40 Weeks of Pregnancy: What to Expect

Getting pregnant is one of the most beautiful experiences in every woman’s life. Many women consider these 40 weeks of pregnancy as an exciting phase, while others are more nervous than excited. What a woman experiences during pregnancy differs from woman to woman and from one pregnancy to other. Long story short, no pregnancy is ever alike.

What can you expect? This is the common question women have in their mind when they get to know that they are pregnant. The following signs and symptoms of early pregnancy can be of some help for such women.

• Missed or delayed periods: this first sign indicating that a woman is pregnant.  But, missing a period is not sufficient alone to assume you are pregnant. There may be various reasons like hormonal imbalances, anaemia, etc. which can also delay your periods.

• Spotting or Light Bleeding: This symptom is observed at round 6th to 12th day of the conception, wherein the embryo gets implanted into the uterine wall.

• Swollen/Tender Breasts: A woman notices this symptom when she is about 1-2 weeks pregnant. This symptom again indicates that your body is making changes for lactation.

*TIP* Most women deal with tender breasts for the majority of their pregnancy. Placing ice cold cabbage leaves on them (as funny as it sounds) actually helps soothe the pain.

• Tiredness: This is also an early sign of pregnancy and can be noticed as early as the first week of conception. This tiredness in pregnant woman is due to the fact that the body requires additional nutrition to cope with the embryonal growth and other that occur during pregnancy.

• Nausea or Morning Sickness: This is the most unpleasant feeling women have between 2nd to 8th weeks of pregnancy. Some women experience this nauseous feeling throughout their pregnancy whereas there are few lucky women who do not experience this feeling at all.

*TIP* Saltine Crackers are the best defense against an upset tummy, since while pregnant Gravol and other medicines alike are a big NO-NO for your baby.

• Headaches: Because you are carrying another little body within your own, more blood gets pumped through your system. The rush of blood in your body is stretching the size of your veins which along with varicose veins, will also cause a headache.

*WARNING* If you suffer from severe or frequent headaches, see spots or have dizzy spells, this is a sign of higher blood pressure that is unsafe for your baby. Seek immediate medical attention.

• Backaches: this symptom, experienced during the entire third term of pregnancy, is due to the excessive pressure, growing fetus the uterus carries.

• Frequent Urination: As the fetal growth progresses, the additional pressure of the uterus is put on the bladder resulting in frequent urination in pregnant women. This symptom is experienced from about 6th week of pregnancy.

• A pregnant woman may also notice a darkening of the skin around the nipples.

• Food Cravings or Aversions: Some women tend to have cravings towards certain foods at the same time they will have aversion towards other food items. This symptom can be noticed for the entire term in some pregnant women.

Hormonal changes are the main causal factors which bring about all these changes in a pregnant woman. Most of these symptoms disappear when the baby is born.

No pregnancy is alike and not all symptoms will relate to you. Pregnancy is not a cause of worry or changes but is all about having new and excited experiences in your life and planning the arrival of this new little person in your life.