Knowing the symptoms of pregnancy can help you quickly identify if you are in fact pregnant. Some of the symptoms are more general than others and vary by individuals. It is important to consult a medical professional if you think you may be pregnant for a definitive diagnosis. If you have symptoms of pregnancy, take caution with activities that could impact the baby until confirmed otherwise.
Missed Period
A missed period is the most definitive symptom of pregnancy. To determine if you are pregnant, use a pregnancy test. Some pregnancy tests, which are available at most pharmacies, can detect pregnancy as early as 3 days before your missed period. Use a reliable pregnancy test and understand what it actually is testing. Most pregnancy tests are about 99 percent accurate.
Morning Sickness
Nausea and vomiting is a hallmark symptom of pregnancy. If you can't identify anything specific causing the nausea or vomiting, it might be a symptom of pregnancy. Most women feel some form of nausea during pregnancy, especially the early stages. This pregnancy symptom may be worsened by the smell or sight of certain foods. "Morning sickness" is a term coined specifically for this symptom of pregnancy. Some women who have experienced this symptom might name it "all day and all night sickness," as the nausea may occur at any time during the day or night.
Breast Tenderness
Breast tenderness or pain is another symptom pregnancy. Hormone surges are the culprit of this symptom. You may also experience slight breast swelling. There are few other causes of breast pain or tenderness.
Abdominal Pain
Abdminal pain is a non-specific symptom of pregnancy. The early stages of pregnancy can cause abdominal cramping. The cramps are normally mild. Not all people experience abdominal pain as a symptom of pregnancy, and many people have abdominal pain for a variety of reasons that are not related to pregnancy.
Fatigue
The hormones begin that begin raging in early pregnancy can cause fatigue--from mild to severe. Early in their pregnancy, women may feel simply exhausted, and sleep more than normal. Fatigue is a more general symptom of pregnancy and, by itself, is not a confirmation of pregnancy.
General Malaise
Sometimes a symptom of pregnancy is a feeling of general malaise--bodily discomfort, lethargy, headache and so on. You just may not feel "well." Although this can happen with a variety of illnesses, if general malaise is coupled with another symptom of pregnancy, further examination is warranted.
Spotting
Spotting is usually different from a period--it is very light bleeding that may range in color from light brown to pink to red. Because women can often mistake this bleeding as a period, they may think their period has begun and that they are not pregnant. Sometimes spotting can occur during implantation. Spotting may occur for a variety of other reasons, including have intercourse, undergoing vaginal exams, placental problems and the onset of labor.
