Morning sickness and missing your period are two of the classic signs of pregnancy that expectant moms experience. These signs vary from woman to woman, so knowing what to look for can help you determine whether you may be expecting.
Morning Sickness
Most women are familiar with and expect to experience morning sickness during their first trimester. But pregnancy-related nausea need not occur only in the morning. It can occur at any point in the day and seems to be exacerbated by low blood sugar and fatigue. Planning regular meals and snacks and getting plenty of rest may help reduce and control nausea.
Missed Period
Many women, especially those with irregular menstrual cycles, may not know that they are expecting until they have missed their period. At this point, you may already be into the second or third month of your pregnancy. If you think your period is late or that you have missed it altogether, you should take a home pregnancy test.
Breast Tenderness
The estrogen and progesterone levels in your body are increasing. This signals the blood flow to the breasts to increase, causing enlargement and the tenderness associated with pregnancy. These changes help prepare the breasts for breastfeeding after delivery.
Frequent Urination
Frequent trips to the bathroom are a well-known aspect of late pregnancy but can occur early in pregnancy as well. As your fertilized egg implants into the lining of the uterus, it begins to secrete hCG, the pregnancy hormone, which is known to trigger frequent urination. That urge to go that you will experience in your third trimester is primarily because of the weight of the fetus pressing on your bladder.
Fatigue
Pregnancy is tiring. Your body is working hard, even at rest. An increase in progesterone is also a contributing factor to your fatigue. Progesterone is vital to maintaining the uterine lining, which supports the embryo as it grows into a fetus. As those levels rise, you may feel the need to lie down.
Positive Home Pregnancy Test
Even with all of the signs your body may be giving you, you still may want to see test results. There are several home pregnancy tests on the market, and they all work in basically the same way. If you are pregnant, the hormone hCG is present in your urine, and home pregnancy tests are designed to determine if hCG is present. A positive result necessitates a call your physician or midwife. Your doctor will be able to start you on prenatal vitamins and schedule your first prenatal exam.
