Pregnancy Symptoms
You may have an inkling that you're pregnant soon after you have conceived, when the fertilised egg attaches itself to the wall of your uterus (womb). This usually happens within about 10 days of conception.
Or you may be unaware of any changes for weeks, only wondering if you're pregnant when you miss a period.
13 signs you might be pregnant
Nausea (Morning sickness) :
morning sickness is a common symptom of early pregnancy. It often starts when you're about six weeks pregnant, though it can start as early as four weeks. You may feel sick and queasy, or even vomit. Despite the name, morning sickness can affect you at any time of the day, or night.
Missing period:
The most obvious indicator of pregnancy is a missed period, but a missed period doesn’t always mean a baby is on the way. Stress, diet or an irregular schedule can also be the culprits, so it’s best to get tested before making the big announcement.
Swollen and tender breasts:
Soreness or tingling in breasts is one of pregnancy’s most common symptoms. Early in pregnancy breasts will fill out and change shape as they prepare to produce milk. Breasts may become very tender and sensitive for a few months as a result. But, Teresa Pitman, doula and lactation expert, notes: “that not all women experience these changes, especially if they have been on birth control pills.”
Mood swings:
Food cravings :
Altered sense of smell:
Your sense of smell may change as well, and you may find that you are more sensitive to aromas from food or cooking.Some women complain of an odd “metallic” taste in their mouths during pregnancy. While there is no scientific explanation for this symptom, for some it can last throughout their entire pregnancy.
Darkening areolas:
For many women, hormones can cause the areolas, the circles around nipples, to widen and darken during pregnancy. This occurs as the body prepares itself for breastfeeding.If the skin around your nipples (areola) gets darker, you may have successfully conceived. Though this may also signal a hormonal imbalance unrelated to pregnancy.
Frequent urination and constipation:
When you are pregnant, your uterus presses directly on the bladder leading to more frequent urination. The added pressure and intestinal changes may also cause constipation. Of course, the more a baby grows, the more the uterus presses against the bladder and other organs.
For many women, this starts around the sixth or eighth week after conception. Although this could be caused by a urinary tract infection, diabetes, or overusing diuretics, if you're pregnant, it's most likely due to hormonal levels.
Fatigue:
Many women feel very tired early in pregnancy (it takes lots of energy to create a baby!). In fact, fatigue is often one of the first signs of pregnancy. If you are pregnant, chances are you’ll start to feel less tired around week 12, when the placenta is fully formed.
Unusual hunger:
Pregnant bodies are working hard to grow that baby, and need about 300 extra calories a day. Some women find themselves craving food they would never normally dream of eating, while others simply feel hungry all day long.
Headaches and back pain:
Many pregnant women report frequent mild headaches, and others experience chronic back pain.The frequency of migraine headaches can increase with pregnancy. Many women who get hormonal migraine headaches find they get more of them during especially early in pregnancy, explains Pitman. However, some people have the opposite experience and actually get a little reprieve from migraines while expecting.
Feeling faint or dizzy:
These may be related to dilating blood vessels, lower blood pressure, and lower blood sugar.
Shifting hormones, combined with the heart beating faster to pump more blood through the body can cause blood pressure to gradually decrease early in pregnancy. As a result many women experience periods of dizziness or feeling lightheaded.
Spotting and cramping:
About five to 10 days after conception, some women notice light spotting when the embryo implants in the uterus. So if you’ve had a light period this month, you might still be carrying a little bundle of joy.The fertilized egg attaches itself to wall of the uterus. This can cause one of the earliest signs of pregnancy -- spotting and, sometimes, cramping.
That's called implantation bleeding. It occurs anywhere from six to 12 days after the egg is fertilized.
The cramps resemble menstrual cramps, so some women mistake them and the bleeding for the start of their period. The bleeding and cramps, however, are slight. Besides bleeding, a woman may notice a white, milky discharge from her vagina. That's related to the thickening of the vagina's walls, which starts almost immediately after conception. The increased growth of cells lining the vagina causes the discharge. This discharge, which can continue throughout pregnancy, is typically harmless and doesn't require treatment. But if there is a bad smell related to the discharge or a burning and itching sensation, tell your doctor so they can check on whether you have a yeast or bacterial infection.
The proof: a positive home pregnancy test:
Most home pregnancy tests will give you a reliable result if you wait until at least the first day of a missed period. If a blue line appears in the test window, you're probably expecting.
