Every woman's body is different, and every pregnancy is different. This means that the signs and symptoms a woman will experience varies as well. For the most part, the body relays certain signals that cannot be ignored. If women listen to these signals, she will know without a doubt that a bundle of joy is on its way.
Missed Period
The most obvious sign of pregnancy, a missed period usually makes women begin looking for other pregnancy signs, which may have been present all along. In some cases a woman may not completely miss her period, but experience a lighter than normal menses. This can still prompt her to make an appointment with her doctor to discover the underlying cause of this abnormality.
Sore Breasts
Sore or tender breasts can occur as early as two weeks after conception, according to the Mayo Clinic. When the egg becomes fertilized, a woman's body floods with hormones, which cause the breast tenderness.
Nausea/Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting, known also as morning sickness, are among the most common signs of pregnancy. Despite its name, morning sickness can occur at any time of the day or night and can last all day in some cases. While this symptom usually tapers off at the end of the first trimester, it may continue through the entire pregnancy.
Spotting
Medically known as implantation bleeding, this symptom generally occurs approximately one week before a woman's menses is expected. The difference is in its color and frequency; rather than being bright red, it is usually a light pink and instead of a constant flow, it tends to come and go. Spotting doesn't last as long as a normal menses and may be accompanied by light cramping.
Frequent Urination
Frequent urination is a result of an expanding uterus placing pressure on the bladder in combination with the body filling with the excess fluids that both mother and baby need throughout the pregnancy. As the kidneys process this excess fluid, mothers experience the need to urinate more frequently.
Headaches
Early on, the mother's body experiences an increase in blood circulation, which is necessary for her and her baby. This increase in blood volume and circulation can cause mild, yet frequent headaches until her body adjusts.
Constipation
The Mayo Clinic explains that the hormone progesterone causes food to pass more slowly through the intestines, resulting in constipation.
Mood Swings
Mood swings are quite normal and are an excellent indication of pregnancy, especially if the woman experiencing them normally is even-tempered. The cause is a combination of factors, including raging hormones and unpleasant symptoms, such as morning sickness and constipation.
Dizziness
Between the progesterone lowering blood sugar levels, and the walls of the uterus constricting the arteries in the legs, it's easy for pregnant women to experience a drop in blood pressure, resulting in dizziness or even fainting.
Cravings or Aversions
Again because of the increase in hormones, early in the pregnancy many women find that they crave or hate certain foods or food aromas. The Mayo Clinic explains this symptom is more likely to occur in the first trimester when the hormonal changes are the most drastic.
