Early Signs Of Pregnancy

Headaches

The majority of pregnant women will experience headaches to some degree. These headaches may vary in severity, duration, and frequency. They are often a symptom of pregnancy during the first trimester. Headaches are less common during the second trimester, but they may start up again or become worse during the third trimester. In the first trimester, the body goes through a hormonal surge and increases its volume of blood. Both of these factors can lead to headaches, especially when they're combined. Additional aggravating factors can cause headaches to worsen. If affected women have poor posture, there may be increased pressure and tension on their spine and neck. Even if their posture is usually good, the changes in their body might alter how they hold themselves. Stress can increase tension headaches as well. It's very common for pregnant women to experience increased stress regarding the changes in their bodies and the future. Changes in vision may also lead to worsened headaches.

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Sensitive To Smells

Many pregnant women have reported their noses became exceptionally sensitive to certain smells in the early stages of pregnancy. When this symptom strikes, even the faintest whiff of a pleasant aroma feels like a gag-inducing blast of nose-searing funk. Even if women are motivated to shop for cleaning agents, they may become paralyzed from the overwhelming assault of chemical scents lining the shopping aisle.

When trying to discern why pregnancy bolsters a woman's olfactory senses, the best explanation boils down, once again, to hormones. The increased levels of estrogen and human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, is the primary culprit. When paired with the next symptom, this sensitivity to smell can be even more of an ordeal to endure. If women find themselves frequently assault by strong smells, they should consider washing their clothes more often, or swapping over to unscented cleansers or at least relatively mild smells like lemon or mint. The good news is this sharp sense of smell will vanish sometime within the second trimester.

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