The earliest sign of {pregnancy} is 2 or more missed {periods}, with breast activity possibly including:
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enlargement of breasts (with tenderness)
change in color of area around nipple ({areola})
increase in number of veins
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Early morning {nausea} &/or sickness may also occur.
Pregnancy can be confirmed with home testing kits, but these are not totally reliable until after 6th week of pregnancy (42 days). When any signs are present, arrange an appointment with your doctor to confirm your {pregnancy} by physical examination. If your pregnancy is confirmed, stick to a balanced diet, take regular, gentle exercise & get plenty of rest.
Don't take drugs (unless prescribed) & try to cut out alcohol & smoking. It's easy to calculate when baby is due providing you know the date of your last normal {period}, e.g. 1st day of last normal period: 20 June 1989, add 7 days, add 1yr & subtract 3mths. Therefore, due date 27 March 1990. From now onwards you'll probably be visiting your {obstetrician} from week 12 of {pregnancy}.
Usually you attend at monthly intervals until week 28, every 2 weeks thereafter until week 36 & weekly until baby is due. {Blood pressure} is checked, sample of urine tested, weight recorded & abdomen examined. A normal pregnancy lasts 40 weeks or 9 calendar months. It's divided into 3 parts or !i! trimesters.
!n!At 16 weeks it's usual to arrange an {ultrasound} scan to accurately date baby & detect any abnormalities. A sample of blood is taken at this stage to exclude other {fetal} abnormalities.
