10 Signs You Might Be Pregnant

Have you ever watched one of those reality TV shows where someone didn’t know she was pregnant until she went to the hospital in labor? How did she miss the signs that she might be pregnant? It’s easy to wonder how the warning signs most women experience throughout pregnancy were missed!

You will be better prepared to identify symptoms early on in pregnancy with the list below.

Early Pregnancy Symptoms

• Missed period: Some women have very regular menstrual cycles and notice they are late right away. Being a few days late may seem normal for others with more irregular periods. Our pregnancy tests are accurate 20-24 days after a woman’s first day of her last period. By the time you have missed your period, the test is usually within the accurate time frame.
• Nausea: Women experience nausea in pregnancy at varying intensities, and some don’t experience it all. Nausea/vomiting in pregnancy is sometimes referred to as “morning sickness.” Nausea can occur at any time throughout the day or night.
• Swollen/tender breasts: Your body releases hormones that can cause breasts to feel sore, swollen, tight, or even itchy. Your breasts will go through many changes throughout pregnancy to prepare for nourishing your little one after birth.
• Fatigue: It is common for women in their first trimester to feel very tired, sometimes for no reason. This generally improves by the second trimester.
• Frequent urination: You may feel the need to urinate often as your growing uterus can press against your bladder.
• Increased appetite: You may notice you feel more hungry than usual. In addition, pregnant women often times experience intense food aversions or cravings.
• Mood changes: You may notice mood swings as changing levels of hormones can impact your ability to regulate emotions.
• Light spotting/implantation bleeding: Light spotting (noticing a pink-tinge when you wipe) that occurs about 3-4 weeks after a woman’s first day of her last period can be a sign of implantation bleeding, which is considered to be normal. Contact your doctor with any concerns surrounding heavier vaginal bleeding.
• Headaches: Headaches are commonly reported by women during pregnancy. While mild headaches early in pregnancy are generally considered to be normal, any headaches accompanied with blurred vision, dizziness, or spots in your eyes should be reported to your doctor.
• Constipation/bloating: Changing levels of hormones can slow down the passage of food through a pregnant woman’s digestive tract. Drinking water, walking, and a high-fiber diet can help promote a healthy gut.

How Do I Know For Sure?

We can help if you are questioning if you may be pregnant!

All of our First Care centers offer lab-quality pregnancy tests with results in 3-5 minutes. Walk in to one of our centers or schedule online for a free pregnancy test and support services.

London, M. L., Ladewig, P. W., Davidson, M. R., Ball, J. W., McGillis, R. C., & Cowen, K. J. (2017). Maternal & Child Nursing Care (5th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.