How can you know that you might be pregnant? Obviously, a pregnancy test can help a woman determine whether they are pregnant or not. There are signs that a person can look for that might indicate that they should take a pregnancy test.
Most people think that the main sign that a woman might be pregnant is a missed period. However, that is not the only sign of a pregnancy. There are other signs that you can look for.
Before you read 10 common signs of pregnancy, there are two things you need to be aware of;
- First of all, every person is unique. Every pregnancy is unique. Not every person will experience all of these symptoms.
- Secondly, these symptoms can be indicators of other issues. Only a pregnancy test and ultrasound can truly identify pregnancy.
10 Common Symptoms:
- Missed Menstrual Cycle. This symptom is the most common and recognizable. However, some women have irregular cycles and can’t rely on a menstrual cycle being a few days late to determine pregnancy. A missed period can also be the result of other conditions such as;
- Weight changes
- Hormonal imbalances
- Birth Control
- Extreme Stress
- Other Medical Conditions
If you have a late or missed period, it is a good idea to get a pregnancy test. The
Pregnancy Resource Center of Cache Valley offers free Pregnancy Tests.
- Tender Breasts – A woman’s body is not only going through visible changes during pregnancy, but biological changes. Early in pregnancy, your body starts making the HCG hormone. As hCG levels rise, so can the sensation of sore breasts.
- Fatigue – Ovaries produce progesterone during pregnancy. Progesterone can cause a woman to feel fatigued and tired. I wanted to do nothing but sleep early in my pregnancy. That was not normal for me.
- Frequent Urination– Your uterus rapidly grows from the size of a plum to that of a watermelon during pregnancy. Pressure can be put on the bladder even early in pregnancy causing a woman to urinate more often.
- Constipation – The increase of progesterone during pregnancy can cause the intestines to move slower. This can lead to constipation.
- Nausea – Morning Sickness normally occurs 1 to 2 months into pregnancy, but it can occur sooner. For me, it occurred a couple of weeks into the pregnancy and lasted till I was about 4 months pregnant. The cause is not known for sure, but is thought to be hormonal.
- Bloating – Obviously, your belly gets bigger when you are pregnant, but very early into the pregnancy, your belly can feel bloated due to hormonal changes and a missed period.
- Light Spotting – Normally, this can occur 10 to 14 days after conception around the time you would normally have a period. It is also known as “Implantation Bleeding.” This is different from a menstrual cycle as it is such a small amount that you would not need a pad or tampon.
- Odor Sensitivity – A woman can become very sensitive to odors that don’t normally bother them. For me, perfume, hairspray, lotions all made me very sick. I normally like those smells. This can also be caused by hormonal changes.
- Moodiness – It’s kind of nice for a woman to have an excuse for their moodiness. The changing of the hormones in a pregnant woman’s body can really lead to moodiness and extreme emotionalism. Commercials made me cry abnormally.
The only way to truly know if you are pregnant or not is to get a pregnancy test and an ultrasound. We offer these services for free along with prenatal education, support, supplies, and resources. Please come see us.
We are here for you.
Written by:
Rachel Woody, Executive Director
REFERENCES
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/symptoms-of-pregnancy/art-20043853