You may be unaware of any changes for weeks, only wondering if you’re pregnant when you miss a period.
Though you may experience all, some or none of these, here are some early signs of pregnancy.
- A missed period
One of the surest signs of pregnancy is a missed period. If you’re usually pretty regular, and your period doesn’t start on time, before you notice any other signs, you’ll probably take a pregnancy test. But if your periods are usually irregular, you may not realize that your period is late and feeling sick, tender breasts or other signs may be early clues that you’re pregnant.
- Feeling sick
You’ll escape this completely, if you are lucky. However, a common symptom of early pregnancy is morning sickness. It can start as early as four weeks, but it often starts when you’re about six weeks pregnant. Morning sickness, despite the name, can affect you at any time of the day, or night and you may feel queasy and sick, or even vomit.
- Tingling, prickling nipples
Around your nipples you may feel a tingling sensation, because pregnancy hormones increase the blood supply to your breasts. This can be sometimes noticeable within a week or so of conception and it is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy.
- Needing to pee frequently
You may notice that you’re peeing more often from about six weeks of pregnancy. This is a combination of a larger volume of blood in your system, pregnancy hormones and your kidneys working extra hard.
- Swollen, tender breasts
Your breasts may become increasingly tender to the touch, when you are about six weeks pregnant. It’s similar to how they feel before, when you have a period, but more so. You may notice that your breasts are swollen and larger, with blue veins visible just below the skin.
- Darker nipples
During pregnancy, skin changes are common. One of the first changes you may notice is the circle of skin round your nipples getting darker. You may also find that your nipples more erect and the bumps around your nipples become more pronounced.
- Feeling tired
Right from early stages of pregnancy you can feel upset, tired and emotional. You may find yourself diving for your duvet as your body cranks up to support your baby, pregnancy hormones in your body are to blame.
- Altered sense of smell and food craving
Some women can’t stand the taste of coffee or a food they usually like, such as eggs, others that they feel a metallic taste in their mouth. This can happen very early for some women, even before they’ve missed a period. Your sense of smell may change as well and you may find that you’re more sensitive to aromas from cooking or food.
- A positive home pregnancy test
If you wait until at least the first day of a missed period, most home pregnancy tests will give you reliable result.
So, be glad you’re pregnant, make an appointment with your midwife and celebrate the exciting journey ahead!