With a wealth of information at the click of a button, new and expecting parents often turn to Google to drum up some of those much-needed answers to the most common pregnancy questions.
For many mums-and-dads-to-be, discovering you’re pregnant is one of the most exciting times of your life, but there’s no denying it can all feel a little bit overwhelming at times. With so many unanswered pregnancy questions, baby and nursery retailer Kiddies Kingdom has revealed the ten most common pregnancy questions according to Google.
Through an analysis of close to 500 questions, Kiddies Kingdom has ranked the top ten most frequently asked, based on average monthly Google searches from January 2021 to date. With a little help from the retailer’s team of experts and NHS advice, they’ve come up with the answers to some of the most common pregnancy questions.
In Pregnancy What Are The Symptoms?
With 90,500 monthly searches, a whole lot of you are eager to track down those early pregnancy symptoms.
“If you have a regular monthly period, the most reliable sign of pregnancy is a missed period. Prior to that, during the first three weeks it is unlikely that you will notice any symptoms of pregnancy. You may have a bleed similar to a very light period, with some spotting, called implantation bleeding,” says the Kiddies Kingdom team.
From 4 weeks, other early pregnancy symptoms can include:
- Sore breasts
- Nausea (morning sickness)
- A metallic taste in your mouth
- New likes and dislikes for food and drink
- A heightened sense of smell
- Needing to wee more often
- Bloating
- Thicker and shinier hair
It’s also common to feel tired during pregnancy, especially during the first twelve weeks. Hormonal changes during this time can make you feel sick, emotional and upset. Every pregnancy is different and not everyone will have all these symptoms.”
Take a look through our guide to your pregnancy week-by-week for more on the signs, symptoms and changes to your body and baby during pregnancy.
How Is Due Date Calculated?
The most common method to calculate your due date is to count 280 days or 40 weeks from the first day of your last period. This is based on a regular 28-day cycle, so if your cycle is irregular, it might not be as accurate. If you’ve been tracking your ovulation, and you know the date of conception, you can just add 266 days to get your estimated due date instead.
As part of your antenatal care, your midwife will offer you a 12-week scan that may give you a more accurate due date.
When Does Morning Sickness Start?
Morning sickness is very common in early pregnancy and for those who experience it, it usually begins around 6 weeks into pregnancy, or two weeks after the missed period. Although some women have reported having morning sickness as early as 4 weeks pregnant.
What are the Signs of Preeclampsia?
“Pre-eclampsia is a condition that causes high blood pressure, usually during the second half of pregnancy or after labour,” say the Kiddies Kingdom experts.
According to the NHS, early signs of pre-eclampsia include having high blood pressure and protein in your urine. It’s unlikely that you’ll notice these signs on your own, but they are usually picked up during routine antenatal appointments
In some cases, further symptoms can develop, including:
- Swelling of the feet, ankles, face and hands caused by fluid retention
- Severe headache
- Vision problems
- Pain just below the ribs
Why [do you get] Heartburn in Pregnancy?
Heartburn and indigestion are common during pregnancy and can be caused by hormonal changes and the growing baby pressing against your stomach. Unfortunately, if you were prone to getting heartburn before becoming pregnant, you’re more likely to have symptoms during your pregnancy.
When To Scan For Pregnancy?
The NHS offers all pregnant women at least two ultrasound scans during their pregnancy. The first will be the 12-week scan, also known as the dating scan, offered between 10 and 14 weeks. The scan will give a more accurate due date, as well as checking the baby’s development and that they’re growing in the right place.
The second scan will be the 20-week screening scan, also known as the anomaly scan, offered between 18 and 21 weeks. This scan checks the physical development of the baby, although it cannot pick up every condition. It is also when you can find out the sex of the baby. You may be offered more than two scans, depending on your health and the pregnancy.
What are the Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy. According to the NHS, it does not usually cause any symptoms, with most cases discovered when blood sugar levels are tested during screening. Some women may develop symptoms if their blood sugar levels get too high such as increased thirst, needing to we more often, a dry mouth and tiredness. These are also common symptoms during pregnancy and are not necessarily a sign of gestational diabetes.
If you’re worried about any symptoms you experience during your pregnancy, always speak to your midwife or doctor.
How to Bring on Labour?
There are many theories on how to induce labour, but there is not enough scientific evidence to prove that any of them work. Popular theories include exercise, sex, nipple stimulation, eating dates, and eating spicy curries. It’s very important to get advice from your midwife before trying anything to try bring on your labour.
When Does Third Trimester Start?
The third and final trimester starts at week 28 and lasts until the end of your pregnancy.
Can you eat Prawns When Pregnant?
Yes, it’s perfectly safe to eat prawns when pregnant, however, they need to be cooked and not raw as they can carry harmful bacteria which can give you food poisoning and make you unwell. This is the same for other shellfish.
If you’re unsure about what is and isn’t safe to eat or drink, brush up on what to avoid during pregnancy
