Missed a period, but not sure if you’re pregnant? Many of the early signs of pregnancy are easy to overlook, especially if you weren’t trying to get pregnant.
You can take a pregnancy test to try to find some answers, but at-home tests aren’t always accurate. False positives and negatives can cause additional stress and leave you with more questions than answers.
If these early pregnancy symptoms fit what you have been experiencing, visit our clinic for a free medical-grade pregnancy test. We’ll help you confirm or rule out pregnancy, discuss all your options, and help you determine your best next steps.
What are the first signs of pregnancy?
1. A missed or late period
Every month, your uterus prepares to carry and nurture a pregnancy. If you don’t conceive, your uterus sheds its lining. This bleeding is what we call a period.
For women who have a regular period, a missed period is often the most obvious sign of pregnancy. You may experience either no bleeding or light bleeding that is different from your typical cycle. If your period is more than a week or two late, you might want to take a pregnancy test.
Women who have an irregular menstrual cycle, however, might not be able to rely on this sign. Age, illness, stress, weight, medication, environmental factors, and medical conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome can all affect your period.
If your cycle is irregular, you should look for other symptoms as well.
2. Tender or swollen breasts
During pregnancy, your hormones change. Some of these early hormone changes make your breasts sensitive and painful. You might even notice this early pregnancy sign before you realize that your period is late. As your pregnancy progresses, this symptom will likely fade.
3. Tiredness
Progesterone is one of the hormones that your body makes during pregnancy. As the levels of this hormone rise quickly during early pregnancy, you may experience unusual tiredness. Many women report feeling sleepy during the day and needing extra rest. This symptom usually gets better once you pass the first trimester.
4. Nausea or sensitivity to smells
After a missed period, morning sickness is often the most commonly recognized sign of pregnancy. Despite the name, you may feel nauseous throughout the day or night. Some women only feel sick, while others also experience vomiting.
Morning sickness can sometimes be caused by a sensitivity to certain smells, especially food. You may notice that some odors suddenly cause nausea or that you’re unable to eat foods with certain smells. For some women, this symptom shows up as early as two weeks into pregnancy. Others rarely experience an upset stomach. Thankfully, this pregnancy sign usually improves as your pregnancy continues.
5. Frequent urination
Your kidneys filter waste out of your blood. This waste is then removed through your urine. During pregnancy, your body produces more blood to support the embryo, which also leads to more waste and more urine. You may notice that you need to pee more often, even if you aren’t drinking any more liquids than usual.
6. Mood changes
Emotional changes in early pregnancy are very common. As your hormones change to support the pregnancy, you may notice rapid swings from one emotion to another. Some women become more irritable, while others are more likely to start crying unexpectedly.
If you have noticed that your moods are suddenly unpredictable or you feel out of control, pregnancy hormones might be the cause.
7. Spotting or light bleeding
Though pregnancy stops your period, you may experience some light bleeding during the early weeks of pregnancy. When the fertilized egg implants in your uterus, for example, you may see a small amount of blood. This implantation bleeding usually starts about 10 days after fertilization. Early pregnancy bleeding may last for days or weeks, and might be mistaken for a light period.
What to do if you think you’re pregnant unexpectedly
If you’ve noticed any of these unplanned pregnancy symptoms, taking a pregnancy test is the best first step. For the most reliable result, we recommend getting a test at a doctor’s office or clinic. We offer free pregnancy tests at our clinic in Orlando, Florida, and we can help you either confirm or rule out a pregnancy. Additionally, we offer early pregnancy guidance by explaining all your options for an unplanned pregnancy and checking for potential complications.
Don’t suffer the stress and anxiety of wondering if you’re pregnant. Get the answers you need with a free appointment today.