How To Know If You Are Pregnant - The 18 First Signs Of Pregnancy
Posted: Tuesday, June 05, 2007
by Natalie Williams
Are you pregnant? Check out the 18 pregnancy symptoms below to see if you have been experiencing any of them.
1. Nausea or morning sickness: Morning sickness is term to describe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. This occurs in approximately 50% to 95% of all pregnant women as early as the first week of pregnancy. Morning sickness probably got it's name due to the fact that most of the nauseating symptoms start in the morning right after you get out of bed when your blood sugar levels are low. However, it may happen at any time of the day.
3. Dizziness and fainting spells: Due to the lowered blood pressure in your body during pregnancy, blood flow to the brain may cause dizziness and fainting spells in serious cases.
4. Mood swings: With your hormones raging, it is common for women to feel moody during their pregnancy. All women have to go through a period of adjustment to settle into their new roles as a pregnant women and that takes time.
5. Fatigue: If you feel tired and experience some or all of the symptoms mentioned in this article, you have a good chance of being pregnant. Hormonal changes are usually the main cause of fatigue followed by the additional weight you have to carry around.
6. Food cravings: Craving for food that you normally would not eat could be a sign that you are pregnant. Normally, women report cravings for salty and sweet food during pregnancy while others report a uncommon desire for spicy or starchy food.
7. Weight gain and bloating: The combination of your baby's growth and your increased food intake will cause you to put on weight and your clothes to fit tighter than usual. An inexplicable increase in size of your stomach is also a definitive sign that you may be pregnant.
8. Heartburn: Hormones created during pregnancy may relax the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which opens the valve to allow stomach acids to flow up into the esophagus causing a burning sensation.
9. Lower back pain: As your baby grows in size, the additional weight pulls your spine to the front of your body and causes you to experience some back pain from time to time.
10. Constipation: Hormonal changes during pregnancy slows down the movement of food through your digestive system which results in constipation. This could be a sign of pregnancy if you do not experience constipation frequently.
11. Constant urination: Your growing baby in the uterus puts a lot of pressure on your bladder and you may find yourself visiting the toilet more frequently than usual.
12. High Basal Body Temperature (BBT): If your BTT stays in the high temperature range for 18 days or more, you have a good chance of being pregnant.
13. Cramping: As the uterus grows and stretches, it is normal to feel cramps that feel similar to menstrual cramps.
14. Spotting: Slight bleeding occurs when the fertilized egg begins to implant itself into the uterus any time from 3 to 6 days after fertilization. This usually happens outside of a normal menstruation cycle so it should not be confused with a normal period.
15. Darkening of the areolas: Your areolas could darken and increase in diameter during pregnancy. This is caused by your body's preparation for your breasts to produce milk.
16. Tender or swollen breasts: A lot of women experience sore, swollen, tingly or tender breasts during pregnancy due to the increasing hormones that are used to prepare a woman for breastfeeding. This feels like a amplified version of how your breast feels before your period.
17. Missed periods: If you have been sexually active and you missed a period, it is a good indication that are you are pregnant. A pregnancy test should be taken to confirm if the missed period is really caused by your pregnancy.
18. Positive pregnancy tests: Only a positive urine test or blood test can give you solid indication that you are pregnant. The problem is, they may not be fool proof. Remember to visit a doctor to conduct further tests to confirm the results.
It is important to remember that not all of the symptoms above can confirm a pregnancy. When you have a positive pregnancy test, visit a doctor to get more tests done to confirm your pregnancy. That's the only way to find out if you are truly pregnant.
Visit Natalie's Pregnancy101.net to find out what are the top eBooks on pregnancy to help you get pregnant, stay slim during pregnancy, lose weight after pregnancy and have an easier birth.
This Article has been viewed 3,305,309 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
More commentsIve been on aviane birth control for about a year and a half now. I usually take at the right time and dont miss any. This month i did not miss any pills and took it on time. I had sex without a condom for the first time, only for like 2 mins then we put a condom. But now im paranoid because i checked my period tracker on my iphone and the night we sad sex was the day i was ovulating. Its been 6 days since and i have diarrhea and feeling kinda tired/ light headed.... could i be pregnant ????you wouldnt be having symptoms of pregnancy this early. it takes a few weeks.
Hi, I'm almost 17. I got raped by my ex boyfriend. I haven't said anything. It was on the first of this month. I think I'm a few days late. I'm really scared. I've had on and off cramps for a week or so, but no blood. My back always hurts, so I didn't take it into account. I'm nauseated easily as well. I've gained weight. A bit. And I'm really scared. I'm not old enough for a kid. And I can't tell my mom. What's happening to me?
Im 22 and I am very worried. I havent had my period for a while, last time i had it, it was november of last year (3 months) and just recently (january 13th) i slept with my boyfriend. I am worried that I could be pregnant, I havent experienced any of those symptoms, but I am freaking out that I could be pregnant! I need help!!!!
Take a frigging test! Why would you just get on and rely on a website without first taking a test!
Hi, I & my Bf had unprotected sex 3days ago.. Though I took a pill that flushes d sperm out, but is there still a chance that I may b pregnant, cause I avnt seen my period this month & my body is really acting kinda funny.. I dunno if my body is reacting 2 d pills, cause this is my 1st time taking any pill.. And I'm really scared 2 go 4 a test.. I'm just scared!
You should take a urine test to know your pregnant, remember that The best time to take a pregnancy test is after you missed your period from 5-7 days. You can also take home pregnancy test after having sexual intercourse without protection from 7-10 days.kk, im 16, going to be 17, and i could be pregnant, but i aint assuming i am, But this comment here helps alot, ill go for one in about 7-to-10 days,Never mind, I had a miss carriage .. :( yesterday night.
hi,i & my boyfriend had sex 2 days ago 2in one nite an yesterday nite he cam in me all 3 times. i feel like i am pregnant but im not scared im going to be a proud mom but is there any chance i could be poregnant?i feel fluttering an i already through up idk maybe im just scared can some one help me?If u had sex two days ago u wont be able to feel anything
I need ur help pls,I have been on pills,in decenber I started to have complications I bleed for 2weeks, while still taking the pill and have sex.I stop takin it in january and I have on protected sex now I am pregnant.how can I no how many weeks the baby is?
hi im 18 and me and my bf had sex at the end of dece. begain part of Jan. my period did not come on at all in Jan. I didnt think anything about it until now . Could i be pregnant . Still No Signs of my period. Im Not worried About Telling My Mom or Him I Jus Really need to know What would be best a Home Pregnacy test or the clinic ??I would do the home pregnancy test first. and if it comes back negative and you have doubts go to the clinic or doctor. sometimes the clinics use home pregnancy test, sometimes you can get them to do an ultra sound to look but mainly on rare occasions.
hey i am 25old me and man we had sex firday night and i feel real sleep and get back pain what kwn if i be pregancy or not and i get al symptoms is up and not kwn what to do can you help
Hi I'm 14... And me an my boyfriend had sex on the 16th of January and I think I'm pregnant.. I'm really scared.. I haven't Tom anyone but a close friend and my boyfriend. My friend said the pregnancy test won't be accurate unless I've missed my period? Is that true?the hormones in your body are not high enough to show up on a home pregnancy test yet. Wait until the day of your period and if you do not get it, take a pregnancy test. Still if it comes out negative it could always be wrong.
Hi, i need some help! I havent had a period since 12/20/11 and i have taken at least 5 pee test and all are negative! I have not had unprotected sex and i am always safe. I know things can still happen, but i am really freaking out. I have been really tired, had headaches/ neck aches, and my back has been killing me! Also, i have been cramping kinda bad. I honestly feel like i am on my period but i am not. What are the odds of me being pregnant? Is it that normal to get pregnant while using a condom??
More comments
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.