Pregnant with No Symptoms?

If you're pregnant, especially for the first time, you're likely to be concerned about everything that happens to you-- and every discomfort that you feel or don't feel. Some lucky pregnant women experience almost no symptoms of pregnancy. The typical discomforts such as cramping, breast pain, fatigue, nausea and vomiting are either minor or completely absent. Women who experience no symptoms during pregnancy may be concerned that there is something wrong.

Here are a few things to consider if you are pregnant and not showing any symptoms.

It's not a disease. Pregnancy isn't an illness, so the use of the word "symptom" is actually inaccurate. There are dozens of signs of pregnancy, but, in my opinion, there are no symptoms. If you are experiencing a pregnancy without all the hallmarks associated with it, you can re-wire your viewpoint by considering what you're really looking for-- signs, not symptoms.

Every woman's body is different. Women all react differently to the hormones responsible for pregnancy-related discomforts. Those who are sensitive to these hormones are most likely to experience dramatic signs and symptoms during pregnancy. Premenstrual syndrome is an excellent example of this phenomenon. Some women will experience severe breast pain, mood swings, fatigue and nausea before menstruation, while others can tell no difference until a new cycle begins. Pregnancy can also vary dramatically in the way it affects women.

Your baby is probably fine. The fact that you're not showing obvious signs of pregnancy is almost never a reason to worry. You probably just aren't particularly sensitive to the discomforts associated with pregnancy. Many, many women have had completely comfortable pregnancies and have gone on to have healthy babies. But, of course, it's a good idea to check with your practitioner any time you feel concerned.

There are times to worry. If you did have noticeable pregnancy symptoms, but suddenly stopped having them, it's possible that you have reason to be concerned. For example, you should call your obstetrician or midwife if you were vomiting several times per day and then very suddenly lost all nausea, vomiting and food aversion. It would also be a good idea to call if you noticed your breasts swelling and aching for several weeks, but they suddenly became smaller and painless. However, if there were something wrong with your unborn baby, you would probably be showing distinct symptoms of miscarriage, such as bleeding and severe cramping.

A pregnancy with no symptoms may seem alarming, but odds are good that you and your baby are both doing fine. Good luck with your continued pregnancy!