Assessing pregnancy by weeks
Here are some assessment findings you can expect as pregnancy progresses.
Weeks 1 to 4
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Amenorrhea occurs.
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Breasts begin to change.
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Immunologic pregnancy tests become positive: Radioimmunoassay test results are positive a few days after implantation; urine human chorionic gonadotropin test results are positive 10 to 14 days after amenorrhea occurs.
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Nausea and vomiting begin between the fourth and sixth weeks.
Weeks 5 to 8
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Goodell’s sign occurs (softening of the cervix and vagina).
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Ladin’s sign occurs (softening of the uterine isthmus).
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Hegar’s sign occurs (softening of the lower uterine segment).
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Chadwick’s sign appears (purple-blue coloration of the vagina, cervix, and vulva).
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McDonald’s sign appears (easy flexion of the fundus toward the cervix).
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Braun von Fernwald’s sign occurs (irregular softening and enlargement of the uterine fundus at the site of implantation).
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Piskacek’s sign may occur (asymmetrical softening and enlargement of the uterus).
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The cervical mucus plug forms.
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The uterus changes from pear-shaped to globular.
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Urinary frequency and urgency occur.
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