I’m feeling a little different. Could I be pregnant?
This is a common question most women who have experienced pregnancy and even those who have not probably have asked themselves at some point in their lives. Even with experience of pregnancy, each one is different and symptoms are more than likely going to vary from one pregnancy to another. With the onset of these symptoms, comes a mixture of emotions and leaves a woman unsure of what to do next. Taking time to understand the early symptoms as well as the best time to take a test can be helpful in moving forward. Let’s take a look at some of the early symptoms and see what can cause some of these to happen in the first place.
1- Missed period
This tends to be the most common early sign that someone is pregnant. If you experience regularity in your cycles and a period is a week past the onset of your start date, chances are you may be pregnant. If you are irregular with your cycles, this might not be an alarm or first symptom for you.
2- Fatigue
It’s possible to feel completely exhausted as early as the first week of pregnancy and have no idea what could be causing you to be so tired. As hormones begin to fluctuate and change in the early stages of pregnancy the decreasing and increasing can zap you of energy and make the simplest tasks seem overwhelming. It’s okay to rest and let your body do it’s thing.
3- Food aversions/ Food cravings
Being turned off by certain foods or having unusual cravings for others is another common symptom of being pregnant. It’s reported that 50-90% of pregnant women experience cravings for specific foods or have aversions to others. This is believed to be caused by the HCG hormone.
4- Nausea
Nausea is a symptom that usually starts between the 2nd and 8th week of pregnancy and is another very common sign that one might be pregnant. While this is often referred to as “morning sickness”, it can strike at any time of day. It is another early symptom of pregnancy believed to be brought on by the HCG hormone. This symptom generally fades as the second trimester hits, but some will continue to deal with nausea and vomiting throughout their pregnancy.
5- Swollen or Sore Breasts
This is another common sign that you are early in a pregnancy. As progesterone and estrogen levels spike, blood flow to the breasts increase and can make them painful and sensitive to touch.
6- Spotting and or Cramping
Some women will experience light bleeding (spotting) early in their pregnancy. This is caused by the egg implanting in the uterus and often causes confusion for some; mistaking it for a light period. This implantation may also result in slight cramping which can be confused with menstrual cramps.
7- Frequent Urination
Hormone levels will also have an effect on how often you visit the restroom and need to urinate. This increase is another sign of pregnancy and may have a woman running to the bathroom every 10 minutes throughout the day and night. This is another fun symptom of late pregnancy as the baby will push on the bladder.
8- Constipation
Women will often struggle with bowel movements early in their pregnancy. Having fewer movements and finding that you are constipated can be another symptom. Once again this is due to hormone changes that can disrupt fluid balance in the body causing constipation.
9- Mood Changes
With hormones fluctuating and increasing rates, the sudden onset of moodiness and mood swings is another common symptom of pregnancy.
Wrap Up
Some women will struggle with every single one of these early pregnancy symptoms while others may find that they do not deal with any of these struggles. Symptoms alone cannot provide a definitive answer on pregnancy or not; many people will have these symptoms due to other ailments or health issues. The most predictable way to know if you are in fact pregnant is to take a reliable pregnancy test. The best time to take a pregnancy test is after a missed period. If one is taken too early, it may provide you with a “false negative”; meaning the test was unable to detect the pregnancy hormone causing you to believe you are not pregnant when in fact you really are.
While tests are available in stores everywhere, the PLC Health Clinic offers free and confidential medical grade pregnancy tests. Please contact us at 419-238-9177 or for more information or to schedule your pregnancy test today.
*Sources available upon request.
