Pregnancy Symptoms and Signs
Here's our list of the Top Ten Signs you may be pregnant (but if you want to cut to the chase and find out for sure, home pregnancy tests can help you confirm your suspicions). Please keep in mind that, while the signs described here are quite common in early pregnancy, you may not experience all - or even any - of these symptoms. See also > Pregnancy Symptoms 101: Symptoms by Trimester
1. Missed Your Period?
This is the classic sign of pregnancy - especially if, like many women, your cycles are typically like clockwork. If you've missed your period, it's probably time to take a home pregnancy test. Home pregnancy tests work by determining the amount of hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) present in your urine. Remember - your first urine of the day tends to have the most concentrated amount of hCG. Early morning urine will give you your best chance at detecting the small concentrations of hCG that are present in the early days of pregnancy.
2. Feeling Sick in the Morning - Or Any Other Time?
About one-half of all pregnant women experience some form of morning sickness (nausea, vomiting, etc.) in early pregnancy. Contrary to popular belief, "morning" sickness isn't always limited to morning; many women experience nausea in the evening, in the afternoon - and a substantial percentage of lucky ladies feel sick all day. (Note: Although rare, morning sickness can be extreme in some cases. Contact your doctor if are becoming dehydrated as a result of morning sickness.)
3. Are Your Breasts Sore?
Are your breasts or nipples feeling a bit sensitive - perhaps in the same way they feel right before you have your period? This is one more sign that you may be pregnant. Breast sensitivity is a common phenomenon in early pregnancy - and thankfully, one that begins to fade by the second trimester. But if you're one of those "glass is half full" types, look at it this way: for many women, sensitive breasts translate into heightened pleasure during intimate moments…
4. Checked Your Areola Lately?
Along with more sensitive breasts, you may notice a slight darkening of the areola, the concentric zone which surrounds the nipple. (Some say this darkening serves a purpose; it makes it easier for your baby to find his/her food source!)
5. Honorable Discharge?
In the early days of pregnancy, mucous begins to accumulate around the opening of the cervix to form the mucous plug, a barrier that helps protect the baby during its development. As a result of this mucous formation, you may notice a bit of vaginal discharge. (Discharge as a sign of pregnancy should not be accompanied by other distinguishing features of an infection, such as a burning sensation, foul smell, or itchiness.)
6. Gotta Pee?
Although pregnancy is indeed miraculous, it does not involve a suspension of the laws of physics. That means that as the baby grows larger in your uterus, the space that once allowed for expansion of your bladder is decreased. The result? You feel like you need to pee more often. Also, you may notice bloating similar to what you experience prior to your period.
7. Not Tonight, Honey. I've Got a Headache...
As a result of the complex mixture of hormones coursing through a pregnant woman's body, it's not uncommon for women to experience headaches more frequently during pregnancy.
8. Seeing Spots?
Around the time when implantation occurs (the moment when the embryo attaches to the lining of the uterine wall), it's not uncommon to notice a bit of spotting. You would look for this sign at around eight to ten days after you last ovulated. (You can use the ovulation calculator located on our home page to calculate your ovulation date.) Spotting as a result of implantation usually looks a bit different than your regular period; it tends to be light in volume and pinkish in color, as opposed to the deep red color associated with regular menstrual bleeding.
9. Temperature Climbing?
A raised basal body temperature past the time when your period is due is another possible indicator of pregnancy.
10. All Stopped Up?
Another sign of pregnancy is constipation. This is caused by certain hormones which are present in early pregnancy relaxing your intestines and slowing the digestive process.
These signs are ones often experienced in early pregnancy - but that's not to say there aren't others. Many women have reported experiencing other "tell-tale" signs such as:
Once you suspect you are pregnant, home pregnancy tests can confirm you suspicions. For FDA Approved pregnancy tests that allow you to begin detecting pregnancy at around 7-10 days past ovulation, please click here.
See also > Symptoms 101: Symptoms by Trimester
See also > Pre-Pregnancy Checkup
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Comments
Hi
Me and my fiancee were having sex last week (30/01/10). Althouth the condom didnt burst she feels since it hapened she is very tired, was suffering from a bad headache or two. I just noticed yesterday (7/02/10) she smelt like she had a bad period and i asked her had she got her periods and she said no. She is also on the pill since she was 14 and now she is 18. She Finished Her three weeks of taking the pill and she finished that 2 days before we had sex which means she doesnt have to take it for 7 days. Normally when you take the last tablet your meant to get your period within the week but she didnt. She told me that some times she forgets to take the pill as she did forget to take it once or twice the week previous before we had sex.She also told me a few weeks ago that her menstraul cycle was all messed up because she said she can get her periods any time, she might get them on time or she might not get them for 6 months. As this is worrying me because i read your symptoms above and she is suffering from tiredness and she had bad headaches and yesterday the smell. what is your opinion?
so i had sex about 2 months ago with my boyfriend. and we are both very young ppl..
and the condom broke and i took the morning after pill within 12 hours, i took a pregnacy test aswell. but im so hungry all the time.. and i thought i had a yeast infection, but then i read the discharge beign a 1 sign of pregnancy...!! and it burns and itchs and stuff..iv had them before an dogne to doctors.. but i just want to no if you wouls think i am, please any advicce helps.
My boyfriend and I are sexually active, and I'm on the pill. I've been under a lot of stress lately...my car breaking down, I sold it, now I'm in the process of getting a new car. I started a new job about 3 weeks ago, and now I have 3 jobs. I've been on the pill since Dec. I was really regular with it every night, until I started my new job a month later, when i started taking it like 2 hours later than I took it at first. I even missed a few. My bf and I had unprotected sex after I missed 2 pills in a row, and I took the missed pills with my next 2 regularly scheduled pills...I've been showing signs of being prego...naseaus, anxious, very emotional, tender/sore breasts, constipation, high temp these past few days, upset stomach, change of likes/dislikes in food, and being exhausted all the time and never being able to get enough sleep. Im due for my period tomorrow, and not sure if all these signs are because of that. Anyone have any answers/suggestions/advice?? Much appreciated!! Thanks!!
Go get the morning after pill! Call your local Planned Parenthood and they'll help you
i jus had sex w/ my bf last night we found out the condom broke and we tried to get all his stuff out of me but idk if it worked plus im really young what do i do?
So im 3wks late getting my period, i went home for christmas and had sex frequently but using condoms, ive been getting really bad cramps, stomach is bloated, back ache, headaches, really emotional, going to the toilet more and so on.... ive done 2 pregnancy tests but both negative. However my periods are always regualr! Im confused....?
Ok I really need some adviceme and my fiance were having sex when the condomm broke of completely.he kept goiing and going until he pulled out and ejaculated all over my breast .he didn't ejaculate insid eof me but I'm shown the signs.my menstral came about 1o to 12 days early, I smell almost everything even wat type of flour he used to cook my breast are not only sore and showing veins but they are ultra sensitive..I've become a big appetited women. My body tempature is like 99 or 101 everyday. I'm breaking out.I'm having mood swing and upseted easily heartburn,constipated and wet more than usual I'm always exhausted but never can get any sleep. I'm on a birth control pill and I take one about every single day... so bloated and nasueas someone please help me
Can I become pregnant a day or 2 after ovul
Ation..someone please tell me please ..when I took the test it came out 2 invalids one positives and 3 negatives......
Cud I be a mother
I have had sex almost everyday since i go married on the 8th of January ,and was a Virgin, but had my period Sunday the 10th of January, it lasted 4 days but usually last five and I started having some of these symptoms the next week. My next period is not scheduled till Feburary 7th. Do you think i am pregnant could i have ovulated that early? If I took a preg. test this soon would it be accurate? I have a very regular cycle 28 day cycle.
I don't know weather I am pregnant or not but, I have very strange periods this month in which they came after ten days overdue, i have headaches then I went to a doctor and he checked me and told that he does not see anything even the prenancy test is showing that i am negative, and I have also gained lot of weight, so now I am confused and frustrated, I am not sure what to do.
I have lower abdominal pains, i feel bloated, nauseas at times, very hungry, tired lately, moodswings, and im not sure if i may be pregnant i dont want to take a pregnancy test because i believe that it can be a waste of money. But, my fiance and i had sexual intercourse last weekend and i was on my period i thought i was finished with it but once we started having sex i started bleeding and once we were done we saw that the condom had been broken. Now its been one and a half week since that day can i be pregnant or is it just normal at times.?
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