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Pregnancy Symptoms?
Q. I am five weeks pregnant. I've had VERY tender breasts for almost three weeks. All of the sudden they aren't at all sore anymore! My nurse says this is normal, but everything I read says it could be the sign of a miscarriage. I am really worried. With my first pregnancy with my son, I had many symptoms. During this pregnancy, the sore breasts were my only symptom and now the symptom is gone, which really scares me. Is this normal?
-Laura, Florida
A. It's sometimes true that disappearing pregnancy symptoms can indicate an early miscarriage. But, it's also true that pregnancy symptoms can be random, appearing and disappearing on their own schedule. Keep in mind that each pregnancy can be very different as well, even within the same person. I remember the symptoms I experienced, and when I experienced them, were very different with my second pregnancy.
Unless you experience bleeding or major cramping, your doctor will probably not want to see you until it's time for the initial checkup at seven to ten weeks. At that point you can probably receive a more solid verification of the baby's condition.
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Q. I have two children, the youngest of whom is two years old. I haven't made any milk in over a year and-a-half, yet a day or two ago I noticed that when my right breast was squeezed it produced a tiny amount of liquid. My period is about three days away so I can't take a test. I'm wondering if this is a definite sign of pregnancy. The only other thing I've noticed is that I am very tired and my back has been bothering me a bit.
-Anonymous, Georgia
A. Unless you miss your period and are displaying other symptoms of pregnancy, I doubt that you are pregnant. It's normal for nipples to produce a bit of liquid, even for men. Not only are the nipples connected to milk ducts, but they are also connected to sebaceous glands that can produce small amounts of bodily fluid. I had a strange male friend in college who could actually squirt a clear liquid from his nipples as far as six feet!
Q. I'm six weeks pregnant and for the last two weeks I have been waking up at night feeling overheated and even breaking into a sweat. This has not happened before. I'm concerned because I read that it is unsafe to have a high body temperature during pregnancy. I dress lightly, put on the air and even occasionally shower in the middle of the night to cool off. Is this normal or is it a reason for concern?
-Anonymous, New York
A. It is natural for a woman's body temperature to be elevated during pregnancy. Not only are you carrying around the extra pounds, but also a little person that is a heat source on its own. Plus, the extra horror-mones of pregnancy can increase your body's circulation and temperature.
I remember that my body thermostat seemed to be most elevated in the evenings, during sleep. My husband used to be the one throwing off the covers in the middle of the night, leaving me shivering. Then, when I was pregnant, the roles definitely reversed. I slept comfortably with nothing more than a sheet, while he required the sheet, two blankets and a comforter. I also remember many nasty little fits of tugging and throwing of the linens. We finally had to resort to using separate covers to keep our marriage in tact.
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Q. I'm five months pregnant and I have been craving bleach. I have a really strong urge to drink it. I never experienced this in my other two pregnancies. Can this be harmful to my baby? Have you ever heard of this?
-Anonymous, Maryland
A. First, please do not drink the bleach! It can be very harmful to you and your baby. You should report your craving to your doctor ASAP. You are probably deficient in iron or some other vitamin. Your body is instinctually seeking out what you are lacking through your seemingly-odd craving.
It is more common than you think during pregnancy to crave such potentially poisonous items as permanent markers, spray paint, gasoline, dirt and bleach. It's almost always an indicator of a dietary deficiency.
Q. I'm not sure if I am pregnant. I have been feeling a lot of the "symptoms" and I am even a little late with my period, but there is one thing I am not sure about: I have been sweating and overheating constantly. For instance, I'll just burst into overheat mode while sitting in church. And a normal, light workout has me dripping like crazy! Is this a sign of being pregnant?
-Anonymous, Alabama
A. Yes, a heightened body thermostat is a sign of pregnancy, but this usually doesn't happen right away. It is natural for a woman's body temperature to elevate during pregnancy. You are carrying around not only extra pounds, but also a little person that is a heat source on its own. Plus, the extra horror-mones of pregnancy can increase your body's circulation and temperature. It is possible that you are experiencing this symptom now. There's a lot of room for variation between what pregnancy symptoms you may experience and when.
Since you are late with your period, you can use a HPT (home pregnancy test) or visit your OB/GYN to see if you are pregnant or not.
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Q. I am a week late with my period. I just noticed a little milky discharge from my nipples. Is it possible that I am pregnant?
-Anonymous, Illinois
A. Even without being pregnant, it's normal for nipples to produce a bit of liquid. Not only are the nipples connected to milk ducts, but they are also connected to sebaceous glands that can produce small amounts of bodily fluid. But, since you have missed your period, you may be pregnant. You can take a HPT (home pregnancy test) or visit your OB/GYN to see if you are.
Q. I experienced a miscarriage in December at 12 weeks. I had a positive pregnancy test in early February. I experienced some cramping and bleeding similar to that during my miscarriage. My doctor was concerned about an ectopic pregnancy, but the ultrasound showed that I had an ovarian cyst and there was no problem. I also had my hormone levels checked – the first time: 12,500. Two days later: 14,000. Two more days later: 25,000. However, my breast tenderness has diminished and fullness has decreased. I am still feeling nauseous once in a while. My doctor is very confused, and so am I.
-Anonymous, WY
A. If your hormone levels continue to rise as they have been, you are probably still pregnant. Diminished breast tenderness and fullness is not always an indicator of the end of pregnancy. These symptoms may lessen as your hormone levels balance out. Some pregnancy symptoms come and go, such as nausea. I thought I was over it at 10 weeks, but it returned at 38 weeks.
The bleeding and cramping may have been due to your ovarian cyst as your doctor indicated. In any case, your doctor will probably want to monitor you more closely over the next few weeks to see how the pregnancy is progressing.
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Q. Is it possible I could have symptoms of pregnancy as early as four days?
-Anonymous, Texas
A. Possible yes, but highly unlikely. Pregnancy signs and symptoms usually start showing up about 14 days after conception, when the egg implants itself in the uterine wall. Before implantation, the egg is free floating and would not yet affect your body. Upon implantation, your HCG levels will begin to rise. These are the hormones that create the "symptoms of pregnancy."
It is possible that you may have symptoms before implantation. Your mind may convince you of that. (See the other "hysterical pregnancy" question for more details.)
Q. Is frequent sneezing a sign of pregnancy?
-Anonymous, Ohio
A. No, but frequent sneezing during pregnancy can cause frequent emergency visits to the ladies room. Urinary incontinence, quite common during pregnancy, is impossible to control during a sneezing fit.
Your sneezing is probably a sign of a pending cold or allergies.
Q. I am 32 weeks pregnant and I have experienced leg cramps throughout my entire pregnancy. It only happens while I'm sleeping. Is this normal? What causes it, and how do I cure the pain?
-Victoria, Washington
A. Ah yes, the agonizing leg cramps! Quite normal, I assure you, but very annoying and painful indeed. I remember many late-night episodes of painful, distorted muscles, with my toes pointing straight down in extreme ballerina style. The only thing that helped was to force my pointy foot flat on the floor. Of course that meant quickly getting out of bed, which was a major feat by the third trimester.
Apparently, one of the causes of leg cramps during pregnancy is dehydration. I couldn't decide which was worse – not being able to fall asleep because of heartburn from the liquids I drank or waking up in the middle of the night with pain and distorted feet.
Low potassium in your diet is also known to be a cause of leg cramps. My friend Sharon swore that a banana milkshake before bed made all the difference for her. If you're not having trouble with heartburn at night (like I did), you might want to try the milkshake. Otherwise, all you can really do is practice your muscle massaging techniques. Yanking the toes straight up towards your knee may help.
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