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First things first

The signs and symptoms of early pregnancy

A missed period is often the first sign of pregnancy. This can be followed, for some women, by early symptoms of morning sickness. A feeling of nausea or “blahs” comes along in waves throughout the day. The best way to deal with morning sickness is to keep your stomach from becoming completely empty. Eat smaller, more frequent meals, and get extra rest. Certain foods may really aggravate these symptoms. It is usually best to keep things fairly bland until this phase passes – and it will!

Your breasts may become tender and fuller. The nipple areas become much more sensitive and darker in color. Toward the end of the first trimester, you may notice prominent blue veins under the skin of your breasts. The bumps on your nipples, Montgomery tubercles, may also be more prominent.

You might find yourself getting up one extra time to go to the bathroom at night. The growing uterus is a real tickle to a full bladder!

Sometimes, you may notice a little bloody spotting in early pregnancy and this can be frightening. Often this is normal and caused by the attachment of the embryo into the uterine wall. Sexual intercourse may also result in a little spotting, because the cervix is “puffed up” with its new blood supply. The friction of intercourse can sometimes irritate these congested tissues. If you experience any bleeding – at any time during pregnancy – you should consult your physician.