test a few days later to make confirm the results.
By the end of this week, or early the next, you may experience the following symptoms:
Change in appetite;
Food cravings;
Revulsion to certain foods or smells;
Increased salivation;
Heavy breasts, painful to the touch;
Nausea [1].
Many expectant mothers also feel heaviness in the lower abdomen, as if menstruation is about to begin. Sometimes this feels like mild period cramps — this is caused by the growth of the uterus and the stretching of the ligaments [2]; if the pain is severe or doesn’t go away after you’ve rested for 30 to 60 minutes, call your doctor right away.
Discharge
Discharge should be light, milky, and even. Spotting may appear due to implantation, as the embryo attaches to the wall of the uterus some bleeding can occur [3]. If you know you’re pregnant and have any bleeding, even light spotting, call your doctor right away. The presence of pus or burning and itching in the vaginal area are signs of infection, you should consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.
