Why is the biscuit hard? Biscuit is a matter of technique

A woman who dreams of motherhood wants to find confirmation of her position at the earliest stages. Today there are many scientific medical methods that allow you to diagnose the fact of conception in the first weeks. But along with them, traditional methods of determining pregnancy are actively used.

Why are “grandmother’s methods” so popular in the age of modern technology? Is this diagnosis really reliable? How to determine pregnancy using folk methods, you will learn from this article.

Most often, pregnancy is indicated by the absence of discharge, along with a change in taste sensations, the appearance of nausea, and increased oiliness of the skin. But these are only indirect signs. Even their presence does not guarantee that the reason for everything is the interesting position of the woman.

If it is not possible to visit a doctor, do the necessary research that can confirm this, you can try to determine pregnancy using traditional methods. Let's look at the most famous of them.

By urine

How to determine pregnancy by urine? Tests with iodine are considered the most effective. They are based on determining the level of alkali in it. To do this, you need to very carefully add a drop of iodine to a small container with urine. The dishes must be placed on a flat surface. If iodine remains a droplet or spot on the surface, then the woman will soon become a mother. If it spreads over the entire surface, then pregnancy has not occurred.

Another test can be done. To do this, take a sheet of paper soaked in urine and drip iodine onto it. If the paper turns purple, there is a pregnancy; if it turns blue or brown, there is no pregnancy. Of course, a modern urine test, bought at a pharmacy, is more convenient to use and more informative.

In the early stages, you can heat the urine very much and pour it into a glass container. It is believed that flakes and sediment will be present in the urine of a pregnant woman. It is characteristic that despite the strong, pungent and unpleasant odor, this method of determining pregnancy at home remains popular.

Another folk remedy for determining pregnancy is soda. If bubbles form when you pour a small amount of soda into a glass of urine, it means you can expect a baby. If the soda settles to the bottom, the test result is negative.

With a bow

One of the strange folk ways of determining pregnancy is onion fortune telling. To do this, take two onions, wish for a positive result on one, and a negative result on the other. Then the bulbs are planted in containers with water and it is monitored which of them will grow first to a height of 4 cm.

Obviously, this technique has no medical justification and is considered more entertainment than a real method of determining pregnancy.

By pulse

Traditional methods for determining pregnancy may include measuring the pulse on the abdomen at a distance of 7-8 cm below the navel. The presence of a pulse in this place means that a baby will soon appear in the family. The method has no scientific basis, its reliability is very doubtful.

According to dreams

Our ancestors believed in dreams. They believed that the fish that appeared in dreams indicated that in the near future the woman would become a mother. At the same time, it doesn’t matter at all what to do with fish in a dream - catch it, hold it in your hands, buy it, cook it, or eat it.

Also, the speedy conception of a child is signaled by swimming in a pond with clean water, seen in a dream.

By discharge

If you believe traditional methods of determining pregnancy, then in the early stages the nature of vaginal discharge changes. They become abundant and may turn pink or brownish.

Usually, discharge appears on the 5th day after conception. At this point, the fertilized egg can damage the small blood vessels of the endometrium. Hence the admixture of blood in the discharge.

This phenomenon is called implantation bleeding. In itself, it is completely safe, provided that the blood admixture is insignificant. If the bleeding is noticeable, urgent consultation with a doctor is necessary.

Metal taste in mouth

According to supporters of traditional methods of determining pregnancy, the expectant mother may develop a metallic taste in her mouth. Such phenomena occur to a woman in the first weeks of pregnancy. This allows you to determine the fact of conception at a very early stage.

With flowers

You can determine pregnancy using folk remedies by watering flowers in a flower bed with morning urine. This method is based on the saturation of the expectant mother’s urine with hormones. It is possible to reliably evaluate the test results only after some time, at the earliest - after 3 days. If after this period the flowers begin to look better, then the test result can be considered positive.

The effectiveness of traditional methods

All of the listed folk methods of determining pregnancy do not stand up to criticism and have no scientific basis. However, they have many adherents who claim that they learned about their situation long before visiting the doctor with the help of folk remedies.

The explanation for this is very simple. Each option has a fairly high probability of 50%. After all, only two things can happen - the pregnancy is confirmed or not confirmed. It’s up to a woman to decide whether to trust traditional methods for determining early pregnancy.

All products are completely safe and bring positive benefits to the expectant mother in the form of satisfying curiosity until the time when pregnancy can be confirmed in a medical institution. In addition, traditional methods of determining the presence of pregnancy are carried out with the materials that are available. They do not require financial investments or trips to a pharmacy, clinic or store.

Folk signs of pregnancy

There are many signs of pregnancy. But all of them are only indirect and can indicate not only the completed conception, but also other changes in the woman’s body, and, unfortunately, not always harmless. Traditional methods for determining pregnancy will be more effective if these signs are combined with each other.

Most common symptoms:

• Change in basal temperature. Many women use this method as a means. Let us clarify right away that this method is not effective for this. But to determine whether conception has already occurred, measuring basal temperature is very suitable. During this period the temperature is 37°C. A week before the onset of critical days, the basal temperature of a non-pregnant woman decreases. But if there is less than a week left before menstruation, and the thermometer stubbornly shows 37°C in the morning, the likelihood that conception has already occurred is very high. This is especially true in combination with other signs.
• Breast engorgement and soreness. In itself, such a sign does not indicate that a woman will certainly soon become a mother. Many women notice the same changes before the onset of their periods. But if, in addition to this, the lower abdomen periodically hurts and the basal temperature remains high, then it is likely that conception has occurred.
• Changes in taste preferences, nausea. And this is not a 100% guarantee of pregnancy. It may well be that it just indicates the appearance of pathology in the body. But in combination with the listed signs, it’s worth paying attention to.
• Increased sense of smell. Changed scent preferences. A woman can suddenly be driven to nausea by those smells that just recently she really liked.
• Sudden mood swings, increased emotionality, frequent tears.
• Increase in abdominal circumference. In fact, the fetus develops slowly, and by the end of the first month of fetal development the uterus will be approximately the same size as a chicken egg. But hormonal and physiological changes occur in the body of the expectant mother immediately after conception. This also applies to the digestive system. The intestinal walls swell slightly, its blood supply increases, peristalsis and gas formation decrease. Therefore, the stomach almost immediately increases in size. Visually, most likely, it is not noticeable. But a woman may notice that her favorite skirt or trousers have become too tight in the waistband.
• Frequent urge to urinate. This is due to the relaxation of the bladder caused by the hormonal changes occurring in the body of the expectant mother.
• You can determine pregnancy by the tightness of the cervix. Before the onset of menstruation, the cervix becomes loose. It opens slightly, preparing to release menstrual flow. Once pregnancy has occurred, the cervix thickens and closes, preventing infection from reaching the fetus.
• Changes in a woman's sexual appetite. Moreover, they arise almost immediately after conception. Libido can either increase or decrease. And again, hormones are to blame for this.
• Increased fatigue and constant drowsiness.
• Changes in appearance. If a woman suddenly becomes prettier for no reason, or her facial features, skin or hair inexplicably change, perhaps she will soon experience the joy of motherhood. Changes in the hormonal system can lead to a rash on the face, increased oiliness in the hair, excessive skin pigmentation, or, conversely, existing acne may go away.
• Morning sickness (

Modern women come to the aid of special tests and medical tests. How was pregnancy determined before, when medicine was not yet so developed? Many of these methods, as old as time, raise a lot of questions in medical circles, but most of them are time-tested!

1. Delayed menstruation

The most likely evidence of pregnancy! But the delay of “critical days” does not always mean that you will soon become a mother. If it is 1-10 days, do not rush to buy caps and booties! It is quite possible that you are simply nervous, tired or sick. But just in case, buy a test or go to the doctor.

By the way, there are isolated cases when pregnancy in the early stages develops against the background of menstruation. But this is a dangerous symptom. It may indicate pathologies. Therefore, if you suspect pregnancy, and menstruation suddenly occurs, it is better not to tempt fate, but to surrender to the hands of doctors in a timely manner!

2. Pain and cramping in the lower abdomen

This is also a very ambiguous symptom. It is observed in every third woman 1-2 weeks before the expected menstruation. Minor abdominal pain is associated with implantation of the embryo into the uterine wall. This sign of pregnancy occurs about a week after conception and can sometimes be accompanied by minor bleeding.

But pain in the lower abdomen does not always indicate pregnancy. Sometimes this is nothing more than a sign of the imminent onset of menstruation!

3. Nausea

The first weeks and months of pregnancy are often accompanied by toxicosis - attacks of nausea, vomiting, intolerance to once-favorite foods, etc. Sometimes nausea occurs even before your period is missed. But against the background of this symptom, it is difficult to accurately diagnose pregnancy. Sometimes nausea can be due to an upset stomach or food poisoning.

4. Frequent urination

One of the most common signs of early pregnancy.

Under the influence of hormones, the bladder sphincter relaxes. In this regard, a woman feels a frequent urge to urinate, regardless of the volume of fluid intake.

1. Breast swelling, increased sensitivity, darkening of the nipples

But this is the most likely symptom of pregnancy! Women's breasts undergo changes already in the first days of pregnancy. It may increase slightly in size and become more sensitive. There may be pain in the chest, a feeling of heaviness, the nipples darken and become slightly enlarged. If you notice that your breasts “behave” differently than before, you can safely go to an antenatal clinic!

2. Increased sense of smell

The sensitivity of pregnant women to odors is legendary! Most often, this symptom already appears in the early stages, almost from the moment of conception. Have you become more sensitive to smells, do you feel disgusted by your once favorite perfume, do you want to smell something extraordinary (for example, gasoline or freshly cut grass)? Congratulations, you are pregnant!

3. Mental changes

Hormonal fluctuations in a pregnant woman’s body often affect her psyche. The first weeks and months of pregnancy are accompanied by frequent mood swings, tearfulness and moodiness, which are interspersed with causeless joy, etc. If you suspect you are pregnant and are not prone to PMS, watch your behavior. If you suspect something is wrong, run for a test!

How was pregnancy defined in different countries?

1. In Tsarist Russia there was such a custom: during the wedding feast, the bride was tied around her neck with a red thread. When the thread began to compress the neck, it was believed that pregnancy had occurred. The thread was then removed!

2.German women urinated on flower buds. If after 3 days the flowers blossomed and bloomed, this indicated an alleged pregnancy.

3. In the Middle Ages, women used to tell their fortunes about pregnancy in this way: they diluted their morning urine with red wine. If the liquid became transparent, then this indicated that the woman would soon become a mother.

4. In modern Russia, a belief is still alive: if a woman catches a fish in her sleep at night, pregnancy is more than likely! And in the West, pregnancy is still “diagnosed” by dreams in which the expectant mother sees herself swimming in a clean, transparent body of water.

5. To diagnose pregnancy, ancient Egyptian women drank a tincture of the herb boudouk, diluted with the breast milk of a mother nursing her son. It was believed that this drink would certainly cause a gag reflex in the expectant mother.

6. Jews believed that if a young woman walks barefoot on the grass and leaves deep footprints, then she is preparing to give birth to offspring.

In Soviet times, pregnancy was judged in this way: a strip of paper was placed in a jar of morning urine, pulled out and a little iodine dripped onto it. If the paper acquired a bluish tint, then conception has occurred. This is a home “test” from our grandmothers and great-grandmothers!

Nowadays, determining pregnancy is not particularly difficult. Already at a very early stage, a woman can find out with almost 100% probability whether she is expecting a child. But how was pregnancy determined before, before the advent of modern diagnostic methods?

Instructions:

1. In ancient Egypt, to confirm pregnancy, a special drink was brewed from the herb bududu-ka and the milk of a nursing woman who gave birth to a boy. If the person who drank the drink vomited, it meant that she was pregnant. The ancient Egyptians also had a kind of pregnancy test. Barley and wheat seeds were wrapped in a cloth. The woman had to urinate on the bundle every day. After this, the contents of the bundle were mixed with dates and sand. If the seeds sprouted, this indicated pregnancy.

2. In Sumer, pregnancy was previously determined using a swab made of fresh grass, algae, wool and linen thread. This tampon was worn for three days. If, after the expiration of the term, the grass began to shimmer, this meant that the woman was pregnant.

3. In Babylon there was a similar method. A woman who wanted to determine pregnancy wore a sheep's wool tampon for several days, prescribed the juice of special herbs. Then the swab was placed in an alum solution. If the tampon turned red, this indicated pregnancy. Green color meant that conception did not occur.

4. In Greece, pregnancy was previously determined by drinking wine with honey at night, or eating a little honey with anise. If after this at night a woman had pain in the navel area, it was believed that she was pregnant.

5. In ancient China, acupuncture specialists used to determine pregnancy. They measured the woman's pulse and drew a conclusion based on their calculations.

6. Jewish sages believed that if a pregnant woman walked through the grass, she would leave a deep mark.

7. One of the folk ways by which

All women have at least once asked the question: how to determine pregnancy? If you focus only on the state of health, then there are 6 earliest noticeable signs indicating the presence of pregnancy:

• chest pain;
• back pain;
• increased sense of smell;
• Nausea (this symptom cannot be called very early, since it appears mainly at 6 weeks).

1 week of pregnancy. How do you know if you are pregnant?

There's no baby yet, but your body is preparing itself in preparation for ovulation. About 5 days after your menstrual cycle has ended, an egg (ovum) begins to mature inside a fluid-filled sac in one of your ovaries. The lining of your uterus will also begin to thicken in preparation for the implantation of the egg.

This is how the egg matures and is fertilized with movement into the uterine cavity.

The date of the first day of your period is important because your pregnancy will be counted from this date, although conception usually does not occur until after two weeks. This means that although the pregnancy is described as 40 weeks, you didn't actually think about your pregnancy until the end of the second week.

Things you should consider during the 1st week of pregnancy

Smoking and alcohol are harmful to you and your baby, so if you haven't stopped using them yet, you need to do so immediately! Secondhand smoke is also bad for your baby, so ask your partner to stop smoking.

If you are on prescription medication for a specific condition, such as asthma, your doctor will be able to tell you whether your medication is appropriate during pregnancy. It is important not to stop treatment without consulting your doctor.

What will be the first sensations of motherhood?

Many women wonder how soon and how early you will feel pregnancy symptoms, what are the earliest pregnancy signs and symptoms, and whether you may experience implantation, conception, or loss of appetite. The simple answer is that you can feel pregnant even before your period is missed.

How soon will you experience pregnancy symptoms? Early pregnancy symptoms such as implantation bleeding, loss of appetite, and breast tenderness are often the first signs and symptoms of pregnancy. If you think you might be pregnant, you should watch closely for these symptoms early on, as they may be present even before a positive pregnancy test. The earliest pregnancy symptoms, in order of appearance:

1. Implantation bleeding;
2. Convulsions;
3. Nausea and vomiting;
4. Fatigue;
5. Blood test;
6. Pregnancy test;
7. Increased basal body temperature;
8. Missed menstrual cycle;
9. Soreness of the mammary glands;
10. Frequent urination;
11. Poor sleep (usually insomnia).

Many women experience extreme fatigue and sleepiness early in pregnancy

Nausea and fatigue are among the first typical symptoms of pregnancy, although for most women, a missed period is usually the very first sign that they are pregnant. Typical pregnancy symptoms are related to hCG pregnancy hormones. They usually do not appear until late in pregnancy, often several weeks after implantation, when hCG is high enough to cause these symptoms.

How early do pregnancy symptoms start?

The first appearance of the pregnancy hormone depends on implantation, the attachment of a fertilized egg in the uterus. Implantation occurs on average 8-10 days after ovulation (range 6-12 days). The egg is fertilized by sperm inside the fallopian tube, usually within 12 hours of ovulation. The embryo then moves down to the uterus, increasing in size and cells. Immediately after fertilization, when there is only one cell, it is called a "zygote".

It is only after implantation that the pregnancy hormone is released into the blood and symptoms may appear. HCG first appears in the blood 3-4 days after implantation or in the first 9-10 days after ovulation.

If a woman is not trying to get pregnant and is closely monitoring physical changes in her body, a missed menstrual period may be the first clear sign of pregnancy. Sometimes absurd cases happen when women first discover that changes have occurred in their body, and only after that they pay attention to their periods. Those who have extremely irregular and undefined periods should first pay attention to these signs.

If you have a delay and are in doubt about pregnancy, then it is better not to waste time and get checked quickly.

Why does the tummy appear early?

Some people notice their belly bloating during the first 10 weeks, and it looks like a mom who's 4 or 5 months pregnant might think she's having twins or triplets.

A large belly during pregnancy occurs for completely different reasons.

Abdominal muscles

One of the most common reasons why the belly grows faster is a lack of muscle tone in the abdomen. After the birth of one or more babies, muscle strength does not return to what it was when the first pregnancy occurred. The age factor is also taken into account. The older a pregnant mother is, the less muscle tone she may have in her abdomen.

Progesterone

If your abdominal muscles are not strong enough, progesterone-induced bloat will simply appear larger than it otherwise would. The stronger the abdominal muscles, the more suited they are to holding on to the swelling of pregnancy.

The power of time

Many women do not know that abdominal enlargement begins in the 12th or 13th week of pregnancy. At first it will seem like just a tiny bump, but over time it will grow. If your pants feel a little tight during the 3rd month of pregnancy, the expectant mother can rest assured that this is normal and she is not alone.

If a mother was overweight in a previous pregnancy and was not overweight with this pregnancy, she will notice changes in her belly much earlier.

Multiple pregnancy

Typically, belly size does not indicate multiple pregnancy until the second trimester. For a woman pregnant with twins, the changes in the body may be more profound, but many of these changes are noticeable only to the mother. However, once the baby's belly begins to show, the growth rate will be faster with multiples than with a single pregnancy.

Regular, old-fashioned weight gain

When a woman is told she is pregnant, there is some release that occurs regarding her diet and exercise routine. This may be because she is a little afraid of continuing to exercise early in her pregnancy or feels that she needs to eat more to feed the baby. This can lead to regular, old-fashioned weight gain. The belly may grow due to these life changes and not for the baby.

Pregnancy Symptoms You May Feel

Just a few days after the fetus is conceived, it implants into the uterus. This is when the first physical signs of pregnancy begin. At this early stage, women may feel cramping. If spotting occurs, it may not become apparent until one to two weeks after the fertilized egg has implanted. Spotting is called implantation bleeding and can be mistaken for your period.

This is how implantation occurs, during which slight bleeding is possible.

Around the same time implantation bleeding occurs, women may experience changes in the breasts, including swelling, tenderness and tingling. Some women report that their breasts feel heavier or fuller.

One of the most common physical changes that women often experience in early pregnancy is fatigue. When conception occurs, progesterone levels rise. Progesterone can cause pregnancy fatigue.

Find out in a short time

Changes occur in a woman's body as soon as conception occurs, but these changes do not result in physical changes until about one week after pregnancy. From this point until the end of pregnancy, physical changes may be felt throughout the pregnancy.

6-12 days after sexual intercourse: Implantation of a fertilized egg may cause cramping.

After 7-14 days: The breasts may be swollen and tender.

After 7-14 days: Fatigue due to increased progesterone, low blood sugar and low blood pressure.

After 7-14 days: Increased estrogen and slower stomach emptying can lead to nausea known as morning sickness.

The time frame in which women report feeling the first signs of pregnancy varies widely as different organs change at different rates. Typically, the first signs of pregnancy are not recognized as being related to pregnancy until a positive pregnancy test is performed or a menstrual period is missed.

When do symptoms appear?

A small amount of hCG, the pregnancy hormone, enters the bloodstream a few days after implantation, approximately 8-10 days after ovulation and before the missed period. Thus, most signs and symptoms usually do not appear until hCG has reached sufficient levels, about 1-2 weeks after you miss your period (3-4 weeks after ovulation or 2-3 weeks after implantation). Although they may suggest that a woman is pregnant, a positive pregnancy test is needed to confirm pregnancy.

How many women have typical signs and symptoms of pregnancy?

Not all women have typical pregnancy symptoms. In fact, only about 1 in 2 pregnant women have these symptoms, and there is nothing wrong if you are pregnant and don't have even one of these. They are not the same for all women, and differ from one pregnancy to another, and each woman is as different as her pregnancy experience. Typical symptoms are often undiagnosed because they may overlap with menstrual problems.

It cannot be said that you will definitely have any of the listed symptoms, since each expectant mother has their own or is completely absent, but this happens very rarely.

Very early symptoms differ for all women. Some of them experience them within a week after ovulation, fertilization and conception. In other women they may develop much later, after a delay and/or a positive pregnancy test. Other women may have no symptoms at all.

The most proven and ideal way to determine pregnancy is a test.

Pregnancy tests work by detecting a hormone in a woman's blood or urine: HCG, produced when an egg is implanted in the uterus.

There are two types of pregnancy tests: one uses blood and the other uses urine. A quantitative blood test detects hCG earlier than a qualitative blood or urine test.

Pregnancy test detects hCG levels in urine

Most home pregnancy tests detect hCG in the urine stream when a line or symbol appears after a few minutes if the test is positive (indicating pregnancy). Most urine pregnancy testing instructions require a second test a few days later, regardless of what the first results were. Follow the instructions on the package - if the indicator does not appear on the strip, the test results should not be trusted. Home tests are accurate, some better than others.

Home pregnancy tests may be positive on the first day after a missed period.

Any questions or concerns about pregnancy tests should be discussed with your doctor.

Common signs of pregnancy in women

Spasms

Cramps in the lower abdomen can resemble menstrual cramps, and the bleeding and spotting may initially be similar to menstrual bleeding, so it is not unusual for some women to mistake them for the start of their menstrual cycle.

Discharge

They accompany a woman immediately after her first period appears, as well as during pregnancy. In this case, they have a curd consistency and are white. If under normal conditions this would indicate a disease (for example, thrush), then during pregnancy this is a completely normal phenomenon.

Breast changes

This sign is one that can confuse a woman. Since slight changes in the breasts, as well as pain, also occur during menstruation.

Nausea, and not only in the morning

Morning sickness is probably the best-known early pregnancy symptom, but many people don't realize that the term is imprecise. Nausea may be more common in the morning because stomach acids build up during the night. But most women who experience morning sickness also feel sick at other times of the day.

Bad smells

Even before nausea affects some women, an "extremely heightened sense of smell" develops. The odors will be so overwhelming that cooking should be avoided for several weeks, relying instead on soothing the condition.

You'll be exhausted

Fatigue tends to be most common in the first trimester, but is common later in pregnancy. Shedding all that extra weight can make it easier for you to get through the third trimester. Additionally, you may have trouble sleeping if your growing belly makes it difficult to get comfortable. We recommend that expectant mothers with severe fatigue be assessed for anemia and depression.

Frequent trips to the toilet

Frequent urination is another pregnancy symptom that most surviving moms are familiar with. The culprit is often hormonal imbalance in the earlier stages. During pregnancy, frequent vomiting is associated with an enlarged uterus (and the rapidly growing baby inside), which puts pressure on the bladder.

Atypical pregnancy symptoms

You expect morning sickness when you're pregnant, but there are many other symptoms that no one told you about.

Enlarged, tender, painful breasts

Many women find that they get a new bra size, sometimes doubling in size during pregnancy. (For better or worse, the change is usually not permanent.) Swelling, which signals increased fat stores and breast size, may be accompanied by tenderness.

Itchy sensations

Itching is a very common complaint and can occur throughout pregnancy. Common areas are the chest and abdomen, where the skin stretches to accommodate your growing shape.

Itching from stretch marks accompanies many pregnant women

Constipation

Here's one pregnancy symptom your mom didn't warn you about - you're likely to experience constipation, especially during the late second and third trimesters. Constipation can be a consequence of a number of factors:

• Changes in digestion;
• It is also caused by the hormone progesterone;
• Increased water absorption in the large intestine;
• Iron supplements.

Heartburn

Heartburn, a burning sensation between the chest and throat, is also common in the second and third trimesters. Progesterone is again to blame. The hormone relaxes the sphincter at the bottom of the esophagus, allowing stomach acid to rise.

Tips to relieve heartburn:

• Don't eat spicy food;
• Don't eat right before you go to bed, even if it's during the daytime;
• Take antacids (check with your doctor or midwife first).

Unpredictable allergies

Seasonal allergies and asthma can become unpredictable during pregnancy. Some women see their symptoms improve, while others notice the opposite. Expectant mothers with asthma should usually continue to use their inhalers. If you don't breathe, your baby won't either.

Balance changes

During the third trimester, many women feel that they are constantly out of balance. This change occurs later in pregnancy, but very few women expect it. While a growing belly tends to shift your center of gravity, there's more to it than that. A hormone called relaxin begins to appear towards the end of pregnancy, and its main purpose is to loosen the pelvic joints so that they are more flexible during childbirth. But this hormone also works on the hips, knees and ankles.

Abnormal symptoms

With so many changes going on in your body, you may be tempted to dismiss any new discomfort as you usually do during pregnancy. But some symptoms may indicate a serious problem:

1. Bleeding or Spotting - Bleeding or spotting is rarely ever normal during pregnancy. Spotting is more common in the 1st trimester and is probably not a cause for concern. However, in the 2nd and 3rd trimester, bleeding could warn against serious complications, such as premature birth or problems with the placenta. Always report any bleeding or stains on underwear to your doctor or midwife.
2. Severe itching: During the late second and third trimester, severe itching may signal a rare liver problem that sometimes develops during pregnancy known as intrahepatic cholestatin.

A rash on the body of a pregnant woman may indicate a malfunction of the liver

1. Blurred vision, severe headaches and pain in the right side of the abdomen. These symptoms, whether they occur alone or in combination, may indicate severe preeclampsia, the medical term for dangerously high blood pressure during pregnancy. Women who experience any of these symptoms should contact their doctor immediately and may require immediate hospitalization to avoid life-threatening complications in the mother and fetus.

Every woman who wants to have a child dreams of finding out about her pregnancy as early as possible - well, preferably from the first day of conception. Ignorance itself is terribly tormenting. Fortunately, now it is possible in different ways - these are tests and analyses. But our great-great-grandmothers were deprived of these benefits of civilization, and women could only learn about the “interesting situation” with the help of various folk methods. And, by the way, it was believed that grandmother’s methods of determining pregnancy were 100% correct. Unfortunately, not all of them have reached our time, however, some have survived.

List of the best methods

How did our grandmothers, for example, determine the onset of pregnancy at a time closer to us? Well, of course, besides the absence of critical days, it turns out they had a lot of methods. Basically, many of them are associated with... urine, however, like modern test strips:

1. Collect your urine in a jar and drop iodine into it - a drop is enough. It is believed that if conception has occurred, the drop will not spread over the entire surface, but if it does spread, then there is no pregnancy.
2. Dip a piece of paper in urine and drop iodine on it. If the color turns purple, it means there will soon be a new addition to the family; if it turns blue, alas.
3. A very common method and the easiest way is to determine pregnancy by the color of urine. It is believed that in the early stages it is colored dark yellow.
4. In the morning, collect your urine and water the growing flower. Pregnancy hormones have a beneficial effect on the plant, so if it begins to grow better, then conception has occurred.
5. Pour your urine into a metal container and put it on fire, after boiling, pour it into a glass jar. If pregnancy has occurred, then flakes will float in the jar and precipitate.

At the same time, grandmothers claim that these methods show a positive result even when it occurs (currently there are pregnancy tests that detect this pathology). In addition to methods related to urine, there were others, and very funny ones. Here are the most common ones:

• Plant two onions in two glasses of water, and assign one onion the responsibility to show a positive result, and the second - a negative result. Then you just have to wait until the onion grows up to four centimeters. Whichever bulb germinates faster means this is the result.
• Lie on your back, relax. Place your hand below the navel and press it slightly against your stomach - the presence of pulsation certainly indicates pregnancy.
• If a woman dreams of fish: she catches it, eats it, cooks it, buys it, or simply sees it, she is pregnant. This is the most reliable method that is still trusted today.
• Increased sense of smell.
• Breast enlargement and tenderness.
• Nausea in the morning or during the day when the woman is hungry.
• Pulling sensations in the lower abdomen, fullness and tingling.
• Changing taste preferences. A woman begins to eat something that she couldn’t even look at before.
• Increased emotionality, frequent tears and mood swings.

How was pregnancy previously determined?

In ancient times, women were practically no different from modern representatives of the fair sex. Of course, they also loved, suffered and hoped to produce an heir as soon as possible. In this case, the place of birth did not play any role - each nation had its own methods for determining pregnancy.

• Jewish women preferred to walk on tall grass - if after this there was a deep footprint, then this certainly indicated the onset of pregnancy.
• In Ancient Egypt, a woman was given a drink - it was prepared from the herb bududu-ka, infused with the milk of a woman who was breastfeeding her son. If the test subject felt sick and vomited, this meant that conception had occurred.
• In Ancient Greece, before going to bed, a woman drank a drink made from wine and honey; if at night her stomach began to hurt in the navel area, this guaranteed pregnancy. Honey and anise were also used for these purposes.
• Another typically Greek method: rub a red stone in front of the eyes of a woman who suspects herself of being pregnant. If dust gets into your eyes, you may be pregnant, but if not, then it’s not time yet.
• Italian women had to light a fire and warm themselves around it, adding myrrh and frankincense. If in the morning a woman smelled of incense and myrrh, this indicated that she would soon become a mother. Another way that Italians could determine the onset of pregnancy was to mix morning urine with wine in a 1:1 ratio. If the resulting liquid becomes transparent, it means that the baby will be born soon.
• But Hippocrates identified the expectant mother by... her eyes. According to his theory, a pregnant woman's iris darkens.

Very often, women use folk remedies not only to determine pregnancy, but also to speed it up.