Are You Pregnant or Do You Have Gastritis
Are you pregnant? This frequently asked question is not always easy to answer. And before you have a definitive answer, you may wonder whether your symptoms are actually caused by pregnancy or something else since there are also a number of different conditions that cause similar symptoms. How about gastritis? Can it be confused with pregnancy?
Pregnancy symptoms
Pregnancy symptoms
Knowing that you’re pregnant is so existed, especially if you and your partner are expecting a baby. A pregnancy test is an effective way to confirm your pregnancy. But there are also some early symptoms that may signal your pregnancy.
Though the symptoms can vary (each pregnancy is unique), here are top 3 of early pregnancy symptoms:
Missed period
The most commonly reported for early pregnancy is a missed period, which also often drives most women to use a pregnancy test kit. When the egg is successfully fertilized, it implants into the lining of uterus and your menstrual period stops until the baby is born.
The implantation may result in spotting (light bleeding), which usually looks a bit different from menstrual bleeding. This light bleeding is completely normal and will go away without requiring any kind of medical attention!
The spotting may also occur with abdominal cramps. You may mistakenly identify them for the start of your period, because they can mimic to those of menstrual cramps. But typically, they are slight!
Morning sickness (nausea & vomiting)
Another famous symptom of early pregnancy is morning sickness, typically characterized by nausea (most commonly in the morning, though it can occur at any time of the day). Your nausea may also be followed with vomiting.
Nausea and vomiting associated with hormonal changes during pregnancy can be very bothersome. Sometimes the effect could be very strong to make you become more sensitive to what used to be a favorite food. Luckily, these discomforts will usually improve in the second trimester.
Breast changes
These include tenderness, swelling, or tingly sensation – typically occur 1-2 weeks after conception, though not all women experience these changes. Again, hormonal changes are to blame. It may take several weeks to get used to changes of your hormones. And when it does, these discomforts should ease up.
Other symptoms that might signal pregnancy include; fatigue (tiredness), backaches (especially lower backaches), headaches, dizziness, mood swings, food cravings, constipation, frequent urination, and darkening of areolas.
Can gastritis be confused with pregnancy?
Can gastritis be confused with pregnancy?
When you’re trying to get pregnant, understanding your pregnancy symptoms is a must. Because each symptom could also be caused by something else other than pregnancy, as mentioned earlier! This is important to make sure that everything is going OK — or if your symptoms signal particular health condition, early treatment can be given for a better outcome!
However, sometimes it’s not easy to figure out the real ones that have to do with pregnancy. Besides symptoms of pregnancy that could have other causes, they vary from woman to woman. Even in one woman, they may vary from pregnancy to pregnancy. Also, not every symptom always occurs during each pregnancy.
How about gastritis? It’s also possible that this stomach lining inflammation could be confused with pregnancy.
Gastritis can cause abdominal cramping, nausea, and vomiting – which are also common in the first trimester of pregnancy.
But there are a few differences, see the table below!
| Gastritis | Pregnancy |
|---|---|
| Gastritis pain is usually felt in the upper abdomen, specifically below the breastbone! In general, it gets worse if you eat foods that provoke the inflammation of your stomach lining. | The cramps related to early pregnancy are usually felt in the lower abdomen, in the area of your uterus (within the pelvic region). |
| Nausea caused by gastritis can flare up at any time of the day, which could be worse or better with eating (depending on what you eat). The common culprits that worsen the problem are fatty, acidic, and spicy foods. | Pregnancy nausea is caused by changes in woman’s hormones. It often flares up in the morning, though not always. What worsens this nausea can vary — the common culprits are when eating a large meal, eggs, sausage, and when smelling strong odors (like raw chicken, caffeine, or perfume). |
Also, ask yourself whether you experience other symptoms of the disease! Here are other gastritis symptoms, depending on how severe it is:
