Many women know that a missed period and a growing abdomen are signs of pregnancy; however, there are other signs and symptoms that you should be aware of that may signal that you are pregnant. Any woman who is experiencing these symptoms should take a pregnancy test for verification. If the test comes back negative and you are fairly sure you are pregnant, visit your doctor for a checkup.
Morning Sickness
Morning sickness, which is pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting, is a common sign of pregnancy. It is possible for a woman to experience morning sickness at any time of day or night. While many women do experience this sign of pregnancy, there are some women who never feel morning sickness. Morning sickness may affect the foods you eat, as the smell of some foods may aggravate the nausea.
Breast Changes
Breast tenderness and swelling are common during pregnancy. In addition to these signs, you may notice your areolas are darker and may be slightly larger than before you became pregnant. These changes are a result of the change in hormones as a result of getting pregnant.
Mood Swings
You may experience mood swings during pregnancy. These may be aggravated by pregnancy-related fatigue. You may be very happy one moment and in tears another. Simple external stimuli, such as a sappy commercial, may make you cry.
Aches
As your body changes to accommodate your pregnancy, you may experience aches. Backaches, frontal ligament pain and achy hips are all possible signs of pregnancy. Backaches are usually the result of a change in the center of gravity as your abdomen grows. Frontal ligament pain is due to the stress placed on the ligaments in your stomach by your growing uterus. Achy hips are caused by the pelvis shifting to accommodate the birth of the baby.
Bathroom Habits
During the first and last trimesters, you may notice that you are making more trips to the bathroom than you did before you became pregnant. This is the result of hormonal changes and the pressure of the uterus on your bladder. Some women may experience constipation throughout the pregnancy, which can be minimized by eating a high-fiber diet.
