Top 10 Signs of Pregnancy
Somewhere between 7-10 days after conception, the pregnancy hormone hCG begins to reach levels high enough to detect on a pregnancy test. These rising hormones can also cause a number of symptoms that many women feel as their first real signs of pregnancy. Here are the 10 most common signs of pregnancy that women experience.
1. Morning Sickness - Suddenly feeling nauseous, or even becoming ill, is a common sign of pregnancy. And despite the name, a woman can experience the queasy feeling at any time of the day or night.
2. Cravings - Not just fodder for humorous movie scripts, cravings can be a sign of pregnancy for many women. Cravings can range from normal foods, such as a particular fruit, to the bizarre, like pickles and ice cream. Some women may even feel cravings for non-food items, such as clay or dirt.
3. Fatigue - There is nothing more tiring than the early months of pregnancy. As the body adjusts to the new load and floods itself with relaxing hormones, yo may feel the need to sleep more often than usual.
4. Frequent Urination - Increased blood flow to the pelvic area can set a once stable bladder into a tizzy. Feeling the need to pee more often, even if there is only a small amount, is common among pregnant women.
5. Changes in Nipple Color - As odd as it may sound, the areolas around your nipples can become darker in color due to the hormones of pregnancy.
6. Breast Tenderness and Swelling - The same hormone rush that can change the color of your areolas can also cause your breasts to swell and become tender or painful. Thankfully, this often passes as the body becomes used to the new hormonal flux.
7. Light Cramping and Spotting - Though it may seem to be a sign that you are not pregnant, many women experience light spotting and some cramps early on in pregnancy. This often happens when the egg is implanting itself into the uterus. Though some women continue to feel mild cramps as their body grows with the pregnancy.
8. Changes in Taste - Food that once tasted great may start to taste off. Pregnancy can go as far as changing the taste buds in your mouth. Some women experience a metallic taste constantly, or find that the flavor of certain foods has changed.
9. A Missed Period - Whether or not you are experiencing any other signs, you may suddenly notice something is missing. Generally about two weeks after ovulation you can expect your menstrual cycle to swing back into gear. When this fails to happen, it may be time for ...
10. The Pregnancy Test - The surest sign of pregnancy is to take a pregnancy test and get a positive result. Whether you use an at-home urine test, or visit your doctor for full blood work, getting the positive sign means it is time to start counting down the months. Congratulations!