Finding that you are pregnant may make you feel happy and excited or even shocked, confused and upset. Everybody is different and you should not worry if you are not feeling as happy as you have expected. Even if you have been trying to get pregnant, your feelings may take you by surprise. Some of these feelings may be caused by changes in your hormone levels, which can make you more emotional. If you feel anxious and uncertain now, your feelings may change. Talk to your obs/gynae who will try to help you adjust and provide you with advice about your pregnancy
The signs of pregnancy
For women who have a regular monthly cycle, the earliest and most reliable sign of pregnancy is a missed period. Sometimes women who are pregnant have a very light period, losing only a little blood
Other signs of pregnancy:
Feeling sick- you may feel sick, or even be sick. This is commonly known as ‘morning sickness’ but it can happen at any time of the day. If you are being sick all the time and cannot keep anything down, contact your health provider
Changes in your breasts- your breast may become larger and feel tender. They may also tingle. The veins may show up more and the nipples may darken and stand out
Needing to pass more urine more often
Being constipated
An increased vaginal discharge without any soreness or irritation. You may notice an increase in your vaginal discharge, which is normal. Normal discharge is thin, white, milky and mild-smelling. If your discharge is excessive and watery, thick and white has a foul odor or is brown/bloody talk to your health provider for further evaluation
Feeling tired- In pregnancy your body is working overtime to grow a healthy baby. This can make your normal work extra tiring. Working while pregnant should not be a problem (unless your provider has put you on bed rest) here are some tips to work safely: take frequent breaks, stretch your legs, try to put your feet up if they are swollen, wear loose clothing and comfortable shoes, take a healthy snack with you and ask for help when lifting heavy things
Having a strange taste in your mouth-many women describe it as "metallic"
Pregnancy Tests
Pregnancy tests can be carried out on a sample of urine from the first day of a missed period, which means that, if you are pregnant you are about two weeks after conception. A positive test is almost certainly correct. A negative result is less reliable. If you still think you’re pregnant, wait for at list a week and try again or visit the hospital for further tests
As soon as you know you are pregnant, get in touch with a health provider to plan for your Antenatal care clinics