Transcript: You’re pregnant! And if you had any doubt that that little baby is really in there, get ready for your body to make it very clear. Although some women sail through their pregnancies, most experience a host of physical symptoms over their 40- week journey. While a missed period is often the very first physical sign of pregnancy… some women experience another, even earlier symptom – implantation bleeding. This occurs when an embryo burrows into the uterine wall, causing light, irregular spotting, before the period is even due. After a woman knows she’s pregnant, her next symptom is often morning sickness, which affects 75 percent of all moms-to-be.  Morning sickness is characterized by nausea and vomiting, but don’t be fooled by its moniker: Morning sickness often lasts all day. The good news is that you’ll probably experience a huge reduction in morning sickness after your first trimester—although many moms do experience the symptom again later.  During the second half of pregnancy, many women experience severe heartburn, or acid reflux. This is due to high amounts of the pregnancy hormone progesterone, which relaxes the valve separating the stomach from the esophagus. Add in a growing baby, which crowds the stomach cavity, and digestive acids often seep up into the throat, causing that burning sensation. Pregnancy heartburn can be painful, but it’s safe to take an over the counter antacid, like Tums or Rolaids to ease the ache. Later in pregnancy, as they get larger, many pregnant women also have to deal with achy or swollen body parts. The body parts most commonly affected are the back, breasts, head, and ankles. Towards the end of pregnancy, some women get stretch marks on their breasts or stomach, or experience melasma, a darkening of certain parts of the face. Some moms-to-be even find that their feet go up a whole size while pregnant, and stay that way postpartum. Emotionally, pregnancy can be a roller coaster ride.  Pregnancy hormones may make a woman sad, elated, or anxious – and the emotional experience can change rapidly. Pregnancy affects the libido, too, sometimes fueling an insatiable sexual desire, while other times decreasing sex drive. Each woman will react in her own way, and may also react differently at different times in her pregnancy. Pregnancy symptoms do vary from woman to woman and even from pregnancy to pregnancy. If you’re dealing with an unpleasant issue, talk to your doctor about treatment options.