The human body is continuously changing to adapt to our surroundings and circumstances. We get achy joints due to a change in weather, bloating from something we ate last night, headaches caused by stress, and the list goes on.
Our bodies are complex systems, and as the female body prepares to create and carry a child, it responds with some unique pregnancy symptoms.
While a pregnancy test and an ultrasound scan are the only way to truly confirm a pregnancy, these are a few of the signals the body sends that indicate a developing pregnancy.
1. A Missed Period
For women who are attentive to their menstrual cycles and have typically regular periods, a missed period can be the first sign of pregnancy many women notice. However, for women with irregular periods, this sign could go unnoticed or be misleading.
2. Nausea
As the body kicks into hormonal overdrive to care for the developing pregnancy, some women experience nausea, called “morning sickness,” with or without vomiting. This symptom typically starts about a month into the pregnancy and will likely disappear into the second and third trimesters.
3. Changes in Nipples
Women report seeing changes in their nipples early on in pregnancy. Symptoms like darkening of the areola and a difference in the skin’s texture around the nipple are common. These changes might be accompanied by discomfort or an itching sensation.
4. Tender Breasts
This symptom can sometimes be misleading as many women experience breast sensitivity around their periods. However, pregnancy will likely bring about a more acute tenderness to the breasts and be accompanied by swelling.
5. Cramping and Spotting
While irregular spotting can be a scary symptom for some women to experience, it’s actually a very common sign of early pregnancy. Spotting early on in pregnancy is known as implantation bleeding and occurs when the embryo attaches to the uterine lining. In addition to spotting, many women will experience mild uterine cramping, similar to period cramps.
6. Fatigue
As your production of progesterone increases in early pregnancy, so will your levels of exhaustion. This early sign of pregnancy can put a wrench in your daily activities. Still, it’s essential to get some extra rest as your body works hard to make a safe place for your developing pregnancy.
7. Cravings, Aversions, and Heightened Senses
Hormonal changes might bring changes to your appetite and senses, including new food aversions, cravings, and a change in your sensitivity to certain odors.
While these symptoms might help indicate that you’re pregnant, there’s no way to know for sure until you take a lab-quality pregnancy test and receive an ultrasound scan!
Thankfully, your local pregnancy clinic makes finding out if you’re pregnant easy as can be!
Schedule your appointment at PRC Grand Rapids today! We provide free pregnancy testing and ultrasound scans. We are here to help you with the resources and information you need to make informed choices surrounding your pregnancy!
Are you pregnant? Schedule an appointment to find out for sure!