A-Z Pregnancy Symptoms

Did your pregnancy dreams include visions of a neat rounded belly, and little kicks that made your heart flutter? While it's true that pregnancy has its share of wonderful moments and experiences to cherish, it also has a raft of less than fabulous pregnancy symptoms - including many you'd rather not discuss in public and many you'd probably like to forget (which you will, by the way, since forgetfulness is another symptom).

There are pregnancy symptoms you expected (like morning sickness – which also arrives in the evening) and symptoms you almost definitely didn't (like constipation, nosebleeds and bleeding gums). It's probably reassuring to know that you're not alone suffering these ailments - you're actually joining millions of other expectant women who are also wading their way through a different selection of pregnancy complaints. But it also helps to have some tried and true remedies at your (swollen) fingertips that will allow you to navigate around the majority of pregnancy grumbles.

Weight gain

Weight gain Average weight gain during pregnancy is around 10 to 12 kg (22 to 26 lb). You gain around 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) during the first 20 weeks, and then only about 0.5Kg (1lb) per week until your baby is born.

Overdue

Overdue
If the average pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, you can b...

Backache

Backache in Pregnancy
Because the weight gained in pregnancy (around 2 s...

Oedema

Oedema
Some degree of swelling in your ankles and feet is...

Braxton hicks

Braxton Hicks
Even as early as 8 weeks into your pregnancy the u...

Insomnia

Insomnia
There are many reasons why you may suffer from an inability to sleep even before you are pregnant, but the additional discomfort of an enlarging and cumbersome abdomen certainly won't help.

Nuchal scan

Nuchal scan
This is a high-definition ulstrasound scan that can identify the risk factor for Down's Syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities. It has an accuracy rate of around 85 per cent at 11 weeks' gestation.