While the only true way to confirm you’re pregnant is through a pregnancy test, there are pregnancy symptoms that can indicate when it’s time to be tested.
Do All Women get Early Symptoms?
Perhaps you feel fatigued, missed a period, or feel nauseous in the morning, all of which may be signs you’re pregnant.
But do all women display signs?
To be sure, not only can symptoms be due to causes other than pregnancy, you may not display any symptoms at all. Symptoms from one pregnancy to the next may also change, and since early pregnancy symptoms often mimic those of regular menstruation, there may be no apparent indication that you’re pregnant.
Are You Pregnant? The 10-Early Signs
Though you still need to confirm through a pregnancy test, there are some early symptoms to indicate that it’s time to order one.
These can be both common and less frequently experienced, with common symptoms including:
1) Missed Period
The most obvious sign you may be pregnant is a missed period, particularly if your cycle is regular.
But if your cycles are irregular, a missed period can be misleading.
2) Vomiting and Nausea
Another classic symptom of pregnancy is an upset stomach and vomiting in the morning. While some women may not experience any nausea, those who do experience it starting in the 1st trimester.
3) Fatigue
During the first stage of pregnancy, you may feel sleepier and less energetic than normal. That’s because your body is producing more of the hormone progesterone, which causes these symptoms.
But its symptoms can also be mistaken for low blood sugar or increased blood production.
4) Increased Urination
Since the blood volume in your body increases with pregnancy, so does the activity of your kidneys which then need to filter and dispense of more fluid waste. This of course means more frequent trips to the restroom.
5) Swollen, Sore Breasts
Hormonal changes are often the reason for sore, sensitive, and swollen breasts. This normally alleviates within a short period as your body adjusts to these changes and becomes accustomed to the effects of increased hormone production.
Less Common Symptoms
Other, less common symptoms which can indicate you need a pregnancy test include:
6) Moodiness
Pregnancy causes hormonal changes in your body that may cause you to become unexpectedly weepy or overly sensitive.
7) Food Texture, Smell, and Taste Sensitivities
Hormones can also affect your sense of taste, smell, and food texture. This can make foods you once enjoyed seem nearly inedible.
8) Bloating and Cramping
Hormonal changes early in pregnancy can also lead to cramping in the uterus, and bloating. For some women, this can be mistaken for normal symptoms that their period is about to arrive.
9) Light Spotting
Though a missed period is a common sign of pregnancy, light spotting, or “implantation bleeding” from the fertilized egg attaching to the side of the uterus is less common, and can be mistaken for a light period.
10) Nasal Congestion and Nosebleeds
Hormone changes and increased blood volume can also cause nasal stuffiness, runny nose, sinus headache, and nosebleeds. That’s because mucous membranes can become dry, swollen, and irritated from the increase in hormone activity and blood production.
When to Visit a Doctor to Confirm Pregnancy?
While you may experience one or more symptoms of pregnancy, not everyone or every pregnancy is the same. Some pregnancy symptoms can be similar to those of other causes, such as irregular period or bloating from poor intestinal health.
But if you suspect you may be pregnant or have tested positive at home, you need to schedule an appointment with your OB/Gyn within 8-weeks of your last menstruation. Along with confirming that you’re pregnant, this will enable your doctor to:
- Estimate your due date
- Go over your health and family history to reveal any genetic, physical, or age-related concerns
- Plan the scheduling of your prenatal care
- Teach you to recognize any potential emergency conditions
The frequency of your appointments will also change depending on the trimester you’re in:
First Trimester–Between the first 4 to 28-weeks, monthly visits will be in order
Second Trimester–After 28-weeks and up to 36-weeks, you’ll need to see your doctor every 2-weeks
Third Trimester–For your final month and until delivery, you’ll need weekly visits with your doctor
This is important, since sticking with your regularly scheduled appointments is vital for the health and safety of both you and your baby.
Why Choose Intermountain Health?
At Intermountain Health, our number one concern is the health, safety, and comfort of you and your child. This includes from confirmation of your pregnancy throughout prenatal, postnatal, and beyond.
Whether it’s helping you have your healthiest pregnancy possible, choosing your preferred delivery method, our award-winning team of doctors and medical experts are here to ensure your needs are met. This in addition to our many convenient, state-of-the-art locations throughout southern Nevada to ensure expert medical attention is never too far away.
Pregnancy should be a time of joy and excitement, which Intermountain Health is here to help ensure. Whether you missed a period and need to know for certain, need prenatal care, postnatal care, or just need a routine exam, we’re the best, and we’re here for you!
