Symptoms of Pregnancy start developing just after the fertilization and the moment conception is done. There can be strong chances of conception if you made an unprotected sexual relationship during your mid-cycle days. If so, the question “Am I pregnant” is very obvious to ask. You should know the symptoms of pregnancy so that you can care for yourself and your baby in your womb.
The most authentic way to know if you are pregnant is to go for a urine pregnancy test. A urine pregnancy test is based on measuring a hormone in your urine called human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). This is a very authentic test because hCG starts developing in your body the moment is done and multiplies rapidly at the beginning of your pregnancy.
Symptoms of Pregnancy
Generally, it is believed that the missed period is the first symptom of pregnancy but this is not the fact. There are other medical conditions too where you can miss the period. Breastfeeding and lactating mothers also miss their period for months without any conception or pregnancy. Moreover, periods can be missed or prolonged due to hormonal imbalances and diseases like PCOS (Polycystic ovary Syndrome), hormonal contraceptives, thyroid issues, stress & anxiety, chronic conditions, and certain acute illnesses.
You can feel early symptoms of pregnancy and certain changes in your body in the very first week. These symptoms are called early symptoms of pregnancy. Early symptoms of pregnancy and changes in the body can vary from one woman to another. Even there are cases where women don’t know if they have conceived and are pregnant until months after the intercourse and fertilization.
Early Symptoms of Pregnancy
- Increased frequency of micturition (Urination)
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Intolerance to specific smells and fragrances
- Craving certain foods even craving to eat chalk
- Changes in Food preferences
- Tightness in breasts, painful and tender breasts
- Mood swings
- Tiredness and headedness
- Itching around the vulva and vagina
- Constipation
Early Signs of pregnancy
- A missed period or missed menses
- Changes in the color of the nipple
- Sense of tightness in the abdomen
- Spotting and Vaginal mucosa changes
- Elevated basal body temperature
- Itching over body
- Heart Burn
What is Normal Delivery or Normal Childbirth
Normal delivery or normal childbirth is a natural process and begins spontaneously, usually between 37 weeks to 42 weeks. After the completion of 37 weeks, you may start having labor pains, which come due to contractions in uterine muscles. These contractions push the baby into pelvic muscles and simultaneously cervix starts dilating to make a passage for the fetus.
The intensity of labor pain increases as the time passes and the fetus further moves into the lower pelvic floor muscles. There is fluid around the fetus in the uterus called amniotic fluid, which also helps in the normal delivery process. Normal labor is a long process and can take many hours to get the baby delivered.
What is Cesarean Section Delivery or C-Section Delivery
C-Section or cesarean section delivery is used to deliver the baby through a surgical incision in the lower abdomen. Spinal anesthesia is given to perform Cesarean section surgery. The cesarean section takes hardly half an hour to get this done. However, C Section delivery has many common problems, complications, and after-effects on your body.
What Are The Reasons for Cesarean Section Delivery?
There are many medical conditions and reasons to opt and go with cesarean section or C-section delivery, few are listed below.
- Abnormal presentation of the baby (Breech)
- Prolapsed Umbilical Cord
- Cord around the neck of the fetus
- Lesser quantity of Amniotic fluid (Fluid in the Uterus around the baby)
- Prolonged Labor
- Fetal distress
- Repeat Cesarean sections
- Placenta Abruption
- Uterine rupture along previous C-section scar
How Can Reduce the Risk of C Section?
Many pregnant women hope to deliver normal delivery vaginally and seek advice on how to prevent C Sections. It’s really difficult to predict the outcome but you can reduce the risk of C Section.
However, as new parents often come to learn, things do not always go as they hope and as they planned. Surgical deliveries or cesarean deliveries are not always preventable and sometimes they are literally lifesaving for both mother and baby.
But you can reduce the risk of C Section and your wish can turn positive into the result as vaginal delivery.
Regular Walking and Physical Exercises
Walking during pregnancy and regular exercises help you in strengthen your abdominal muscles. This also helps to draw the baby down into the Cephalic Position into your pelvic floor muscles which is the most important step for normal vaginal delivery. It is also helpful in shorter the labor and the intensity of labor.
Read About Labor and Birth and Get Educated
Reading good books and getting answers to all your birth queries will ease the birthing process and your stress too. Talk to someone who has experienced the labor or your service provider if you have any fear or doubt in your mind. By learning and knowing about the labor process, you are more likely to be relaxed and feel comfortable about the birth process. Normal vaginal deliveries are always good until you do not have any risk for yourself or your baby. You should not opt for cesarean delivery just for the fear of labor pain.
It’s a natural and normal phenomenon and should go with normal deliveries as cesarean limits your next birthing and child expectations.
Select You Health Provider Wisely
The health provider or care provider you choose is a deciding factor for normal vaginal delivery or c-section delivery. When choosing your healthcare provider, be sure to ask them about their primary cesarean section rate vs normal delivery rate in their practice.
Another reason can be that your doctor or midwife has limited options or places where they bring their patients for births. Some practices in home birth settings, while others have multiple hospitals that they use for birthing for their patients.
Most hospitals also influence the cesarean rates by their policies for labor and birth care. Moreover, the packages and the rates for cesarean deliveries are higher than normal which compels hospitals to opt for cesarean sections.
You should avoid Induction of labor
Induction of labor can also lead to a higher C-sections rate. Actually, your normal delivery depends on the readiness of your cervix, particularly when you have never given birth before. This also influences, whether your induction leads to cesarean or not.
Another reason for increasing cesarean sections or C Sections is social or elective induction. These types of inductions are used to benefit your time and schedule or the schedule of your doctor. In contraries where the birth rate is high, doctors have multiple deliveries in a day and they prefer to manage their time and schedule leading higher rate of inductions and C-Sections as well.
If you want to avoid an unnecessary cesarean, avoiding induction is the best way to reduce the risk of C-Section and minimize the risk of surgery complications.
Remain Stress-Free and Do Meditation
Stress is very common that every woman experiences. This is because of hormonal changes and the first experience of being pregnant causes stressful conditions. Stress leads to sleepless nights and discomfort which ultimately adversely affect normal body functions and may lead to C-Section.
Eat Nutritious Food and gain a Healthy Weight
Eating healthy food is always good for mother and baby. You should eat green leafy vegetables and a Protein full diet. Folates should be part of your diet in the first trimester. After the first trimester, you should ensure a proper dose of Iron and Calcium. Gaining weight during pregnancy is good but opting for high weight and unhealthy fat is bad for pregnant women, which may lead to restricted movement and ultimately C-Section.
