Pregnancy Signs & Symptoms

Presumptive Signs

• Amenorrhea (Period Absent): One of the earliest signs.
• Fatigue: Feeling unusually tired.
• Breast Changes: Enlargement and soreness.
• Increased Urination: More frequent need to urinate.
• Quickening: Perception of fetal movement.
• Emesis & Nausea: Commonly known as morning sickness.

Positive signs

• Palpated Movement: Fetal movement felt by a doctor or nurse.
• Heart Tones Detection: Using electronic devices.
• Delivery: The actual birth of the baby.
• Ultrasound: Detects the fetus.
• Visible Movements: Observations of fetal movement.

Probable Signs

• Positive Pregnancy Test: Indicates high levels of hormone hCG; not definitive due to potential false positives.
• Ballottement: Rebound of the fetus when the uterus is pushed.
• Braxton Hicks Contractions: "Practice" contractions.
• Goodell's Sign: Softening of the cervix.
• Chadwick's Sign: Bluish coloration of the vulva, vagina, or cervix.
• Hegar's Sign: Softening of the lower uterine segment.
• Enlarged Uterus: Growth of the uterus due to pregnancy.
• Quickening: Often confused with other sensations like gas.

Key Distinctions

• Subjective vs. Objective: Changes felt by the woman (subjective) vs. observable signs by a healthcare provider (objective).
  • Subjective Changes: May be associated with non-pregnancy conditions.
  • Objective Changes: Directly attributable to fetal presence.
• Presumptive vs. Probable vs. Positive:
  • Presumptive: Signs experienced by the mother.
  • Probable: Signs observed by a healthcare provider but not definitive.
  • Positive: Definitive diagnosis of pregnancy.

Note: Pregnancy tests and perceived movements (quickening) can have alternative explanations and are not considered definitive signs of pregnancy.

These notes summarize key points about pregnancy signs and symptoms, as explained in the lecture transcript.