Have you recently had sex and are worried you may become pregnant?
If so, you may be curious about what pregnancy symptoms to look for. Identifying the signs of a pregnancy can be challenging because some women experience them while others don’t. Some may also confuse symptoms of an upcoming period or a cold with pregnancy.
Keep reading to learn about seven early pregnancy signs and symptoms.
Pregnancy Signs and Symptoms
When you become pregnant, your body starts to produce a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) after the fertilized egg implants in the wall of the uterus. Initially, the levels of hCG are quite low, but they increase rapidly. As they rise, hCG helps the production of other hormones, which can also contribute to symptoms.
According to the Mayo Clinic, here are seven early signs and symptoms:
1. Missed Period
Perhaps the most clear sign of a pregnancy is missing your period. Your body will release hormones to stop ovulation and menstruation. However, this sign can be difficult to detect if you have irregular periods.
2. Tender, Swollen Breast
During the early stages of pregnancy, hormonal changes can make your breasts feel tender, sore, or swollen. This discomfort typically eases after the first few weeks as your body adjusts to these hormonal shifts.
3. Nausea With or Without Vomiting
Often called “morning sickness,” the nausea and vomiting that can occur during early pregnancy can happen at any time of the day. If you’ve been experiencing unexplained stomach sickness (not due to food poisoning or an illness), it could be a pregnancy symptom.
4. Frequent Urination
If you find yourself making more trips to the bathroom, this could be a sign you’re pregnant. During pregnancy, your blood volume increases, which causes your kidneys to filter more blood and, in turn, produce more urine.
5. Moodiness
In the early stages of pregnancy, the spike in hormone levels can lead to intense emotions and more frequent crying. It’s also common to have rapid mood swings during this time.
6. Fatigue
Feeling tired is a common early sign of pregnancy. The exact cause of this fatigue isn’t completely clear, but it’s thought that the rise in progesterone levels during the first trimester is a major factor.
7. Light Spotting
Light spotting is known as implantation bleeding. This occurs when the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus, usually 10 to 14 days after fertilization. It often happens around the time you would expect your period, but not everyone will experience it.
Find Out If You Are Pregnant
While these signs can give you a hint of whether or not you might be pregnant, they aren’t unique to pregnancy alone. You don’t have to rely on ambiguous symptoms to determine if you are pregnant.
At Ventura County Pregnancy Center, you can get a free, lab-quality pregnancy test. We can also offer you other pregnancy services, provide detailed information about your options, and answer any questions you may have.
Contact us to make a confidential appointment today.