Am I Still Pregnant? First Trimester Concerns

The first trimester is an odd, sometimes tumultuous time during pregnancy. You've tested positive, you may have already had your first appointment to confirm your pregnancy, and often, you're experiencing lots of out-of-the-ordinary symptoms. Yet, you don't look pregnant, you can't yet feel baby kicks, and you likely haven't told many people about your pregnancy. And because of this concurrence of happenings, the recurring question going through the minds of many women in their first trimester is, "Am I still pregnant?" First trimester symptoms often come and go (though some, like morning sickness, can be constant for some women), and in the absence of other physical evidence, this causes doubt and worry.

One way to "check in" with your pregnancy during the first trimester is to take note of your symptoms, especially those that feel out of the ordinary for your everyday self. Typical first trimester symptoms include:

• Tender/sore and/or swollen breasts
• Fatigue
• Uterine cramping, similar to menstrual cramps
• Lower back pain
• Nausea/food aversion and/or cravings
• Intestinal cramping/loose stools
• Headaches
• Frequent urination
• Moodiness
• Bloating
• Lightheadedness and/or fainting

Understand that these symptoms may be felt for a weeks at a time, or may come in spurts -- and that's OK. The sudden absence of symptoms does not necessarily indicate a problem. Keep in mind, too, that the first trimester can produce no symptoms at all! You can have all, some, or none of these and still have a healthy pregnancy!

If you find that worrying about your pregnancy in the first trimester causes sleepless nights, consider making an appointment with your care provider. She can check on your pregnancy, confirm that it's continuing as a healthy pregnancy via ultrasound, by checking on your pregnancy hormone levels (hCG levels), or through doppler radar. It may also help for you to seek professional counseling if worries and anxiety consume your entire day.

photo credit: catheroo (cat edens) via photopin cc