Parenting Australia

Early Pregnancy Symptoms - How to tell if you are Pregnant

Its is important to remember that every woman is different, and often not all of these symptoms will be present. Ultimately the most reliable way to tell if you are pregnant is to go to a doctor, however, here is a list of the most common early signs.

Morning Sickness

Starting usually within the first month of pregnancy, and usually lasting till the end of the first trimester, morning sickness is usually a very visible sign that you are pregnant. Despite its name it can occur at any time of the day and can manifest itself as a sensitivity to smells or certain foods, to all day long nausea and vomiting. Every woman is different although it is thought that as many as 95% of pregnant women report some form of morning sickness. If you are affected by morning sickness, make sure you eat plenty of foods, avoid those that make you nauseous and try taking ginger in any form (capsule, tea etc) to help settle your stomach naturally.

Frequent Urination

As early as just one week after conception, the pregnancy hormone hCG begins to be released into the blood stream. This hormone makes your body direct more blood to the pelvic region, which in turn may stimulate your bladder to pass more often and in small amounts.

Fatigue

Supporting a growing embryo creates alot more work for your body. Your metabolism will speed up and the increase in the hormones required for pregnancy can have a sedating effect.

Constipation and Heartburn

As your uterus begins to swell, the organs inside your body get pushed around. This can often lead to heartburn and maybe constipation. Eating smaller and more frequent meals can help relieve heartburn and increasing your fibre intake (vegetables, dried fruits etc) can decrease constipation. Make sure you drink plenty of water too. Be sure to talk to your doctor before taking any kind of heartburn medication as some may harm your baby.

Mood Swings and Irritability

Often mistaken for PMS, mood swings and grumpiness are a product of the hormones racing through your body during the formative weeks of your pregnancy. The drastic changes a child can make to your life can cause mixed emotions during this time, and may also be emotionally turbulent for your partner as well. Make sure he or she is aware that this is all part of the pregnancy, and ask for their patience and support, even if you are a emotional mess through some of it! 

Higher Body Temperature

You may feel as though you have a fever coming on. Increased body temperature can be a symptom of pregnancy, so if you are trying to conceive, try keeping track of your daily temperature. If it stays above average for any length of time your may be pregnant, or you may have a fever. Either way check with your doctor!

Breast Tenderness

Another symptom often mistaken as a pre menstrual sign is breast tenderness. As your body begins to prepare your breasts for producing milk, they can become sore and sensitive and even change colour and size. This is one of the most obvious symptoms of pregnancy.

Missed Period

Quite often you will not experience any symptoms until around the time you will miss a period. This is often the event that triggers women into checking themselves for other signs of pregnancy. Often you may experience some spotting or a lighter than usual period, and in some rare cases your period may go on unchanged.

Cramping

An unnerving sign of pregnancy is cramping, which often people associate with miscarriage. Cramping is, however, quite normal, and unless accompanied with bleeding, should not worry you. If cramping is accompanied by bleeding, don’t panic, this is also quite common however you should see your doctor for assessment.

Sense of Smell/Taste

You may notice an increased sense of smell, and the rising hormone levels in your saliva can affect the way you taste. Often these heightened senses can cause more nausea associated with morning sickness.

Home Pregnancy Test

All of these symptoms can mean anything, and until you take a pregnancy test it is hard to be sure if you are pregnant. Make sure to wait at least a week after your period was due before testing to give the body time to develop enough hormones to be detectable.

Positive Home Pregnancy Test - Now What?

The best thing to do would be to go to your doctor because although home pregnancy tests are considered 99% accurate if used properly, there is still that 1% that they are incorrect on. The doctor will be able to perform his/her own tests that will verify your own results and they will advise you as to what to do next. Some tests the doctor may perform are:

Urine Test - Same as a home pregnancy test.

Blood Test - Blood tests will be looking for the same hormone increase that is found in the urine. These are often unnecessary as most doctors will be content with the results of the urine test.

Internal/Pelvic Exam - This test is unnecessary however is available to those that want it. Obstetrician’s often perform one of these at your first pre-natal appointment however it is not medically needed so don’t feel like you have to have one if you are uncomfortable with it.

16 Comments

1. kim makes this comment

   Saturday, 25 June 2011

   iam 8 dpo no sore breast but have like a heavy feeling above my belly button this only lasted for about 10 mins coffee taste like crap very irritable been peeing so much and very little most times this has been since ovulation so bad heart burn woke last night with heart burn was so sick from it also so hot and sweat last night its pretty cold here in sa dont know weather these are any sighns iam due for my periods on wensday day after my fianca b/d so hoping this is my month

2. Alias makes this comment

   Sunday, 24 July 2011

   I recently missed a period, as I have done in the past, due to still being in my teens. Both my boyfriend and myself are quite concerned due to thisas we have been sexually active and usually use protection, but there has been the odd chance of precum. (Sorry if this is a little crude). I still have cramping, but I have not had bad breakouts or oily hair- my normal tell-tale signs of a period. I have had dioherra and cramping once, my breasts are only a little tender- as is normally the case.
   But it almost seems as if I'm ovulating for an extended period of time- I have white marks on my underwear.
   Whether or not this is an actual sign of pregnancy or not, I have not had any other symptoms minus increased appetite.
   Hopefully I will be getting a pregnancy test soon, but in the meantime, I am quite terrified. I'm not yet ready for a child of my own, so should the test return postitive, I'm going to have to seriously consider my options.

3. gemma makes this comment

   Sunday, 04 December 2011

   i have been sleeping with my partner for over 6 weeks unprotected, i have recently missed my period (i am never a day late) i have cramping breast tenderness bad break outs and oily hair i have major mood swings aswell... do you think there is a possibility i am pregnant if so how do i tell my partner he is not ready

4. zoe makes this comment

   Saturday, 24 December 2011

   I have had unprotected sex a couple of times. I have been feeling throughout the day after eating certain foods, i have had cramping pains for a couple of days and i have missed my perod. I am no longer with my ex. I also recently discovered that he do not want kids. I am pregnant

5. lily makes this comment

   Thursday, 29 December 2011

   me and my partner were having sex and the condom fell of, then he realised it came off, we dnt no how long after! Then i washed everything off and took the pill. Do you think im pregnant?

6. nicole makes this comment

   Saturday, 31 December 2011

   hi there iv missed my period and as i got told i could have kids im on 20 iv have so boobs my nipples are brown iv had nose bleeds and iv been having cravings and crapming iuv done so many test and its say neg ... and iv also been so tired could i be pregnant im not normally late

7. natalie makes this comment

   Tuesday, 03 January 2012

   Im 16, being with my bf for 13 months and i have been taking the pill the whole time. we dont use other means of contracetion lately ive been needing to pee a lot, being having massive craving and have a really high appetite also, ive been taking my sugar pill for 4 days but my period hasnt come yet.. it usually comes on the second day of the sugar pill. im worried, definetely getting a pregnancy test next time im down the street.

8. Jess makes this comment

   Sunday, 12 February 2012

   Ive skipped my period I am a week late bit I haven't had any of the other signss of pregnancy
   We always use a condom so what are the chances of being pregnant?

9. crying a river makes this comment

   Friday, 17 February 2012

   hi all
   ok the other day i had a bit of pink loss, so i thought it was going to be a early monthly's (i thought was weird cos i'm always on time)but then i had nothing. so i thought i would google it and it came up that i maybe pregnant but i'm not sure cos it was after ovulation about 5day but went away but now i have like clean discharge not much but it's there. i don't know if i am. but is there any other signs that can get me thinking that it's something else. i'm scared cos i have a 2 year old and a 4 1/2 month old and my husband has left me and i'm doing it alone. and yes i had unprotected sex with my husband will ovulating. stupid me

10. Annikki makes this comment

    Saturday, 25 February 2012

    Hey @ Nicole, that could definitely be a sign of diabetes, get that checked by your doctor, it's more thanlikely that not pregnancy

11. Melissa makes this comment

    Wednesday, 21 March 2012

    me and my partner are trying to have a child but my body keeps cramping up , keep getting sore boobies and pains in my belly. what does this mesn ? please help

12. Sandy makes this comment

    Friday, 06 April 2012

    Tring to get pregnant.
    First symptom I got was cramping for 2 hours.
    Then heart burn on top of that, when infect I didn't really eat anything that day, that would have normally set it off.
    Had the heart burn for 3 days.
    Drink water then have to go to the toilet straight away.
    been very irritable, sore back and so weepy.
    first time for me so hopefully some more symptoms will start to show soon.
    Only two weeks thou....wishful thinking
    Another week and a half and I'll know for sure. Can't wait

13. Losalini makes this comment

    Saturday, 07 April 2012

    i just got tested with two home pregnancy test . one came up negative and the other came up positive ,im very confuse about it . do i still got any chance to fall pregnant ?

14. Leah makes this comment

    Tuesday, 10 April 2012

    I've been off my pill for a month and definatly had alot of sex I'm 5 days late for my period and suspect I'm pregnant I've done 6 tests and so far 3 have said positive but with very light lines an 3 negative I had a blood test done and will fin out results soon but in the meantime i don't no what to go with.. Which one is right :/

15. elicia makes this comment

    Monday, 30 April 2012

    i dont know exactly when my last period was but i know it was around the beginning of march. i have done 4 HPT and all neg, i have really sore boobs, cramping, tired and nausea. i am booked in for friday to see my dr. what is everyones thoughts

16. jodie makes this comment

    Tuesday, 08 May 2012

    im already a mum to a beautiful baby boy he will be 2 in september n i had met a guy not to long ago n we arent to gether n now i have white spots on my undies, breasts feel heavier, my stomach feels heavier also, i have a air freshner in the lounge room that i cant normally smell n when i do smell it makes me feel like i want to sneeze last nite i woke up in a sweat n feeling really hot, im 25 yrs old, i have not much pale pink bleeding normally when its a period i have very heavy bleeding from day 1 only noticed all this morning