Early Signs Of Pregnancy

Sensitive To Smells

Dreamstime

Many pregnant women have reported their noses became exceptionally sensitive to certain smells in the early stages of pregnancy. When this symptom strikes, even the faintest whiff of a pleasant aroma feels like a gag-inducing blast of nose-searing funk. Even if women are motivated to shop for cleaning agents, they may become paralyzed from the overwhelming assault of chemical scents lining the shopping aisle.

When trying to discern why pregnancy bolsters a woman's olfactory senses, the best explanation boils down, once again, to hormones. The increased levels of estrogen and human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, is the primary culprit. When paired with the next symptom, this sensitivity to smell can be even more of an ordeal to endure. If women find themselves frequently assault by strong smells, they should consider washing their clothes more often, or swapping over to unscented cleansers or at least relatively mild smells like lemon or mint. The good news is this sharp sense of smell will vanish sometime within the second trimester.

Continue reading to learn about what is perhaps the most iconic symptom of pregnancy now.

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