For some, the idea of being pregnant is exciting and joyful. For others, a possible pregnancy brings fear and denial. No matter which side of the fence you’re on, there are several common symptoms that most pregnant women experience. Of course, the best way to determine if you’re pregnant is to take an in-clinic pregnancy test, followed by an ultrasound. Until then, these are some of the common symptoms you may be experiencing.
Symptom #1 – A Missed Period(s)
Often, a missed period is the first indication women recognize. If you’ve gone a week or more past your expected menstrual period without starting, you might be pregnant. However, this symptom can be misleading if you have an irregular menstrual cycle.
Symptom #2 – Tender, swollen breasts
Even early in pregnancy, you might experience sensitive or sore breasts because of the hormonal changes taking place in your body. The discomfort will likely decrease after a few weeks as your body adjusts to these changes.
Symptom #3 – Nausea with or without vomiting
Have you ever heard of the term “Morning Sickness”? Although you can feel nauseous at any time of the day or night, this symptom often begins one month after you become pregnant. Some women begin to feel nauseous almost immediately while others never experience it. No one knows exactly why a woman feels sick to her stomach, but pregnancy hormones likely play a role.
Symptom #4 – Needing to urinate more often
The scientific reason you need to urinate more often is because the amount of blood in your body increases causing your kidneys to work harder. The extra blood flow makes your kidneys produce up to 25% more urine soon after conception. This symptom usually peaks anywhere from the 9th to 16th week of pregnancy, then settles down.
Symptom #5 – Fatigue or exhaustion
Fatigue also ranks high among early symptoms of pregnancy. Certain processes such as an increase in the production of the hormone progesterone, your lower blood sugar level and blood pressure level are all causing you to be sleepy.
Symptom #6 – Light spotting
Sometimes a small amount of light spotting is one of the first signs of pregnancy. Known as implantation bleeding, it happens when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus — about 10 to 14 days after conception. Not all women experience this symptom, however.
Symptom #7 – Mood Swings
Wild mood swings can be a difficult symptom to handle. Once again, the abrupt changes in your mood are because of the hormonal changes in your body. These mood swings primarily occur during your first trimester.
Every woman is different. As a result, so is every pregnancy. Many of these symptoms can also be the result of another underlying issue. To know for sure if you are pregnant, visit one of the Women’s Center of Ohio locations for a no-cost, confidential in-clinic pregnancy test and consultation. If you get a positive result on your test, we can discuss the possibility of ultrasound scanning to determine how far along you are.
