5 Symptoms To Help You Identify If You Are Pregnant
As dreadful as a period might feel, we wait for it to arrive every month. The moment it’s late, ‘Am I pregnant?’ is the first question that pops up in our heads. However, a late period can also be a result of hormonal imbalance, stress and other medication. But often than not, if you are sexually active and going through one or more of the symptoms, chances are you are pregnant.
However, there’s a catch! Every woman is different and so are their bodies. While some women might notice symptoms as early as two weeks, some others might not notice anything for even four weeks after conceiving. Also, pregnancy symptoms are often quite similar to PMS symptoms which makes it difficult to differentiate between the two. The best way to be absolutely sure is through a pregnancy test, but before you pull one out, here are some symptoms to look out for.
- Nausea & Vomiting
Morning sickness, with or without vomiting involved is one of the biggest identifiers of pregnancy. Some women complain of nausea and dizziness even as early as two weeks into the pregnancy while some others never experience it. The level of estrogen shoots up during pregnancy since the stomach empties out slower than usual. Apart from that, pregnant women also have a heightened sense of smell which makes them sensitive to various odours, causing nausea.
- Spotting
Some women experience slight bleeding and cramping during pregnancy. This is known as implantation bleeding which occurs when the fertilised egg attaches itself to the wall of the uterus after 10-14 days of fertilisation. The bleeding during this time is lighter and spottier compared to a normal period but the cramps are quite similar to menstrual pain.
- Sore Breasts
There are many rapid hormonal changes that undergo in the body during pregnancy which might cause your breasts to feel fuller, tingly and a little sore. Additionally, the area around the nipples known as the areola may also darken.
- Fatigue
During pregnancy, the progesterone hormone shoots up which leads to fatigue and tiredness. The hormone in very large amounts is capable of putting a person to sleep. Women start feeling fatigued as early as one week into the pregnancy. Also, the levels of blood pressure and blood sugar lower drastically during pregnancy, adding to the feeling of tiredness.
- Mood Swings
Mood swings are quite common during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester. The hormonal changes in the body during pregnancy can cause a sea of emotions, which can make you feel unusually emotional and cranky.
Apart from these, there are also some other symptoms that can help you identify if you’re pregnant. Frequent urination, constipation, back pain and headaches are to name a few. If you have missed your period and have any of these symptoms, make sure you take a home pregnancy test to confirm your suspicion.
It is recommended to do the test with the first morning urine since the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels are high in the morning which results in a more accurate result. In case the test is negative, make sure to try again in a few days just to be sure.
