Are you wondering if you are pregnant? Ok! So, it has been a couple of weeks since you did the deed and your periods are a little late. Often a late or a missed period is the first thing that makes the alarms in your brain going. However, if you are someone who has irregular periods or if your periods are just a couple of days late it might be a little difficult for you to know the situation precisely. There are a number of other signs of pregnancy that you should watch out for.
There are some first signs of pregnancy which often start by the sixth week or sometime even before. There are women who have difficulty in conceiving because of different health related issues. If you are one of them and have been keeping track of your menstrual cycle it is a good idea to have knowledge about these earliest signs of pregnancy. Just keep in mind that:
- You might not get all these signs of pregnancy
- Every woman and every pregnancy is different. Sometime first and second pregnancy might be quite different.
- Even if you have been on the pill or using other contraceptive methods, you must remember that these are not one hundred percent safe. You can conceive even if you have been on the pill.
- It is a good idea to have guidance about these signs and also know your body well.
- Pregnancy is a beautiful time, although some of the pregnancy signs and symptoms might bother you but by having knowledge and guidance about them will help you be better prepared to enjoy this wonderful time.
17. Tender Breasts
One of the first signs of pregnancy for many women is changes in their breasts. You may experience some tenderness in your breast area. Some women even complain of soreness. The breasts become more sensitive, sometimes even touching them or if you accidently brush them against something can be very uncomfortable.
- These changes are due to hormonal changes, you might feel that your nipples have enlarges or there are white spots around them
- Some women even feel that the nipples have grown and even change color slightly.
- Your breasts might feel heavier. This is your body preparing you for the nursing stage, as the ducts and glands increase in size.
- It is a good idea to wear a bra with a good support to help you with back aches, or go for a nursing bra.
16. Nausea
Another early sign of pregnancy is nausea. Nausea, or the feeling that you are about to throw up. Vomiting during pregnancy is one of the most common pregnancy symptoms. Different women feel different levels of nauseous and it can be with and without vomiting. Although mostly referred as morning sickness you can feel nauseous any time of the day or even after dinner. Anything can make you nauseous; it can be a certain smell, food, a perfume or even motion sickness. Although the exact cause of nausea is not clear, but most doctors hold your pregnancy hormones responsible for it. This is one of the first signs of pregnancy and may occur just 3-4 weeks after conception.
- Having citrusy fruits often help nausea
- Lemonade and salty crackers also help in curbing nausea.
15. Increased Urination
If all of a sudden you feel that you are unable to sleep through the night without a trip to the loo, it could be one of the early signs of pregnancy. As you conceive your body starts to produce more fluids and your bladder flushes them out more frequently. This increased urination may start in early weeks of pregnancy and last till you deliver. This sign of pregnancy often occurs after first five weeks. This is just your kidneys flushing out the extra blood and fluids.
- As the baby grows, there is more pressure on your bladder and you may also feel that you cannot hold your pee.
- You might want to decrease your water intake in the late hours to help you sleep well.
- Often the muscles in your bladder become week as they are stretched; it is a good idea to start with Keggel exercises after consulting your physician, who will guide you when you can start doing these.
14. Fatigue
Have you been feeling more tired than usual? Worry not; it could also be another sign of pregnancy. Do you feel sleep deprived and are barely able to finish one chapter of a book? If you feel fatigued all the time it is because of soaring progesterone hormonal levels. This tiredness usually starts early and may last a few weeks and some women even feel this tiredness returning in their last trimester. You may feel sleep deprived all the time and in such case you can try some of these home remedies for sleep disorder by consulting your doctor.
- Some women even experience low blood pressure levels, which again makes them want to sleep more.
- Make sure you hit the bed early or if possible take a nap during day time, to keep your blood pressure and energy levels balanced.
- Taking frequent small meals also helps to keep you energized.
- You should also cut back on your caffeine intake, having too much coffee to feel energized is not a very good idea during pregnancy.
13. Shortness Of Breath
Do you get winded all of a sudden while carrying out you day to day activities such as doing the laundry or climbing a flight of stairs? Feeling breathless is another early sign of pregnancy. All of a sudden there is a lot going on inside your body. You have raging hormones, your heart is beating faster as it needs to pump more blood and your body needs more oxygen for the growing fetus. This breathlessness starts from the first trimester and may actually increases as the fetus grows.
- Unfortunately, this is one symptom which continues throughout your pregnancy for most women as along with increased need for oxygen your lungs also get squished as the baby grows.
- Some women even experience high blood pressure as your heart is continuously working harder than before. This is something to watch out for and you can try some of these home remedies for high blood pressure after consulting your doctor.
- As a result of high levels of blood pressure some women even feel lightheaded or get dizzy spells. If this is the case you must inform your doctor immediately.
12. Head Aches
Another early sign of pregnancy is frequent headaches. They can even be migraine like or you might feel throbbing in your head. Most women get frequent headaches as one of the first signs of pregnancies. At this point you are unaware that your body requires you to increase your calorie intake, there is a change in hormonal levels and often your blood pressure levels also fluctuate.
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- In case you are pregnant steer clear of ibuprofen or the usual headache medicines you would take previously
- In case of unbearable headaches doctors suggest pg-safe acetaminophen but these should never be taken without consulting your doctor.
- Sometimes taking a small snack which gives you a boost of energy and having water also helps.
“Often a late or a missed period is the first thing that makes the alarms in your brain going. However, if you are someone who has irregular periods or if your periods are just a couple of days late it might be a little difficult for you to know the situation precisely.”
11. Back Aches
Do you feel sore in your lower back? This could be another one of pregnancy signs. As your body starts making changes to accommodate your baby often the muscles and ligaments start to stretch. This gives way to lower back pain. Obviously as you gain more weight our whole posture changes. Often your ligaments are supporting more weight but still you can try some of these home remedies for back pain after proper consultation from your doctor.
- It is a good idea to use hot water bottle or a heat pad to relieve lower back pain
- Another thing you might need to do is invest in a good pair of comfortable flat shoes.
- This doesn’t mean that you can no longer wear heels, but just reserve those for special occasions or this might worsen your back pain.
10. Food Aversions
Do you all of a sudden feel that you can’t stand the smell of fish, or meat or even eggs? It can be absolutely anything at all. Some women as they become pregnant cannot stand even the thought of certain foods. It could be the smell or taste or absolutely anything at all. For some women the smell of certain foods just activates their gag reflex. This is more common for women who suffer more from nausea. As we said before every woman and every pregnancy is different, so we cannot say which food it might be for you.
- If you feel there is a sudden unexplainable change in your food preferences you might need to start watching out for other signs of pregnancy as well.
- Some women also feel a metallic taste in their mouth since the beginning of the first trimester. This might make a lot of food taste different.
- It is impossible to exactly pin point the reason for this, but aversion from some of your favorite foods is again blamed on surging amounts of estrogen.
9. Food Cravings
On the flip side some women get food cravings at odd hours. Some can’t get enough of the citrus fruits, for some it is the pickles and for some it could be a certain flavor of ice-cream which they never ate before. These cravings can come at any hour of the day and can start at any time during your pregnancy. However, you should learn to control those craving.
- Try to eat as healthy as possible during the pregnancy
- You don’t want to give into the cravings and fill yourself with too much junk.
- Extra pounds are not only difficult to shed off after delivery, but too much weight gain can also complicate labor.
- Remember, your baby gets all the nourishment from whatever food you eat, so try to eat a balanced healthy diet as much as possible.
8. Cramps
From the point you conceive till you are in labor you might get cramps from time to time. Usually at the time of implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterus wall women get mild period like cramps. These cramps that you get will not result in your period and are often the first signs of pregnancy. For some women they might even go unnoticed. Sometimes you may also get cramps due to other reasons.
- As the uterus expands and make place for the growing baby the uteri walls expand.
- Some women may get cramps in their legs which are due to additional weight your legs are carrying.
- It is a good idea to do yoga or some other prenatal stretching throughout your pregnancy to curb these cramps.
- Sometimes a diet too rich in phosphorous may also lead to period like cramps.
Different women feel different levels of nauseous and it can be with and without vomiting. Although mostly referred as morning sickness you can feel nauseous any time of the day or even after dinner. Anything can make you nauseous; it can be a certain smell, food, a perfume or even motion sickness.
7. Constipation & Bloating
Two other early signs of pregnancy are constipation and feeling bloated all the time. As your uterus expands, your intestines are pressed, this added pressure causes constipation. Off course as the fetus requires more space, this problem can worsen as the pregnancy progresses. If you can all of a sudden no longer fit into your favorite jeans or your clothes fit snuggly near the waistline you are bloated. Off course you can’t gain weight this early in your pregnancy but it is just the hormones giving you the feeling of being bloated. Most women feel bloated just before their periods are about to start as well.
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Home remedies for constipation
- Include more fiber in your diet.
- Avoid foods that give you constipation.
- Some women may even get hemorrhoids or piles as they spent too much time on the loo as the pregnancy progresses. This can be painful if you don’t take care of the problem early on.
6. Mood Swings
As your hormonal system is completely disturbed in the beginning of the pregnancy frequent mood swings also occur as early signs of pregnancy. Some women start feeling emotional, some get cranky and some are eve weepy over no apparent reason. These mood swings are very natural and you shouldn’t let them bring you down. Explain to your partner that this is just a phase and will pass in no time. You feel more hormonal in the beginning of the pregnancy as your body is getting used to of the all newly produced hormones.
- Try to stay as active as possible, but also rest when needed.
- Talk to friends and family whenever you get low.
- It is also OK to ask for help when needed.
5. Sensitivity To Smell
Do you feel even taking out trash makes you gag? Most women feel their sense of smell heightens as they become pregnant. The odors and smell which wouldn’t bug you before would now do so. You can even tell what the neighbor’s are cooking. It doesn’t mean you have developed some special smelling powers this is just another one of first signs of pregnancy. It is just the amped up estrogen and hcg which alleviate all your senses.
- You may want to avoid very strong smells such as that of dirty laundry or trash or cigarette smoke or even food with strong odors.
- Try to let the fresh air in.
- See which smells you find pleasing and try to surround yourself with that whenever you can.
- Just eat what smells good. Some women even get turned off by the smell of certain foods.
4. Increased Basal Body Temperature
If you have been trying to conceive for some time, chances are that you would be keeping a track of your basal body temperature. Our body’s basal body temperature usually increases during the time of ovulation. BBT has been used as an ovulation indicator for quite some time now. It increases at the time of ovulation and stays elevated for the next two weeks or the time you get your periods.
- If your basal body temperature remains elevated beyond two weeks and you haven’t gotten your periods it could be an early sign of pregnancy.
3. Dizziness And Fainting
Dizziness and fainting are also early signs of pregnancy and you must have seen in movies or soap operas as being among the first signs of pregnancy. Well what they show isn’t that far from reality. A lot of women get dizzy spells during their first trimester and shortly after conceiving. If you have been trying to get pregnant for a while you might want to watch out for this symptom. you might want to read out some of these home remedies for dizziness but make sure to apply them after proper consultation from your doctor.
- Pregnancy causes your blood vessels to dilate slightly. As a result you drop your blood pressure and you might feel dizzy or even pass out completely for a few minutes.
- As your body needs more nutrition make sure you eat more and stay well hydrated as soon as you find out you are pregnant.
“As your body starts making changes to accommodate your baby often the muscles and ligaments start to stretch. This gives way to lower back pain. Obviously as you gain more weight our whole posture changes. Often your ligaments are supporting more weight.”
2. Changes In Your Skin
As we have already told you your hormones go crazy as you become pregnant, you may feel a sudden change in your skin. These changes in the appearance and texture of skin also vary from woman to woman and pregnancy to pregnancy. The sudden change often occurs as you conceive and settles down as the pregnancy progresses. Some of the common skin changes which are early signs of pregnancy are:
- Pigmentation- as you conceive your body produces more melanotropin, this causes hyper pigmentation or sometimes uneven skin tone. Here are some basic tips for different skin tones. Some people even refer to it as mask of pregnancy. In most cases this goes away with time but remember too much sun exposure can worsen the situation. So always wear a sunscreen.
- Dry or itchy skin – Some women even feel their skin becomes itchy as they conceive. This is because of increased blood supply to your skin.
- Acne – just like crazy hormones give you acne as you hit puberty, this surge in hormones can even give some women acne scars and breakouts during pregnancy.
1. Spotting, Late Or Missed Period
You are aware of your menstrual cycle and the regularity of your flow. If you find something unusual about your period you might actually be pregnant. It is not necessary that you get no period at all. Some women even experience change in flow and duration of their period. Some even get mild spotting which doesn’t last more than a day or two and mistake it for their period. Did you know that this small amount of spotting or vaginal bleeding could actually be one of the earliest signs of pregnancy?
- This is known as implantation bleeding.
- It occurs when a fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterus lining.
- The spotting occurs two weeks after the actual conception takes place. This is almost the same time as when you should be expecting your periods. This is why it is often mistaken as a light period.
- Change in your menstrual cycle can be due to other medical reasons as well, if this happens constantly and you are not pregnant you should consult your doctor.
What To Do Next?
If you experience these early signs of pregnancy what to do next? Off course you will be looking for a doctor, but till you get your appointment here are a few things which you should start doing immediately.
- Get a home pregnancy test right away.
- If the test turns out positive, start eating healthy immediately.
- Cut down on your alcohol and caffeine intake.
- If you smoke, stop right away.
- Pregnancy is not an illness; it is a time to be enjoyed. Remain active but you might have to change the type of exercise you chose ad it is a good idea to consult your doctor before starting any type of exercise.
- The symptoms sometimes come early on during the pregnancy but go away with time. However, if any of these signs become bothersome talk to your doctor.
