No barrier or hormonal contraceptive method is 100 percent effective at protecting against pregnancy, even when used accurately all of the time. Understanding the first signs of pregnancy is critical to making informed decisions about how and whether to continue your pregnancy. It can be dangerous to the health of the developing fetus to continue to your birth control regimen while pregnant. If your birth control fails and you become pregnant, see your physician immediately for confirmation of your pregnancy and advice on how to proceed.
Step 1
Calculate when your last menstrual period was. Often the first sign of possible pregnancy is a late menstrual period. There are a variety of other things that can cause a late period, including stress, medication and sudden weight gain or loss. Taking a urine-activated pregnancy test can answer your question quickly. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicates that pregnancy tests available at your local pharmacy are fairly accurate, even a few days after you are pregnant. False positives on pregnancy tests are rare, although some tests cannot detect early pregnancies.
Step 2
Pay attention to that pain in your chest. Heartburn is a common complaint for many people, but an increase in the severity of your heartburn can indicate you might be pregnant, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Extra progesterone produced while you are pregnant relaxes the valve between the stomach and the food pipe, allowing stomach acid to pass into the esophagus.
Step 3
Smell the air around you. Sense of smell sharpens during pregnancy, and having a heightened awareness of smells or aversion to certain odors may be another warning sign of pregnancy, according to PregnancyToday.com. This is thought to be a byproduct of the estrogen flooding your body and may be related to the nausea you may also be feeling.
Step 4
Notice how your clothes are fitting. All women feel bloated at one time or another, but consistently feeling swollen and admitting your clothes seem a bit tight is a sign your birth control might have failed, according to the author of "What To Expect When You're Expecting." As your uterus grows, you may also feel a cramping sensation.
Step 5
Take notice of your breasts. Breast tissue changes rapidly when you are pregnant. Your breasts may be tender, or you may notice that your areolas have darkened.
Things You'll Need
- Pregnancy test
