For women trying to conceive or wondering if they may be pregnant, one of the first signs to watch out for is a missed menstrual cycle. Although several other symptoms can point to the possibility of a pregnancy, it’s always best to visit a doctor for confirmation. Read on to know the common symptoms of pregnancy:
Missed period
If a woman in childbearing years experiences a delay of over a week in her menstrual cycles, it may indicate pregnancy. That being said, missed or irregular cycles could also be a result of health issues like thyroid problems. So, women should also keep an eye out for the other symptoms mentioned here.
Fatigue
Being more tired than usual could be an early symptom of pregnancy. When a woman is pregnant, the progesterone levels in her body rise, which causes her to feel sleepy and tired.
Frequent urination
During pregnancy, the quantity of blood flowing in a woman’s body increases, causing the kidney to work overtime. This places extra pressure on the bladder and leads to more frequent urges to urinate.
Nausea or morning sickness
This may be accompanied with or without vomiting, and this pregnancy symptom is also known as morning sickness. Contrary to popular belief according to the name, it may occur at any time of the day. That being said, all women do not experience this symptom, so it should not be considered as the ultimate factor that indicates pregnancy. The cause of this symptom is unknown, but pregnancy hormones are considered to play a key role in its development.
Swollen, tender breasts
Pregnant women may experience sore and sensitive breasts. After a few weeks into the pregnancy, this discomfort reduces as the body gets accustomed to the hormonal changes, but this is a concrete sign of pregnancy.
Nasal congestion
This is a little-known sign of pregnancy and occurs due to soaring hormone levels and the production of blood that make the nose swell, dry out, and bleed. This can lead to a runny or stuffy nose.
Aversion to foods
It is common knowledge that pregnant women develop aversions to certain types of foods, often to the extent of throwing up at the mere sight or smell of that food. This could be due to increased sensitivity to certain tastes or odors, which is, again, caused by hormonal changes.
Cramping
This can be a mild to moderately painful symptom during the early months of pregnancy. Women can consult a doctor on ways to relieve this pain if it gets unbearable.
Constipation
The functioning of the digestive system tends to slow down during pregnancy, which can lead to constipation, but women should not self-medicate to relieve this symptom. It’s best to approach a doctor for advice on the right course of action.
Light spotting
In some cases, pregnancy could lead to this symptom as one of the first signs. It is also called implantation bleeding and occurs around the time of the menstrual period. It happens when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterus lining, but all women do not experience this symptom.
