The Menstrual Period and Pregnancy are Forever Connected

A woman’s first inclination that she might be pregnant often comes when she misses a period. This is the inextricable link between the menstrual period and pregnancy.

By no means is the initial sign of pregnancy a change in the menstrual cycle. Women who are highly aware of what is going on inside their bodies may notice changes within a matter of days after conception. Some women claim to have known almost immediately.

Some women begin to suspect something has changed when they find that they are spending way more time than normal in the bathroom. Women, who once slept through the night, may suddenly find that they have to awake and make a trip to the bathroom multiple times a night.

This change in habit happens because the embryo implanted in the uterus has begun producing a hormone that causes urination more often. This change may actually occur before a missed period. Virtually all mothers-to-be will experience this urination pattern.

As any female who has ever had a child can attest to, exhaustion in the first trimester is a part of the process. Again, an increase in hormone, in this instance progesterone, production is the cause. This tiredness could be mistakenly attributed to a hectic schedule.

Morning sickness is a good indicator. The nauseated feeling may be accompanied by vomiting and is not likely to be totally overlooked.

A woman’s breast will also give some indication of the changes going on in her body. These organs may become more tender and sore, not unlike what happens during a period, only to a greater degree. They may also increase in size.

It should be noted that while period and pregnancy go hand-in-hand, a missed period does not always mean a little one is on the way, nor do these other early signs. Early pregnancy tests provide a good source for confirmation.