PMS (premenstrual syndrome) are a bunch of symptoms that are associated with your menstrual cycle. Typically, these symptoms happen a week or more days before the start of your cycle and stop after it begins. These symptoms are similar to the signs of early pregnancy. However, there are subtle differences between them, which can vary depending on the individual. Read on to learn about how to differentiate pregnancy symptoms vs period cramps.
Tenderness and breast swelling may happen during the latter part of the menstrual cycle. This tenderness may be mild to severe and is typically more before the start of your menstrual cycle. Women of reproductive age tend to have severe symptoms. The breast tissue may seem dense and bumpy in the outer areas. You may feel fullness and dull pain, which improves during or after your periods as the progesterone levels reduce.
During early pregnancy, your breasts may feel sore, tender, full and heavy. This swelling and tenderness may happen a week or two after conception and can last for some time as the progesterone levels increase due to pregnancy.
When it comes to implantation bleeding vs period bleeding, there won’t be any spotting or bleeding if you have PMS. When you have a period, the flow is noticeable and lasts from five days to a week.
For a few women, the early signs of pregnancy are spotting or light vaginal bleeding that is dark brown or pink. This happens a week or two after you conceive, and the bleeding is typically light and won’t fill a tampon or pad.
During pregnancy or PMS symptoms, you may feel grouchy and irritable. You may also feel anxious and cry easily. These symptoms disappear after your menstrual cycle starts.
However, if you are pregnant, you may have mood changes until childbirth. Feeling emotional, excited, crying and having momentary sadness are some common. Some of these symptoms may indicate depression, which is common during pregnancy. If you are concerned about it, consult a doctor.
Fatigue, tiredness, and insomnia are common signs of PMS. These symptoms go away after the menstrual cycle starts. Exercise and a healthy lifestyle may reduce fatigue and improve sleep.
Increased progesterone levels can lead to fatigue when you are pregnant and are more evident during the first trimester but may last until childbirth for some. To cope, get ample sleep and follow a balanced and healthy diet.
If your period is late, you may not have vomiting or nausea, but some digestive issues may appear as a sign of PMS.
One of the classic early pregnancy signs is morning sickness. Nausea begins a month after pregnancy and may be accompanied by nausea. Not all expectant mothers have morning sickness despite its name, it can happen anytime during the day.
During PMS, you may witness a change in eating habits. You may crave more sugars, sweets, carbohydrates or salty foods. You may have a huge appetite, but these cravings do not occur to such an extent in pregnancy.
During pregnancy, there may be specific cravings or food aversions to certain tastes and smells, even if you loved them before. These can last your entire pregnancy. Some women may have pica, a condition where women love to eat foods like dirt, ice or paint flakes. If you have these symptoms, consult a doctor.
During PMS, you may feel dysmenorrhea or cramps a day or two before the period. This pain decreases as the cycle progresses and goes away by the end of it. Menstrual cramps may decrease as you grow older or after your first pregnancy.
You may feel mild cramping during early pregnancy. These feel like the light cramps you have during your period but will be in your lower back or belly. However, if you have a previous history of miscarriages, don’t ignore it, especially when they do not reduce. You may have cramps for a few weeks or a few months if you are pregnant. If you are pregnant and you have cramps with watery discharge or bleeding, consult a healthcare provider immediately.
● Metallic taste in the mouth: In early pregnancy, many women may experience a taste like coils stuffed in their mouths. This can happen randomly or when eating certain foods.
● Nipple changes: If the coloured area of your nipple (areola) gets larger or darker, this can be an early sign of pregnancy.
● Headaches: Feeling lightheaded and having headaches are common in early pregnancy. This happens because of increased blood volume and hormonal changes.
● Congestion: In early pregnancy, some women have stuffy noses due to increased hormone and blood levels. The nose mucous membrane may become dry and bleed.
● Bloating: While a baby bump may take weeks to become noticeable, the stomach may feel bloated and pass flatulence more than usual.
● Skin changes or acne: Increased blood volume and hormones lead to skin changes. While some get clear skin and a glow, others may have acne or pimples.
If you have missed your periods and got a positive result on your home pregnancy kit, you should consult your healthcare provider. While fixing an appointment, you may be asked if you are consuming folic acid or other prenatal vitamins. These prenatal vitamins are essential as they help the baby’s neural tube development. The neural tube becomes the baby’s brain and spine. So, healthcare providers recommend that women of reproductive age take folic acid.
If you are planning to start a family, a preconception appointment is a good start, especially if you have any medical conditions or chronic illness.
Many similar symptoms occur with PMS and pregnancy, including cramping, mood changes, breast tenderness, fatigue and appetite changes. However, some signs like missing a period, nipple changes, nausea, and skin changes may indicate early pregnancy. A home pregnancy test helps to determine if you are pregnant. These are available easily and give accurate results when used properly. Contact your doctor if you get a positive result, as prenatal care is critical to ensure you and the baby are healthy.
