Pregnancy, if it has occurred, will inevitably become obvious. If a woman thinks she is pregnant, the only way to be absolutely sure is to have a pregnancy test conducted through a testing laboratory and initiated by a doctor, but if you’re unsure, you should consider the early signs of pregnancy.
Are You Pregnant if You Miss Your Period?
You missed your period, while a feature of pregnancy, can be caused by other factors, such as being close to puberty or menopause, excessive weight, weight which is too low, ovaries damaged by cists, STDs, a lot of exercise and other causes.
Often pregnant women bleed at the time they would normally have their period. This can be a cause of distress to those wishing to be pregnant.
Pregnancy often causes a change in energy levels, and a lowering of energy available for normal tasks is a feature of the first trimester (first three months) of many pregnancies. So, unusual fatigue is often one of the early signs of pregnancy.
Symptoms of Pregnancy – Hormones and Sensory Experiences
Unusual mood changes are another one of the early signs of pregnancy. Mood changes, though, are part of the human condition and have many causes both for males and females. Pregnancy is a major life event with huge consequences, so mood swings for no other reason are inevitable. Changes in hormones can only accentuate this.
A change in the sense of smell is another one of the early signs of pregnancy though smell is often different between men and women, a pregnant woman’s sense of smell is often strengthened. The strength of the sense of smell for an individual can vary. Throughout history, pregnant women have noticed that their sense of smell becomes more acute.
Women become much more emotional during pregnancy. This is another one of the early signs of pregnancy. This is caused by the change in hormones which occurs as a result of the body’s changes during pregnancy.
Physical Symptoms that Might Indicate Pregnancy
Another is visits to the toilet to urinate being far more frequent. Some scientists and doctors believe the cause is pressure on the bladder caused by the developing fetus. Other physical characteristics might be increased facial hair.
Some women experience cognitive challenges, “slow thinking” during pregnancies. This phenomenon is called ‘mommy brain’. The reasons for this are not clear. Such changes are not a feature of all pregnancies and there is much debate about this.
Frequent Urination
A pregnant woman may not notice her frequent trips to the comfort room, but others can easily notice this, thus, an indication of pregnancy. This symptom happens because the uterus begins to swell and pressure on the bladder eventually occurs.
Moderate Spotting
Moderate spotting generally occurs before a woman’s menstrual period begins. Spotting can also be a sign of pregnancy as implantation starts. Since this type of bleeding is brownish and the flow is usually light to moderate just like the pre-menstrual spotting, some women often disregard it as an early sign of pregnancy.
Nausea
Nausea or morning sickness is one of the most common signs of pregnancy. If you are considering taking a medication like Zofran during pregnancy, make sure that you do your homework first to determine if it is safe. This basically happens during the first to two weeks of pregnancy. Although the feeling of nausea and vomiting may occur anytime within the day, these can trigger when one least expects it.
Fatigue is one of the Common Early Signs of Pregnancy
A sudden feeling of fatigue or exhaustion is also one of the early signs of pregnancy. A woman can tell if she’s pregnant when she easily becomes exhausted and tired even after doing little or no activity at all.
Are Tender or Swollen Breasts One of the Early Signs of Pregnancy?
Tender breasts are another one of the early signs of pregnancy. This is caused by the hormones estrogen and progesterone and the preparation of the breasts for milk production.
Nausea is another sign of pregnancy, although it may also be sign of PMS (premenstrual syndrome). This may or may not be accompanied by vomiting. This is caused by the body producing large amounts of the hormone gonadotropin. Women who are pregnant may experience both nausea and vomiting within a month of conception.
Changes in food habits and cravings for unusual foods are well known early signs of pregnancy. The reason for this is not known exactly. Some scientists and doctors believe the cause is hormonal.
