Knowing there’s a chance you might be pregnant can make you focused on every little symptom. Missing your period is the most common sign of early pregnancy, but other symptoms can also point to pregnancy. 

Below is an overview of the top 7 pregnancy symptoms and why they occur. 

Missing Your Period

As mentioned above, missing your monthly period is often the most common sign associated with early pregnancy. However, if your monthly periods are irregular or you’ve been sick lately, missing a period may not indicate pregnancy.

Breast Tenderness

When conception occurs, a woman’s body produces a hormone called hCG. HCG is only present during pregnancy and is the likely culprit for causing sore and tender breasts. The good news is that tender breasts will likely dissipate after your body adjusts to the new levels of hormones. 

Nausea 

We’ve all seen movies and TV shows depicting women overcome with nausea or vomiting during pregnancy. Hormones are again to blame for this early sign of pregnancy; unfortunately, they can stick around during the entire pregnancy for some women. 

Fatigue

Feeling more tired than usual? After conception, a woman’s body goes into overdrive, building a brand new pregnancy from scratch. All this new internal work can bring on extreme fatigue and have you falling asleep much earlier than normal. 

Frequent Urination

During pregnancy, the body increases its blood volume by 30-50%. All this extra blood gives more work to the kidneys to process, leaving you visiting the bathroom more frequently. 

Cravings and Heightened Senses 

Do you feel like your sense of smell has gotten stronger? Or maybe smells you loved before are now making you feel sick? Hormones are again to blame for this early pregnancy symptom. 

Mood Swings 

Are you feeling more frustrated, less patient, or more emotional lately? Mood swings are very common during pregnancy. But remember, you might just be having a hard week, so don’t read too much into experiencing various emotions. 

Next Steps

If you’ve recently had unprotected sex and are experiencing any of the above symptoms, getting a medical-grade pregnancy test is the next step. Even if you haven’t yet missed your period, a blood test may be able to positively detect a very early pregnancy. 

You Medical exists to provide women with the medical care and support they need during an unexpected pregnancy. Simply text 313131 and let us know you’re interested in a no-cost pregnancy test or more information about pregnancy. 

No one should have to carry the weight of an unexpected pregnancy alone. Find your support system today!