Possible Signs of Pregnancy
When you’re worried that you might be pregnant, it’s easy to let panic and fear take over. This is normal. Anxiety should be expected, but don’t let it rule you. Sure, it’s scary, but set that aside for a few minutes and consider the signs of pregnancy.
Common Early Signs of Pregnancy
According to Mayo Clinic, there are several early signs and symptoms of pregnancy. No two women experience pregnancy in exactly the same way, and you could experience some, but not all, of the symptoms.
1. Missed Period: A missed period is qualified as one week or longer past your expected menstrual cycle. If you have irregular periods, though, this may be misleading for you and cause unnecessary worry.
2. Spotting or Light Bleeding: Some women will notice light spotting and cramping between 6 to 12 days after conception. This is when the embryo implants into the uterine lining. Other women do not notice this symptom at all.
3. Sensitive Breasts: Hormones present during pregnancy aren’t always a whole lot of fun. They can cause breasts to be tender and swollen for a while, until your body becomes accustomed to the hormones flooding in.
4. Nausea: Often called morning sickness, nausea can occur with or without vomiting, and it isn’t limited to mornings. It can happen at any time, and usually begins one month after becoming pregnant. This isn’t a rule that everyone follows, though. Some women never experience it, while others have it start earlier or later.
5. Increased Urination: Don’t be surprised if you find yourself using the bathroom more often than usual. The volume of blood in the body increases during pregnancy and this results in more fluid being processed by your kidneys and filling your bladder.
6. Fatigue: Being extremely tired is a symptom that few women escape during pregnancy, and is hormone related.
In a poll conducted by the American Pregnancy Association, 29% of women reported a missed period as their first symptom, 25% said nausea was first, and 17% percent said tender breasts began first.
Other Symptoms of Pregnancy
Other, perhaps less common, pregnancy symptoms can also be experienced. As with the other, more common, symptoms, not everyone will experience these.
They can include: moodiness, bloating, cramping, constipation, food aversions, food cravings, nasal congestion, headaches, backaches, and darkening of the areolas.
Come in For a Free Pregnancy Test
Rather than let the worry take hold, make an appointment at Thrive St. Louis where our medical staff and advocates will give you a no-cost, lab-grade pregnancy test in a comfortable, caring environment. If the test comes back positive, we will offer you an ultrasound to make sure the pregnancy is viable, that it’s not ectopic (requires medical attention) and will determine how far along your pregnancy is.
Our caring, non-judgmental advocates will also talk with you about testing for STDs. If you decide to consider an abortion, untreated STDs can result in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can lead to a lifetime of reproductive health problems, pain, and problems with infertility. If you decide to parent, we have many resources to help you along, like free parenting classes and resources!
