Are you wondering if you might be pregnant? You may not realize that you’re pregnant since early pregnancy symptoms can mimic signs of your menstrual cycle.
Maybe you and your partner have been trying to conceive, or maybe you’re just wondering if pregnancy is the reason for your recent body changes.
Home pregnancy tests may produce a false negative early on, so the only surefire way to tell if you’re pregnant is a pregnancy test and sonogram administered by your doctor. In the meantime, check out these 14 pregnancy symptoms and decide what your next step will be.
14 Pregnancy Symptoms To Watch For
1) Spotting And Cramping
As you know, spotting and cramping occur at the beginning of your cycle. But spotting and cramping are also early pregnancy symptoms.
After conception, the fertilized egg attaches itself to the wall of your uterus. This causes spotting — better known as implantation bleeding — and cramping. While bleeding during pregnancy can be a cause for concern, it’s actually pretty common in the early stages of pregnancy.
2) Breast Changes
Your breasts will change as a result of increased hormone levels after conception. Some breast changes include:
- Heaviness
- Fullness
- Tenderness to the touch
Tackle this issue by resting an ice pack on your chest. It may also be time to go up a cup size and change the type of bra you wear. For instance, underwire bras may cause more irritation, so try a wireless bra instead to ease breast discomfort.
3) Fatigue
Are you feeling extra tired lately? If so, this could be an early pregnancy symptom. After conception, certain levels of the hormone called progesterone rise, causing fatigue.
Increased blood flow, low blood sugar, and lower blood pressure can also contribute to your fatigue.
4) Nausea
If you have been waking up feeling sick, then you just might be pregnant! Not all women experience morning sickness. And actually “morning sickness” — nausea — may occur at any time of the day.
Eat smaller portions of food, and drink lots of water to combat nausea.
5) Food Cravings Or Aversions
Food cravings are a common pregnancy symptom. And if you’re craving a certain food, it’s your body’s way of telling you that you need a particular nutrient for your growing baby.
On the other hand, some foods that you used to love will now make your stomach turn. Why is that? Well, you can blame it on your hormones once again!
Choose foods high in protein and consume an adequate amount of fruits and vegetables on a daily basis to help ease food cravings or aversions.
6) Missed Period
Having a missed period is the most obvious pregnancy symptom that leads women to purchase a home pregnancy test. Some women tend to naturally run late each month, but you know your body. If your menstrual cycle is typically on time each month and you’re late, it’s time to take a pregnancy test.
How pregnancy tests work:
When the process of implantation is complete, your body begins producing a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The presence of hCG in your urine is what produces a positive pregnancy test.
7) Frequent Urination
Your increased urge to go to the restroom is evidence of your growing uterus. It pushes on your bladder and causes more frequent bathroom visits.
8) Constipation And Bloating
Constipation and bloating are a result of the pregnancy hormone progesterone causing food to pass more slowly through your intestines. To combat constipation, drink lots of water and eat foods high in fiber!
If you are bloated, you’ll want to apply Mustela’s Stretch Marks Cream twice per day to prevent stretch marks from forming. Use this fast-absorbing stretch mark cream on your belly, hips, thighs, and breasts.
9) Mood Swings
If you’re like most women, your mood fluctuates around the time of your menstrual cycle, but the same is true if you’re pregnant. Your varying mood swings are triggered by elevated hormone levels.
These back and forth emotions are most common during your first trimester. You could experience happiness one moment and sadness the next.
While having a roller coaster of emotions is normal during pregnancy, if you notice an onset of severe depression or anxiety, reach out to your healthcare provider right away for additional counsel.
10) Body Aches
Have you been experiencing backaches or headaches? If so, these could be additional pregnancy symptoms. If you’re pregnant, your body is adjusting and you may experience a few backaches and headaches here and there.
11) Dizziness
Feeling a little “off” lately? The increase in blood flow, lower blood pressure, and low blood sugar is accompanied by feeling off-balance. So if you’ve been experiencing minor dizzy spells, pregnancy could be the culprit.
12) Smell Sensitivity
During pregnancy, you have a sharp sense of smell. The reason behind your newly heightened sense of smell isn’t fully known, but it definitely plays a part in feeling nauseous and experiencing food cravings or aversions.
13) Pregnancy Glow And Acne
Are you noticing a few extra red spots on your skin lately? Once again, blame it on the pregnancy hormones!
Your body’s oil glands are working overtime as a result of extra blood flow and higher levels of hormones. Your skin will have a natural “glow” from the extra oil glands, giving it a glossy appearance. Unfortunately, those extra oil glands can also result in breakouts.
14) Nasal Congestion
Due to the hormonal changes taking place during pregnancy, some women encounter nasal congestion, officially known as Pregnancy Rhinitis. Because of the increase in blood production during pregnancy, your mucous membranes in your nose can swell. This is the reason behind your runny or stuffy nose.
Pregnancy Or Something Else?
As you know by now, early pregnancy symptoms can imitate your menstrual cycle. However, there are other explanations for some of the most commonly reported signs of pregnancy. Check out the below list of possible causes of your symptoms.
Your Missed Period
Having a missed — or late — period is the number one most commonly reported sign of pregnancy. However, other factors can contribute to your missed period, such as:
- Pending menstruation (you’re just running a little late this month)
- Excessive weight gain or loss
- Stress or tension
- Change in birth control
- Various medications for an illness
- Breastfeeding
Nausea/Morning Sickness
The second most commonly reported sign of pregnancy is nausea. Your nausea could be explained by the following:
- Food poisoning or other stomach ailments
- Stress or tension
- Anxiety
- Change in birth control
More than likely, a late period or stress and tension are most likely the culprits when it comes to determining what else could be going on with your body.
What Are The Next Steps?
If you suspect you are pregnant, take a home pregnancy test. If it’s positive, follow up with your doctor right away.
It’s also important to contact your doctor if the test is negative but you continue having symptoms. Because pregnancy tests often produce a false negative, there is still a good chance that you might be pregnant.
Your doctor can run further tests — such as blood work — to confirm pregnancy and rule out any other possibilities.
Pregnancy Symptoms: Listen To Your Body
You know your body best, so listen to it! Pregnancy symptoms vary from woman to woman. Some women experience all of the above symptoms and some experience none of the above symptoms while pregnant.
These symptoms are not isolated to pregnancy but can be strong indicators that you might be pregnant. We know the anticipation is building to see a positive pregnancy test!
Review these pregnancy symptoms and talk with your doctor. And while you’re at it, start using Mustela’s Stretch Marks Set as a way to safely support and care for your changing skin!