DIAGNOSIS OF PREGNANCY
There are few experiences in the life of a woman that evoke such emotions of absolute joy or profound despair than that of pregnancy; therefore correct diagnosis is the very important woman herself often diagnoses pregnancy even before she has missed a period because she feels different. Breast changes, nausea, change in food and drink preference, overwhelming tiredness, frequency of micturition and backache confirm her suspicion.
The signs and symptoms are divided into three heads.
- Presumptive Signs
- Probable Signs
- Positive Signs PRESUMPTIVE SIGNS
- Amenorrhea: When a woman of reproductive age group has amenorrhea it suggests pregnancy.
- Morning Sickness: Nausea in the morning occurs in about 50% of pregnant women. This is due to certain hormonal factors.
- Breast Changes: The breasts become large, tender with a fetus tingling sensation. A dark circle secondary areola appears around the nipple (more diagnostic of 1 pregnancy), veins become more prominent. Montgomery's tubercles (hypertrophic sebaceous glands) become more prominent on the areola.
- Frequency of Micturition: This starts when the uterus is still in the pelvis. It is due to the pressure and stretching of the bladder lying in front of the growing uterus.
- Perversion of Appetite: During pregnancy women develop likes for some food and aversion to others.
- Quickening: The date of quickening, first fluttering movements of the fetus felt by the mother, can be used to check the date of expected confinement. A primigravida feels it at 18- 20 weeks and a multigravida
- at 16-18 weeks.
- Increased vaginal discharge: Occurs during pregnancy due to certain hormonal causes.
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