Pregnancy Symptoms

Symptoms that you may be pregnant vary depending upon how long since conception occurred. Also, each person is unique and the symptoms you experience can vary widely.
There are however, some classic signs and symptoms. They may include:

• Missed period. If you are in your childbearing years and a week or more has passed without the start of an expected menstrual cycle, you may be pregnant. If you have an irregular menstrual cycle, this symptom can be misleading.
• Tender, swollen breasts. Hormonal changes that occur early in pregnancy might cause your breasts to become sensitive and sore. The discomfort useually decreases after a few weeks as your body adjusts to the hormonal changes.
• Nausea with or without vomiting. Morning sickness, which can actually strike at any time of the day or night, often begin a month after you become pregnant. However, some women feel nausea earlier and some never experience it. The cause of nausea during pregnancy isn't clear, however pregnancy hormones are a likely contributor.
• Increased urination. You may find yourself wanting to pee more often than usual. The amount of blood in your body increases during pregnancy and thus the kidneys process extra fluid that ends up in your bladder.
• Fatigue. This ranks high in the list of early symptoms of pregnancy. Early in pregnancy the levels of progesterone hormone soar - this may make you feel sleepy.

Other pregnancy signs and symptoms

Other less obvious signs and symptoms you may experience in the first trimester:

• Moodiness. The flood of hormones released in your body in early pregnancy may make you unusually emotional and weepy. Mood swings are not uncommon.
• Bloating. The many hormonal changes that occur during early pregnancy may cause you to feel bloated, just like you may feel at the start of your menstual cycle.
• Light spotting. Sometimes one of the first digns of pregnancy is small amounts of light spotting. This is known as implantation bleeding and happens as the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus, usually about 10 to 14 days after conception. Implantation bleeding occurs around the time of the menstrual period. However, not all women have it.
• Cramping. Some women may experience mild cramping early in pregnancy.
• Constipation. The hormonal changes cause your digective system to slow down, this may lead to constipation.
• Food aversions. When you are pregnant, you may become sensitive to certain odours and your sense of taste might change. Like most symptoms of pregnancy, these food preferences can be attributed to the hormonal changes.
• Nasal congestion. Increased hormone levels and blood production can cause the mucus membranes in your nose to swell, dry out and bleed easily. This may cause a stuffy or runny nose.

Unfortunately, many of these signs and symptoms are not unique to pregnancy. Some can indicate that you are getting sick, or that your period is about to start. Similarly, you can be pregnant without experiencing many of these symptoms.
Still, if you miss a period and notice some of the above signs or symptoms, take a pregnancy test or see your health care provider. If your pregnancy test is positive, make an apointment with your health care provider. The sooner your pregnancy is confirmed, the sooner you can begin prenatal care.

Infomation sourced from Mayo Clinic