The Earliest Signs of Pregnancy

Every woman experiences pregnancy differently. Women who have more than one child often find that each pregnancy is different in the signs, symptoms, discomforts and complications that do or do not arise. However, some symptoms are common to most pregnant women. Take a home pregnancy test or contact your health care professional for an in-office test, if you think that you may be pregnant. It is important to be aware of the symptoms of pregnancy so that you can start prenatal care as soon as possible.

Absent Period

One of the first signs that indicates a woman is pregnant is the absence of a period. According to Womens-health-questions.com, not every woman will miss her period during the first trimester and experience a much lighter period compared to their usual. Also, some women will experience implantation bleeding, which is light bleeding or spotting that takes place around the time that her period was expected. Conditions besides pregnancy that can cause a missed period include a delayed ovulation, weight gain or weight loss, and beginning or ending a form of hormonal birth control.

Tender Breasts

As your body prepares to nourish your baby, your breasts will grow and change. They will often become swollen and tender. In some women, the nipples will darken and the areolas will darken and get larger. Some women notice breast tenderness at the same time as they miss their periods. Other causes for breast tenderness include impending menstruation and hormonal changes.

Tiredness

Fatigue and feeling much more tired than normal can start even before your period is missed. This can be very pronounced during the first trimester as your body adjusts to being pregnant. Many illnesses, stress and overexertion can also cause fatigue.

Morning Sickness

Morning sickness is nausea with or without vomiting that can actually take place at any time of the day or night. Most women who experience morning sickness will begin to notice it with a few weeks of missing their period. Eating small amounts of food throughout the day can help lessen the effects of nausea and vomiting.

Frequent Urination

The extra fluids that are produced by your body when you are pregnant will cause more frequent urination. As the pregnancy progresses, your growing uterus will exert pressure on your bladder, causing you to need to use the bathroom more often. Other causes for frequent urination are diabetes and urinary tract infections.