20 Early Signs Of Pregnancy
1. Swollen and Tender Breasts
This is one of the most common symptoms of pregnancy. Early in your pregnancy, your breasts will being to change shape as they prepare to produce milk. As a result, your breasts will become very sensitive. Not all women will experience these symptoms, especially those who have been on birth control.
2. Darkening Areolas
Pregnancy can cause the areoles, or the circles around the nipples, to darken during pregnancy. This is because your body is preparing itself for breastfeeding.
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3. Spotting
About 5 to 10 days after conception, many women notice spotting as the embryo attaches to the uterus wall. This means if you’ve had a light period this month, you may be carrying.
4. Urinary Frequency or Constipation
When your pregnant the uterus swells and presses directly on the bladder. This leads to more frequent urination. These changes may also cause constipation due to intestinal changes. The more the baby grows, the worse the problem gets.
5. Fatigue
Pregnant women often become very tired early in pregnancy, This is because your body is putting much of it’s energy towards creating a baby. You will probably start to get some of your energy back during week 12 when the placenta is fully formed.
6. Nausea
Nausea is one of the tell tale signs of pregnancy. This is because of an increase in hormone levels, and around 80% of women experience morning sickness in the first 3 months of pregnancy.
7. Smell Sensitivity
Many women have a heightened sense of smell during pregnancy, and it’s not just in their heads. This is another common early sign that your could be pregnant, and some scientists say this is to prevent pregnant women from eating tainted foods and ingesting harmful toxins.
8. Elevated Basal Temperature
When you are pregnant, your basal temperature will increase about one degree and will that last for more than two weeks after the “dip” in temperature that indicates ovulation.
9. Missing Period
The most obvious and well-known sign of pregnancy is a missing period. However, this doesn’t always mean your are pregnant. Stress or a change in diet can also cause irregular periods.
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10. Unusual Hunger Cravings
Pregnant bodies need about 300 extra calories a day to ensure the baby is growing at a healthy rate. Some women crave random foods, while others are just hungry all day long for anything.
11. Mood Swings
Mood swings are common in pregnant women and are again due to hormones. It is natural to go through a variety of emotions while the body is changing during pregnancy.
12. Dizziness
When your are pregnant your heart needs to pump more blood. As a result, many women feel dizzy or light headed.
13. Metallic Taste
Someone women complain of a strange metallic taste in their mouths. There is no scientific explanation, but for some it can last for the duration of the pregnancy.
14. Headaches
Migrant headaches could be another indicator of pregnancy. This is due to hormones and usually happens early on in pregnancy.
15. Vivid Dreams
Intense dreams are common during pregnancy. The culprit? Again, hormones.
16. Shortness Of Breath
Suddenly getting winded just going up the stairs? This could be due to pregnancy. The growing fetus needs oxygen, leaving you with less than you’re used to. Unfortunately, this will last until you have the baby.
17.Back Aches
Getting a sore lower back lately? If you don’t usually have this type of pain back there, it could mean your ligaments are loosening to prepare for the baby. This may also continue as your baby grows.
18. Cramping
PMS or pregnancy? It can be hard to tell, but if you have cramps it could be you’re uterus stretching.
19. Bloating
Pants don’t fit as well as they used to all of a sudden? Feeling backed up? Pregnancy slows down the digestive system, which could be causing your problems.
20. The Sniffles
Increased hormones and blood production can cause mucous membranes to swell and become dry. Make sure to drink plenty of liquids to help with this.
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21. Snoring
You can blame those mucous membranes again. A congested nose caused by hormones will force you to breathe out of your mouth and snore.
22. Sweating
When you’re pregnant your metabolism is kicked in to overdrive and you have extra blood pumping through your body. This causes your to sweat.
23. Drooling
Some pregnant women begin to produce up to three or four quarts of extra saliva per day. No one knows why this happens, but many just attribute it to hormones, like many of the other symptoms of pregnancy.
24. Positive Pregnancy Test
You won’t know for sure until you take the test! If you take the test and still don’t get your period, it may be too early to detect. In the mean time, keep an eye out for the previous symptoms.
That’s it!
Read Next: Signs Your Baby Is Teething
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