What are the Early Signs of Pregnancy?
There are several early signs of pregnancy that, considered individually, may be accountable to other conditions, but taken together are a pretty clear indication of pregnancy.
The earliest sign of pregnancy is usually a missed menstrual cycle, however, this isn't a foolproof indication. Many women do not have regular periods, making it harder to judge if a cycle is late. Still others might experience light bleeding at their first menstrual cycle after becoming pregnant. In fact, about one in five women experience light bleeding throughout their first trimester.
Fatigue is also an early sign of pregnancy. Engaging in normal activities might leave you more winded than usual. Your stamina will decrease with pregnancy, as your body will be using much of its energy to go towards the physical changes required for pregnancy.
Hormonal changes will also be taking place, which can make you feel like you are coming down with the flu. You may have dry heaves or vomiting during the first 6-14 weeks of pregnancy. Though this is referred to as morning sickness it can happen at any time of the day or night.
Another early sign of pregnancy is changes to the breasts. The areolas will darken and the breasts themselves will become tender and full, much like the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Cravings for different foods that you usually don't eat, often accompanies pregnancy. Have you noticed that you usually like sweets but have been craving salty foods lately? Or perhaps the opposite is true?
A general crampiness or bloating of the pelvic area can also be an early sign of pregnancy and may be accompanied by constipation. Again, these symptoms can mimic PMS, and many women find themselves wondering which it is!
Frequent urination is one more early sign of pregnancy, and occurs again at the end of the pregnancy. Do you feel like you've been running to the bathroom more often than usual?
The easiest way to determine if you are pregnant short of visiting a doctor's office is to take a home pregnancy test. These tests measure a hormone that is produced during pregnancy, called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The pregnancy test consists of a chemically treated strip. Urine placed on the strip interacts with the chemicals and within a couple of minutes the strip turns color, indicating a negative (not pregnant) or positive (pregnant) result.
Though pregnancy tests will often indicate you can test on the first day of a missed period, it may take up to 10 days or more before sufficient quantities of hCG are present as to be detected by these tests. Therefore a negative result prior to 10-14 days may be a false indication, and you may actually be pregnant. If your period does not start after 10 days, or if it was much lighter than usual, try the pregnancy test at that time. If you still get a negative result wait a few more days and try once more.
A doctor can perform a blood test that will be able to detect much lower levels of hCG than a home pregnancy test, making it accurate even in the first days of pregnancy. This is an option for women who do not wish to wait for a definitive result.
Though many common early signs of pregnancy have been mentioned here, it is important to note that not everyone will experience these symptoms. Don't let a lack of symptoms convince you are not pregnant, if you have reason to believe you might be. Instead, use a home pregnancy test or see a doctor to verify your condition.
If the early signs of pregnancy are present, and especially if you have verified that you are pregnant with a home pregnancy test, be sure to make an appointment with your doctor right away. The sooner your pregnancy is verified, the sooner you can start taking care of yourself and plan for the future!
Written by R. Kayne
