When you are trying to conceive, you may experience a number of emotions while waiting to find out if you are pregnant. You may feel anxious, afraid, excited and nervous. You might also feel confused, since some of the symptoms of early pregnancy are often similar to symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
A number of signs and symptoms indicate early pregnancy, including:
- Spotting and cramping. A few days after conception, the fertilized egg attaches to the wall of your uterus, a process that can cause spotting and cramping. The cramps can be barely noticeable or can resemble menstrual cramps. Some women mistake cramps and spotting for the start of their periods.
- White, milky vaginal discharge. Almost immediately after conception, your vagina's walls start to thicken, which can cause a white, milky discharge that may continue throughout your pregnancy. The discharge is typically harmless. If the discharge is accompanied by a smell or a burning or itching sensation, contact your physician immediately.
- Breast changes. Hormone levels change rapidly after conception, which may cause your breasts to become swollen, sore or tingly. Your breasts may feel heavier, fuller or tender to the touch, and the areola, or the area around your nipples, may darken. Breast changes typically occur one to two weeks after conception.
- Fatigue. You may start feeling unusually tired as early as one week after conceiving. This fatigue is often related to a high level of a hormone called progesterone as well as other pregnancy-related changes, such as lower blood sugar, lower blood pressure and a boost in blood production.
- Nausea. Hormone levels can slow the emptying of the stomach, which can cause nausea, or morning sickness. Although the name suggests that morning sickness is limited to the morning, it can occur at any time during the day. You may also experience cravings and food aversions that can last for your entire pregnancy. Nausea, however, usually subsides in the second trimester.
- Missed period. The most obvious early symptom of pregnancy and the one that prompts most women to take a pregnancy test is a missed period. Even this symptom can be misleading, however, because not all missed or delayed periods are caused by pregnancy.
Other symptoms can include frequent urination, constipation, mood swings, dizziness and fainting. Because the symptoms of early pregnancy vary widely from person to person, you may experience only one or two, or you may experience several.
If you think you may be pregnant, or if your early-pregnancy symptoms become bothersome, contact your physician. UPMC Pinnacle's expert obstetricians and gynecologists are accepting new patients and offer appointments and pregnancy verification services.
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Learn more about the Prenatal and Maternity Services at UPMC in Central Pa.
Our Locations
Camp Hill
UPMC Divine Mercy Womens Health
225 Grandview Avenue
Suite 302
Camp Hill, PA 17011
Phone: 717-988-9015
Fax: 717-221-5410
Carlisle
UPMC Divine Mercy Womens Health
1 Dunwoody Drive
Carlisle, PA 17013
Phone: 717-218-1820
Fax: 717-221-5410
UPMC Magee-Womens
Located at UPMC Carlisle
361 Alexander Spring Road
Carlisle, PA 17015
Maternity Pre-registration: 717-960-3414
Labor and Delivery: 717-960-1686
UPMC Pinnacle Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialists
2 Jennifer Court
Suite B
Carlisle, PA 17015
Phone: 717-218-9830
Fax: 717-218-9833
Dillsburg
UPMC Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialists
1 Trinity Drive East
Suite 110
Dillsburg, PA 17019
Phone: 717-432-3245
Fax: 717-703-5748
Elizabethtown
UPMC Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists-Lititz
300 Continental Drive
Elizabethtown, PA 17022
Phone: 717-393-1338
Fax: 717-627-1817
Gettysburg
UPMC Pinnacle Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialists
Located at Commerce Park Professional Center
20 Expedition Trail
Suite 203
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: 717-637-7755
Fax: 717-646-1991
Hanover
UPMC Magee-Womens
Located at UPMC Hanover
300 Highland Avenue
Third Floor
Hanover, PA 17331
Maternity Pre-registration: 717-316-2202
Labor and Delivery: 717-316-2198
UPMC Pinnacle Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialists
20 North Street
Hanover, PA 17331
Phone: 717-637-7755
Harrisburg
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Located at Alex Grass Medical Sciences Building
100 South 2nd Street
Suite 4B
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: 717-231-8472
Fax: 717-231-8490
PinnacleHealth Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialists
Located at Alex Grass Medical Sciences Building
100 South 2nd Street
Suite 4A
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: 717-231-8341
Fax: 717-231-8705
PinnacleHealth Women's Outpatient Center
Located at Community Care
2645 North 3rd Street
4th floor
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Phone: 717-782-4700
Fax: 717-782-4710
Women First Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists - UPMC
4700 Union Deposit Road
Suite 140
Harrisburg, PA 17111
Phone: 717-652-6605
Fax: 717-652-6431
UPMC Magee-Womens Center at Hollinger Tower
Located at UPMC Harrisburg
111 South Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Maternity Pre-registration: 717-782-5213
Labor and Delivery: 717-782-5539
Hummelstown
UPMC Woodward & Associates Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialists
8105 Adams Drive
Suite B
Hummelstown, PA 17036
Phone: 717-482-8115
Fax: 717-482-8364
Lititz
UPMC Magee-Womens
Located at UPMC Lititz
1500 Highlands Drive
Lititz, PA 17543
Maternity Pre-Registration: 717-625-5420
Labor and Delivery: 717-625-5428
UPMC Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists-Lititz
1575 Highlands Drive
Suite 101
Lititz, PA 17543
Phone: 717-393-1338
Fax: 717-627-1817
Lancaster
UPMC Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists-Lititz
2125 Noll Drive
Lancaster, PA 17603
Phone: 717-393-1338
Fax: 717-627-1817
Mechanicsburg
UPMC Cumberland Valley Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialists
9 Flowers Drive
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
Phone: 717-691-8750
Fax: 717-691-8755
Women First Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists - UPMC
Located at Medical Office Building 1
2025 Technology Parkway
Suite 309
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
Phone: 717-652-6605
Fax: 717-652-6431
Millersburg
Women First Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists - UPMC
1000 Evelyn Drive
South Wing
Millersburg, PA 17061
Phone: 717-652-6605
Fax: 717-652-6431
Newport
Women First Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists - UPMC
300 Bretz Court
Newport, PA 17074
Phone: 717-652-6605
Fax: 717-652-6431
Shippensburg
UPMC Divine Mercy Womens Health
127 Walnut Bottom Road
Shippensburg, PA 17257
Phone: 717-988-9015
Fax: 717-221-5410
Spring Grove
UPMC Pinnacle Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialists
Located at Thistle Hill Professional Center
2030 Thistle Hill Drive
Suite 100
Spring Grove, PA 17362
Phone: 717-225-6170
Fax: 717-646-7438
York
UPMC Magee-Womens
Located at UPMC Memorial
1701 Innovation Drive
York, PA 17408
Maternity Pre-registration: 717-815-2351
Labor and Delivery: 717-849-5650
UPMC Pinnacle Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialists
Sixth Avenue Professional Center
1600 6th Ave
York, PA 17403
Phone: 717-845-9639
Fax: 717-699-1300
UPMC Pinnacle Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialists
1880 Kenneth Road
Suite 3
York, PA 17408
Phone: 717-779-2612
Fax: 717-779-0019