Early Pregnancy Care at Aurora Women’s Health
Diagnosis of pregnancy and knowledge of normal findings associated with early pregnancy are common issues in the medical care of reproductive-age women.
The diagnosis of early pregnancy is based primarily upon laboratory assessment of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in urine or blood. History and physical examination are not highly sensitive methods for early diagnosis, but knowledge of the characteristic findings of a normal pregnancy can be helpful in alerting the clinician to the possibility of an abnormal pregnancy, such as ectopic pregnancy or the presence of coexistent disorders.
The most common signs and symptoms of early pregnancy are:
- Amenorrhea
- Nausea with or without vomiting
- Breast enlargement and tenderness
- Increased frequency of urination without dysuria
- Fatigue
Additional signs and symptoms include:
- Mild uterine cram ping/discomfort without bleeding
- Abdominal bloating
- Constipation
- Heartburn
- Nasal congestion
- Shortness of breath
- Food cravings and aversions
- Mood changes
- Lightheadedness
- Spider angiomas
- PaImar erythema
- lncreased skin pigmentation (face, linea alba, areola)
