Pregnancy is the most exciting and stressful event in a woman’s life. Determining if what you’re feeling and experiencing is actually a pregnancy can be tricky. Many of the signs of early pregnancy can be attributed to other causes as well as pregnancy. Be sure to take a home pregnancy test if you suspect your pregnant and follow up with a health care provider if you are.
You’ve Missed Your Period
A missed period may mean you’re pregnant and it may not. While it is a major sign of pregnancy it can also be indicative of stress, over exercising, hormone fluctuations or even changes or additions of medications. Taking a home pregnancy test can give you an answer–be sure to follow the directions on both the procedure and the timing of the test. Some are more sensitive than others so don’t assume the one you’ve bought is one that can tell if you’re pregnant or not you within a day of your missed period. It’s not uncommon for some women to experience a small amount of bleeding as a first sign of pregnancy. It is often called implantation bleeding and is caused by the fertilized egg implanting into the lining of the uterus and causing some light bleeding. If you think you may be pregnant and you experienced only very slight bleeding–take a home pregnancy test.
Sore Breasts and Mood Swings
Your breasts may feel tender and sore long before you discover you’ve missed a period. Your breasts may feel sore and full–due to the hormone change that can occur as early as two weeks after conception. The same swell of hormones that can cause tender breasts can also cause mood swings. You may feel overly emotional and cry easily–these signs of pregnancy may persist through the first trimester and beyond for some moms.
Fatigue and Lightheadedness
Progesterone is a hormone that runs rampant during early pregnancy–it can put you to sleep in high doses–and is a typical cause of pregnancy induced fatigue. A drop in blood sugar, drops in blood pressure and an increase in production of blood cells may contribute to the profound fatigue expecting moms feel. As your blood sugar and blood pressure drop, you may experience periods of dizziness or light-headedness. Be sure to eat regularly and put yourself in a safe position if you feel lightheaded or dizzy.
