If you sense that you may be pregnant, the wait to test can be agonizing. Testing for pregnancy multiple times can also be costly, so getting it right the first time can be important for those on a budget. Luckily, there are several signs of pregnancy that are present well before your belly begins to swell. If several of these first signs of pregnancy are present, it may be a good time to take that pregnancy test.
Morning Sickness
Many experienced moms know they are pregnant each time they experience that all-too-familiar morning sickness. New mothers are more likely to brush off this sign as an illness. However, the Mayo Clinic claims that nausea and vomiting may begin only two weeks after becoming pregnant. If you wake up feeling sick but improve throughout the day, this may be one of the first signs of pregnancy.
Missed Period
For most women, the first indication that it may be time to take a pregnancy test is the missed period. While you can miss your period for a number of reasons, you can certainly view this as a good indicator of possible pregnancy. Conversely, some women continue to have a period for several months after becoming pregnant.
Frequent Urination
As hormone levels begin to rise, pregnant women have to urinate more frequently. This is the result of water retention that occurs early in a pregnancy. Frequent urination typically begins six to eight weeks after fertilization but has been known to begin sooner.
Fatigue
The first few weeks of pregnancy are an important time for the development of a baby. An embryo morphs from being one sperm and one egg into a complex set of organ systems in only four weeks’ time. When your body kicks into overdrive in an attempt to help your growing embryo, it is common to feel fatigued. This can happen in as few as a couple of weeks after conception.
Spotting
Around 10 to 14 days after conception, the embryo will implant into the uterus. This may cause slight cramping and a small blood-tinged discharge. While only 25 percent of all women experience this type of bleeding, it is one of the best indicators of pregnancy in a time before testing is possible.
Breast Changes
The breasts are highly susceptible to hormonal changes. As your estrogen and progesterone hormone levels rise, tender and swollen breasts are often among the first signs of pregnancy. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that some women even experience a slight milky discharge early in their pregnancy.
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