Final answer:
The statement is false; vaginal/cervical congestion and bluish discoloration are not typical signs of pregnancy at 8-12 weeks. Signs like missed periods and nausea are more common in the first trimester, and changes in the cervix often occur close to labor.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that vaginal/cervical congestion and bluish discoloration occurring at 8-12 weeks are signs of pregnancy is False. These symptoms are not typically associated with the early stages of pregnancy. Instead, certain hormonal changes and physiological modifications take place during pregnancy which may lead to various symptoms and signs recognizable much later in the gestational period.
During the first trimester, signs of pregnancy often include missed periods, nausea, vomiting, frequent urination, and breast tenderness, rather than vaginal or cervical congestion and discoloration. Changes in the cervix, such as thinning and dilation, generally occur during the process leading up to labor. An example relating to the cervix in late pregnancy includes the 'bloody show', which occurs when the mucus plug that blocks the cervical canal during pregnancy is expelled as labor approaches, usually in the last few weeks before delivery.