Are you pregnant? The only way to be sure is to take a pregnancy test.But there are a few signs that can help you detect if you are pregnant or not. Of course these symptoms vary from woman to woman, as every individual is different.
Most women figure out that they may be pregnant when they miss a monthly period. But there are a few symptoms that can help detect your pregnancy in the early stages, while you wait around for your periods to occur.
See if any of these symptoms fit what you have been experiencing lately:
- Sore Breasts-One of the earliest signs of pregnancy is sore breasts. Do your breasts seem larger than usual or can you spot any pronounced veins in the area? This is usually caused by the rising levels of hormones in the body. This usually disappears after a few weeks.
- Fatigue-Some women fail to realize that the fatigue they have been feeling lately is caused by pregnancy. So if you have been sleeping too much, you can now blame it on the growing baby inside you.
- Spotting-Normally mistaken as the first days of a period, the stage where the fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterus wall results in spotting. You can even find a white discharge from your vagina if you are pregnant caused by increased cell growth.
- Food cravings and aversions –Have you suddenly developed a liking for food that you could not stand before? Are you eating like crazy? Do you feel like eating only one particular type of food? It is said that increased estrogen levels in the body causes such aversions and cravings of foods in pregnancy.
- Shortness of breath-Does a long walk make suddenly make you breathless or are you suddenly finding it difficult to do physical activities that you previously found simple?
- If you are pregnant such a symptom can exist, as the fetus needs oxygen, especially as it applies pressure on your lungs.
- Nausea-Morning sickness tops the list in the early symptoms of pregnancy. Nausea occurs mostly in the day, hence the name. Not all women experience it. It disappears as the pregnancy progresses, except in certain cases where they last the entire term.
- Frequent urination-Hormones in pregnancy cause increased blood flow resulting in your kidneys working overtime, thereby causing you to pee frequently. Apart from diabetes, frequent urination is symptom found commonly with pregnant ladies.
- Headaches-Change in hormones due to pregnancy can result in mild headaches. Since headaches are a common occurrence in our day to day life, women don’t generally spot it as a symptom.
- Backaches-Pregnancy can cause the loosening of ligaments. Be prepared to experience chronic back pain in your first trimester, which can continue till the end of the term.
- Cramping-You can mistake easily mistake cramping in pregnancy for PMS. Your uterus stretches itself to prepare itself to hold your baby.
- Mood swings-Have you been all jumpy lately? Depressed? Over reacting to little things? Don’t worry, change in hormone levels during pregnancy can get you to act unlike your usual self.
- Constipation or bloating-If you’re feeling terrible fat suddenly and finding your clothes hard to fit into, there is a chance that pregnancy is causing it. High levels of progesterone hormone can result in slowing down your digestion process.
- Sensitivity to odours-A lot of pregnant women can’t stand strong odours. So if you suddenly feel like puking at the smell of your husband strong perfume or can’t stand the smell of fried onions, go figure if you are really pregnant.
- Elevated Basal Body Temperature-If your Basal Body Temperature has been elevated for more than 2 weeks, there are increased chances of you being pregnant.
- Dizziness or fainting-Normally seen in the movies as a sign to show pregnancy, it also occurs in real life. Low blood pressure and blood sugar during pregnancy can result in a fainting spell.
If you feel that you are experiencing one or more of the above symptoms, go ahead and take a home pregnancy test. They may be not powerful enough to detect pregnancy in the first two weeks. Don’t worry; simply repeat the test a week later. Keep your fingers crossed.
If it all works out well in the test, you should go meet a doctor at the earliest. Good luck!
Written by: Rasha Ashraf