Am I Pregnant? Early Signs of Pregnancy

Not sure if you’re pregnant but have a nagging feeling you might be? If you have been trying to conceive, it can be hard to wait to take a home pregnancy test. These early signs of pregnancy may help you determine if you could be pregnant.

How to Tell If You’re Pregnant: A Quick Guide

Discovering if you’re pregnant can feel exciting, scary, or a mix of both. The following steps outline how to recognize the early signs of pregnancy and confirm it:

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1. Look for Early Symptoms

• Missed Period: One of the earliest and most reliable signs, especially if your cycle is regular.
• Nausea and Morning Sickness: Feeling queasy, particularly in the morning, is a common early symptom.
• Fatigue: Hormonal changes can leave you feeling unusually tired.
• Breast Changes: Swollen, tender, or darkened nipples may indicate pregnancy.
• Frequent Urination: Increased urination may occur due to hormonal shifts.
• Food Cravings or Aversions: Sudden preferences for or aversions to certain foods.

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2. Take a Home Pregnancy Test

• When to Test: Test after your missed period for the most accurate results.
• How It Works: Home tests detect the pregnancy hormone hCG in your urine.
• Follow Instructions: Use first-morning urine for the highest hormone concentration.

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3. Visit a Healthcare Provider

• Confirm Results: Your a healthcare professional, Midwife or OBGYN can perform a blood test or an ultrasound to confirm pregnancy.

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The Most Common  Signs of  Being Pregnant Include:

Nausea With or Without Vomiting

Many women report feeling nauseous as one of the earliest signs of pregnancy.  This is commonly referred to as morning sickness  which can begin between 2-8 weeks following conception. The name can be misleading because morning sickness can actually occur anytime during the day or night.

Breast Tenderness 

As early as 1 to 2 weeks after conception, women notice breast changes such as sensitive, swollen or tender breasts.  Breast tenderness or sore breasts in early pregnancy is due to hormone level changes and should resolve after a few weeks once your body becomes accustomed to pregnancy.

Increased Need to Urinate

The need to urinate or pee more often is a common, early sign of pregnancy. This also occurs in the final weeks before baby is due. In early pregnancy frequent urination is due to an increase in a hormone known as hCG which increases the blood flow to the pelvic area. In late pregnancy it is due to the baby’s weight pushing down on your bladder.

Headaches 

Headaches are common in early pregnancy due to a sudden rise in hormones.

Food Aversions

In early pregnancy, it’s pretty common to experience aversions to certain smells, even to certain foods that you once used to enjoy. No one really knows for sure why this occurs but it is thought to be due to the increasing levels of estrogen in your body.

Food Cravings

Tired or Fatigued

If you are pregnant you may begin feeling tired or fatigued as early as 1 week after you conceive. It is due to the rise in progesterone, a hormone that helps maintain the pregnancy and helps milk-producing glands to grow.

Light Bleeding 

About 25% of women experience light spotting during early pregnancy (6-12 days after conception and is common up to 12 weeks of pregnancy). It is usually lighter in color than menstrual (period) blood. This light vaginal bleeding is often called implantation bleeding because it occurs at the time of implantation when the sperm fertilizes the egg. In a study done by the American Pregnancy Association, only 3% of women noted implantation bleeding as their first sign of pregnancy.

Mood Changes 

Mood swings can occur as soon as a few weeks after conception. These changes in mood are due to sudden hormone levels changing and are very common in early pregnancy. You may find yourself feeling unusually emotional or weepy.

Missed Period 

A missed period (menstrual cycle) is the most common reason that a woman will suspect she is pregnant and take a pregnancy test. Some women do continue to have their menstrual cycle while pregnant but it is usually lighter and shorter than their usual menstrual period. 

Some Less Common Early Signs of Pregnancy

A Strange Metallic Taste 

An increase in the hormones estrogen and progesterone can cause changes in taste for some pregnant women. A metallic taste, known as dysegusia, causes some women to feel as though they have pennies in their mouth.

Constipation 

Hormonal changes may cause you to feel bloated, like you have to go to the bathroom but you aren’t able to.

Dizziness 

Pregnant women may feel dizzy or lightheaded in early pregnancy. This is due to a drop in blood pressure as well as dilated blood vessels.

Abdominal Cramps 

 Some women experience abdominal cramping or a dull ache as they would prior to the onset of their period.

Other Reasons You Might be Feeling Pregnancy-Like Symptoms

While many of the above signs can indicate pregnancy, they could also be due to other things such as:

• Stress
• A change in birth control
• A health condition, such as hormonal imbalance
• Pending menstruation

If you believe you might be pregnant, take a home pregnancy test or make an appointment with a pregnancy center or healthcare provider.  If you have positive test result, schedule an appointment with a pregnancy health care provider – learn more about what you can expect at your first prenatal appointment here.

Disclaimer: Pregnancy by Design’s information is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Always ask your healthcare provider about any health concerns you may have.

Cited Research:

National Institutes for Health. What are some common signs of pregnancy. Retrieved from https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pregnancy/conditioninfo/signs.

Deutchman, M, Tubay AT, & Turok, D. First Trimester Bleeding. Am Fam Physician. 2009 Jun 1;79(11):985-992. Retrieved from https://www.aafp.org/afp/2009/0601/p985.html.