Lots of emotions come with the possibility of pregnancy; joy, fear, excitement, dread. It all depends on your situation right now. Not knowing for sure if you’re pregnant or not can be stressful, regardless of your frame of mind. There are quite a few symptoms that can indicate pregnancy. Some can start around conception and others may not begin until farther along in your pregnancy. An increase in pregnancy hormone levels account for many of these symptoms.
Common Pregnancy Symptoms:
- Milky White Discharge from Vagina: The thickening of the vagina’s walls begin soon after conception. This increase in cell growth can cause a light discharge. This will normally decrease within a few weeks.
- Sore and Sensitive Breasts: Sore breasts can be one of the first symptoms of pregnancy, often occurring as early as one to two weeks after conception. The soreness should fade as your body adjusts to the hormone increases.
- Light Spotting: One of the other first signs of pregnancy can be some light spotting, called implantation bleeding. This occurs about a week after the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus. The bleeding should be very slight. If it is heavy or accompanied by heavy cramping (some very light cramping can be normal), call your doctor immediately.
- Missed Period: If your periods are regular and it’s more than a week since your menstrual period was supposed to occur, this could be an indication of pregnancy.
- Nausea & Vomiting: These are often the most dreaded pregnancy symptoms. Commonly referred to as “morning sickness”, this nausea can occur at any time of the day. It usually begins 1-2 months after becoming pregnant and typically ends by 13-14 weeks. Some women never experience nausea or vomiting, and a few women unfortunately experience these symptoms their entire pregnancy.
- Frequent Urination: When you become pregnant, the amount of blood in your body increases and the kidneys send the resulting excess fluid to your bladder, which causes more frequent urination.
- Felling Extra Tired: You might feel extra sleepy or more easily tired if you’re pregnant due to the rise in the pregnancy hormones in your body. Be sure to get lots of rest and eat foods with protein and iron during this time.
- Moodiness: You might experience a range of heightened emotions during this time when your hormones are increasing. You may feel emotional, cry more than usual, and experience mood swings.
- Food/Smell Aversions: You may find that you are more sensitive to some odors and some foods. Your sense of smell can change due to your hormone increase.
- Dizziness & Headaches: You may experience some mild dizziness or headaches.
If you think you might be pregnant, you should schedule an appointment for a pregnancy test. With any pregnancy, it’s important to begin your prenatal care as soon as possible. At Choices, we’re here to help. We provide free pregnancy tests as well as free limited ultrasounds. We know you may feel overwhelmed and might not be sure how to proceed with your pregnancy. We’re here to listen and give you information on all your options so that you feel equipped to make a fully educated decision about your pregnancy and understand the support and resources available to you.
**As with all matters related to your health or the health of your baby, you should seek the professional opinion of your physician.
