Bringing a baby into this world is a dram come true for some women, and a potential disaster for others. While taking a pregnancy test or going to your doctor is the only way to know for sure if you really are in the early stages of carrying a baby, there are certain symptoms that can help you see that it might in fact be a possibility. Here’s what you should be looking for.
1. Missing your period
Of course, this is the first and most noticeable sign that many women experience, and think they’re pregnant. Of course, if your eating habits are poor, or you’re experiencing an unusual amount of stress, that could be the reason, but is still creates the possibility.
2. Spotting or cramping
Even if you are bleeding, you could be pregnant, and it’s not a period. These two symptoms are caused by a fertilized egg attaching itself to the wall of the uterus. This is known as implantation bleeding, and can last a week or two after the date of fertilization. Some women think that these cramps are simply menstrual cramps.
3. Urinating all the time
This often happens in the 6th or 8th week of conception and even though it’s a common symptom, it’s important to note that it could also be caused by a urinary tract infection or diabetes.
4. Weird cravings
Wondering what pickle juice and ice cream might taste like? It could be a sign that you have a baby on the way if you’re experiencing a craving you’ve never had before. Same if there’s foods you could tolerate before, but can’t stand anymore.
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5. Breast tenderness
Since your hormone levels are changing, it causes sore, swollen, and tingly feelings up to a couple of weeks after. They may also feel fuller or tender to the touch, and the areola (the dark area around the nipple) may also get darker.
6. Nausea
On the opposite end of cravings is the nausea that’s commonly associated with pregnancy. While not every woman with child experiences this, hormones are a major cause, and they feel particularly nasty in the morning. Lots of hot tea can help with this!
7. Constipation
When you’re with child, the hormone progesterone increases, which can make you constipated. Try to consume high fiber foods, drink water, and try to exercise, all of which will increase the speed of food passing through your intestines.
8. Headaches and back pain
Although there are many reasons for this feeling, plenty of pregnant women report feeling mild headaches, while others suffer from back aches.
9. Congestion
Due to increased blood production and rising hormone levels, you might experience some stuffiness in the nasal area, and it’s not due to seasonal allergies! These factors can cause your nose to dry out, swell, bleed easily, or cause a runny/stuffy nose on the milder end of things.
10. Fatigue
While many of us have plenty of reasons to feel fatigue, if you feel unusually overtaken by exhaustion, get ready for the possibility that you could be pregnant. This is due to the increase of progesterone, which causes sleepiness.
11. Feeling moody
It’s normal to get a little weepy and emotional during the early stages of pregnancy — and throughout those 9 months. It’s also not uncommon to experience mood swings — one moment you may be hopping around with joy, and the next, furious at whoever happens to be by your side.
12. Bloating
This is confusing since we experience it during our periods, but it’s common to experience a bloated feeling around weeks 4 to 6 of pregnancy.
13. Raising body temperature
A common sign of pregnancy is a higher basal body temperature. Your core temperature can raise even more after periods of exercise or hot weather — be sure to hydrate regardless!
14. Increased heart rate
This doesn’t usually happen until about 2 months into a pregnancy. Your heart starts to pump harder and faster, and even palpitations are common. This is all caused by hormones — later on the in the pregnancy, increased blood flow to the fetus can also cause this.
15. Acne
Although some pregnant women get an undeniable glow around the date of their pregnancy. The glow is caused by your body’s oil glands being more active than usual. However, some women develop acne instead, and this is nothing to be ashamed of.
16. Along with those dreaded cravings and bouts of nausea, hormones can relax the valve between esophagus and stomach excessively, causing stomach acid to leak and causing heartburn. Chew on some Tums and sit upright after eating.
