What to Know About Fluctuating Pregnancy Symptoms

While pregnancy symptoms can be uncomfortable and challenging, most people are fully prepared for them. What may come as a surprise is the way pregnancy symptoms come and go, often without rhyme or reason.

Fluctuations in pregnancy symptoms may cause anxiety about whether your pregnancy is progressing as it should or if there's a problem that requires immediate attention. You may even find yourself scouring pregnancy books and websites to learn what to expect.

Keep reading to discover when these fluctuating pregnancy symptoms are normal and when you should be concerned.

Normal Pregnancy Symptoms

Most pregnancy symptoms can be attributed to fluctuating hormones. Research shows people usually experience at least two symptoms in the first trimester, though everyone is different.

Common pregnancy symptoms in the first trimester include:

• Breast tenderness
• Frequent urination
• Cramping
• Acne
• Food cravings
• Bloating
• Dizziness
• Mood swings
• Back pain
• Constipation 

Some people will have many of these, others will have just a few or none, and they may not happen consistently.

Pregnancy Symptoms That Come and Go

The frequency and intensity of pregnancy symptoms can be highly variable, and, quite frankly, you can’t expect to feel all of them all of the time.

There will be days when you'll experience cramping and frequent urination, and others when you’ll have sudden cravings for certain foods. Sometimes, you might be entirely symptom-free. This is all perfectly natural and usually of little cause for concern.

In some cases, pregnancy symptoms may not disappear so much as become less noticeable as you begin coping with the frequent changes in your body. For example, you might start to better understand your mood swings or find ways to deal with the rigors of constipation or nausea.

When to Be Concerned About Fluctuating Symptoms

On occasion, changes in pregnancy symptoms warrant concern or immediate medical attention. Here are some warning signs, plus what to do if you experience any of these symptoms.

Your baby is moving less

During pregnancy, one chief concern is fetal movement. It may be some time before you actually feel anything (usually sometime between weeks 16 and 22), but if you notice any significant changes in activity moving forward, tell a health care provider right away.

A decrease in fetal movement, or a complete cessation of movement, might signal an emergency. While other symptoms may decrease or subside as your pregnancy advances, the movement of your baby should not.

Note, however, that your baby may be quieter during certain times of the day, like when they're sleeping or you're exercising. That's usually normal.

Sudden loss of all pregnancy symptoms

If you've been experiencing symptoms throughout pregnancy, and they suddenly disappear without warning, this can also be worrisome. Indeed, a sudden loss of pregnancy symptoms might point to miscarriage or another issue, especially if it happens during the first trimester. (Though it's important to note that a cessation of symptoms might also be normal).

Even if there are no other overt signs of miscarriage—such as abnormal bleeding or cramping—it's still important to get checked out sooner rather than later.