Are you pregnant and wondering if it’s normal to not have any pregnancy symptoms? Here’s what you should know.
If you are pregnant, you may find that you are walking on pins and needles as you wonder if everything is “okay” with your baby. As you journey through the various stages of pregnancy, you may be wondering what is normal and what is not. Furthermore, if you are not experiencing the same pregnancy symptoms that, say, your sister in law or your next door neighbor experienced, you may even start to panic. It is true that pregnant women are notorious worriers. But how do you know when your worry is justified?
The simple truth is, every pregnancy is different. Some women sail through their pregnancies with nary a bout of morning sickness, while other women find that they are living on a diet of antacid for their entire first trimester.
There are common pregnancy symptoms that many women experience. Count yourself as lucky if you don’t experience all of them. Here is a rundown on some things to look for and when to consult your doctor :
· Nausea/ Morning Sickness - Don’t worry if you aren’t spending half your day in the nearest bathroom. Believe it or not, not all women experience nausea. Count your lucky stars if you don’t have to endure it. The term “morning sickness” is actually quite misleading, because women that do experience this symptom may find that it occurs throughout the day and not just in the morning. Also, it is important to remember that even though you may have been nauseous during a previous pregnancy, it doesn’t mean that something is wrong if you don’t experience it this time around. Remember, every pregnancy is different.
· Fatigue - Some women experience waves of tiredness, especially during their first trimester (or first 3 months) of pregnancy. Other women are energetic all the way up to the end. Don’t worry if you fall on either end of the spectrum or somewhere in between. If you are extremely tired, you will find that you will get your energy back sometime during your second trimester.
· Enlarged/Sore breasts - Flat-chested women may be looking forward to increased breast size during pregnancy, but it just doesn’t happen for everyone. If you miss out on this pregnancy benefit, you may find that you will get the breasts that you dreamed of after you give birth and your breast milk comes in. Breast soreness is part of the deal, though.
· Cravings - So you’re not craving sardines or pickles with your ice cream? Many women don’t experience any unusual cravings at all during pregnancy. An old wives tale says that if you crave sweets during your pregnancy you are having a girl, while a yearning for sour or salty foods means it’s a boy. While it may be fun to speculate, don’t dwell on this too much. If you do find that you are craving a particular food, it may just be your body’s way of telling you which nutrients you are lacking (if you crave meat, for example, your body may be screaming for protein).
· Heartburn - While this is a common symptom in mid to late pregnancy, don’t worry if you don’t experience this one! Heartburn can be caused by a variety of reasons, including the types of foods that you eat. Don’t believe old wives tales that say that heartburn means your baby will be born with a lot of hair.
· Leg Cramps - Thankfully, this painful symptom is another one that not everyone will experience. Leg cramps, or charley horses, can wake you out of a dead sleep. If you can deal with then pain of pregnancy leg cramps, you can definitely deal with labor.
· Weight Gain - If you are pregnant, it is inevitable that you will gain weight at some point. But don’t panic if you are through your first trimester and still have a flat belly. Once again, count your blessings! Some women don’t gain weight until week 20 or even later. It will happen eventually. And you will find that with each subsequent pregnancy you will “pop out” earlier and earlier. If you are very far along in your pregnancy and have still not gained any weight, consult your doctor.
· No movement from your baby - Many women wonder when they will feel their baby move. As with everything else during pregnancy, this varies. Don’t be concerned if your baby hasn’t moved early on. You may not even feel as much as a flutter until you are 5 or 6 months along. If you are farther along and have already experienced a lot of movement, call your doctor if your baby stops moving for long periods of time. Toward the very end of your pregnancy, your baby may stop moving as he or she runs out of room in your womb.
When to call your doctor: If you have missed a period and tested positive for pregnancy, consult your doctor if you experience bleeding of any kind. While light brown spotting is common in early pregnancy (especially around the time of your next “missed” period) heavy bleeding or any red bleeding is abnormal.
Your baby may indeed be fine, but your doctor will need to examine you and do a possible ultrasound. Placental problems are a common cause of heavy bleeding during pregnancy.
No symptoms at all? First, what stage of pregnancy are you in? During the first trimester you really may not have any symptoms. This is perfectly normal. If you are further along in your pregnancy and have not experienced any symptoms at all, you may find reassurance in an ultrasound. Once you see your baby’s heartbeat fluttering on the screen, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Incidentally, for worried mom’s to be, heartbeat monitors can be rented for home use so you can hear your baby’s heartbeat as often as you want.
Finally, if you are already experiencing symptoms and they suddenly stop all at once, call your doctor immediately. Your instinct may tell you that something is wrong. A doctor’s reassurance may be all you need for piece of mind.
By Victoria Miller
