Whether we’re trying to get pregnant or not, we tend to want to know yesterday whether we’re actually pregnant or not. We live in a right-now world. With our phones, tablets, and other devices, almost everything we need or want is available at our fingertips almost instantly. Unfortunately, it’s not quite that easy for us to figure out if we’re pregnant or not, and waiting to find out can make us anxious. There are a few early pregnancy symptoms you can look for if you think you might be pregnant.
6 Early Pregnancy Symptoms
1. Missed Period
If a week or more has passed without the start of an expected menstrual cycle, this is a sign you could be pregnant, especially if your cycle is regular. If your cycle is irregular, this could be misleading.
Many women (not all) might also experience light spotting around the time they would expect their cycle to start. This is called implantation bleeding and occurs when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus.
2. Morning Sickness
Nausea with or without vomiting can start one to two months after you become pregnant. Unlike the name implies, it can occur any time of the day or night, not just in the morning. Some women may feel nausea earlier while others may not feel this at all. We can likely thank pregnancy hormones for this.
3. Tender, Swollen Breasts
Hormonal changes early in pregnancy might make your breasts sensitive or sore. As your body adjusts to the hormonal changes the discomfort will likely decrease.
4.Fatigue
Fatigue ranks high among early signs of pregnancy. The rapid rise in levels of the hormone progesterone is the most likely reason for sleepiness during the first weeks of pregnancy.
5. Frequent Urination
You will most likely find yourself having to use the bathroom more often than usual. The amount of blood in your body increases during pregnancy, causing your kidneys to process extra fluid that ends up in your bladder.
6. Other Symptoms
A few other symptoms you might experience are mood swings, headaches, changes in your skin, bloating and gas, or food aversions and cravings. After becoming pregnant with my third child, my husband implied I was pregnant before my first missed menstrual cycle because my mood swings were far above what was common for me.
As always, if you are unsure about anything that is happening that you don’t understand, please talk to your doctor. They’ll be able to give you the solid medical advice and reassurance you need.