Am I? Or Am I Not? First Pregnancy Symptoms

Knowing when you are pregnant is not as easy as you may think. The signs of pregnancy can vary greatly from woman to woman. Some women report not even having any symptoms whatsoever, and still have their period throughout the entire 9 ½ months!

The Number One Sign

What are some signs to look out for to see if you’re pregnant? Well, the #1 telltale sign is usually whether or not you have your monthly period. Be aware, however, that some women “spot” after conception and have cramping, which is very different from having a period.

Other Symptoms

Morning sickness is, of course, another sign that all women are on the look out for if they are trying to conceive. The majority of women suffer some sort of nausea during the first three months of pregnancy as their hormones re-adjust to the changes taking place in their body. This can range from feeling slightly ill for a moment or two each morning to full-blown vomiting at any given hour on any day throughout the entire pregnancy.

Some other initial pregnancy symptoms include:

• Breast tenderness or soreness
• Headaches
• Bloating
• Vaginal discharge (should be colorless, scentless and not be accompanied by itching or burning)
• Fatigue
• Increased urination
• Dizziness
• Mood swings/Emotional
• Constipation
• Increased basal body temperature (aka “BBT”)

Take the Test

The best way to check and see if you are pregnant is to try taking a pregnancy test. Do be warned, however, that these tests are not 100% accurate, either by the tests fault or improper timing on a woman’s part. It takes time for the hormones to build up in a large enough quantity to be detected in your urine for a home pregnancy test to accurately “test” you. If you take the test too soon, your “negative” result may in fact be untrue. To be certain, visit your doctor and have a blood test done to determine whether or not you are pregnant.

Congratulations to all of you soon-to-be mothers out there!

photo by Pascal Montsma