Pregnancy, whether planned or unexpected, can be an exciting time in a woman's life. Knowing the signs and symptoms of pregnancy can help a woman know when to take better care of herself and seek medical attention. While not all women will experience the same signs and symptoms of pregnancy, many are so common that they are almost considered indicative of the condition.
Amenorrhea
Amenorrhea, or the absence of menstruation, is one of the first signs of pregnancy. The American Pregnancy Association calls amenorrhea the first sign. Each month during her fertile years, a woman's body prepares for pregnancy by creating a uterine lining, which can nourish an implanted, fertilized egg. If she does not become pregnant during any given month, her body sheds this lining in a process called menstruation. When a woman becomes pregnant, this lining is not shed.
Nausea
Mayo Clinic states that between 50 and 90 percent of women will experience some form of nausea or queasiness during pregnancy. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that the nausea, sometimes called "morning sickness," results from rising levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), also called the "pregnancy hormone." The nausea can begin as soon as two weeks after conception.
Breast Tenderness
Within a few days of conception, a woman's body begins to produce increased levels of estrogen and progesterone. The University of Maryland Medical Center credits this rise for another of the early signs of pregnancy, breast tenderness.
Fatigue
High doses of the hormone progesterone can cause sleepiness. Early in pregnancy, as progesterone levels increase, fatigue commonly overcomes a pregnant woman. Added to the rising hormone levels, pregnant women experience lowered blood pressure, lower blood sugar levels and increased blood formation, all of which can cause feelings of fatigue.
Bleeding or Spotting
Approximately 10 to 14 days after fertilization, the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall. Called "implantation bleeding," some women experience bleeding or spotting during this time. Occasionally, a women will experience longer episodes of bleeding or spotting during pregnancy, but those incidents generally subside fairly soon after implantation.
Darkening of Areolas
Beginning a few weeks after conception, many women notice a darkening of their areolas, the darker skin around the nipples. The University of Maryland Medical Center points out that the Montgomery tubercles, the small bumps on the areolas, also become more prominent as they prepare for milk production.
Mood Swings
Hormones affect moods and, as hormone production begins to increase shortly after conception, a woman often feel as if she is on an emotional roller coaster.
Headaches
The American Pregnancy Association included headaches as one of the possible early symptoms of pregnancy. These headaches, like mood swings, result from the rising levels of hormones a pregnant woman experiences.
