Most women know that one of the first signs of pregnancy is not having a period. However, if your period is irregular, it can be difficult to know when you missed your period. Learn how to look for other signs of pregnancy that may indicate that you need to consult a medical professional or use pregnancy test strips.
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Part 1 of 2: Recognizing the Early Signs of Pregnancy
Step 1. Look for implantation bleeding
Spotting or light bleeding 6 to 12 days after your period may indicate that the fertilized egg has attached to the uterine wall.
- Some women may feel cramps like they are about to have their period.
- Spots can be mistaken for light periods, especially if they are usually irregular.
Step 2. Watch for breast tenderness
Swollen and painful breast tissue is a sign of hormonal changes in the body. These changes occur one to two weeks after conception. Your breasts may start to feel heavier or fuller.
- If you have frequent breast tenderness, look for other symptoms to determine if you are pregnant.
- Some women find their breasts increase in size in the first few weeks of pregnancy. If this is the case, you may be pregnant.
- The areola also begins to darken. These changes are also caused by pregnancy hormones.
Step 3. Watch for fatigue
As the body adjusts to pregnancy, women usually start to feel tired and lethargic. This can happen from the week of conception.
- Fatigue is the result of increased progesterone which makes you sleepy.
- If there's a chance you might be pregnant, don't treat it with caffeine. Caffeine is not proven to be harmful at this early stage, but it will increase the chances of miscarriage if consumed in excess. The exact amount is unknown, but 200 mg is generally considered the limit.
Step 4. Wait for nausea
Nausea and vomiting can start about two weeks after conception and continue for up to eight weeks after conception. If you're starting to feel nauseous, it's time to do your own home pregnancy test.
- Nausea may also be accompanied by a reluctance to eat something. While pregnant, some of your favorite foods may make you nauseous.
- Nausea is not always accompanied by vomiting.
- You may feel an increased sensitivity to scents. Even smells you might have liked before now trigger nausea.
Step 5. Pay attention to the desire or reluctance to eat something
Since the beginning of pregnancy, hormones have changed your taste in certain foods. You may want to eat strange food combinations that you never wanted before. Food that has been a favorite may make you nauseous.
- If there is a metallic taste in the mouth, this is normal in early pregnancy.
- Many women report being disgusted by the smell of coffee even though they were heavy coffee drinkers before becoming pregnant. If you feel nauseous at the smell of coffee, it may be a sign that you are pregnant.
Step 6. Watch for headaches, backache, and frequent urination
There are characteristic signs of early stage pregnancy. This condition is caused by a combination of pregnancy hormones, more blood in the body's system, and kidney function.
- You can take over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen to help relieve headaches and back pain. While ibuprofen is generally considered safe in the early stages of pregnancy, few doctors will recommend it unless you are closely monitored.
- Instead of using medication, consider treating the pain with home remedies such as a warm bath, using a heating pad, massage, etc.
Part 2 of 2: Pregnancy Test
Step 1. Determine if you are experiencing one or two of the first signs of pregnancy
If so, use pregnancy test strips. For most strips, you'll need to place the tip of the stick into a small container of urine, or drain the urine over the stick. In a few minutes, the stick will show the result by changing the color, showing the word "pregnant" or "not pregnant", or a symbol.
- Most pregnancy test strips are not accurate until the fifth week of pregnancy.
- Pregnancy test strip instructions vary. Follow the directions on the strip you selected.
- Pregnancy test strips check for the human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) hormone that accompanies pregnancy.
Step 2. Repeat the test in a week later or see a doctor
While it's rare to get an erroneous result, sometimes pregnancy test strips show a false negative if done very early. If you think it's been a week or two since implantation, you should test twice.
- Do the test in the morning when you wake up when the HSG concentration is highest. Drinking lots of water before the test can result in a false negative result.
- False-positive results can occur in cases of hormonal changes due to menopause or if you receive HCG injections as part of an infertility program.
Step 3. Make an appointment with the doctor
If you continue to get positive results on multiple pregnancy tests, or you still have symptoms of pregnancy even if the test results are negative, contact your obstetrician or GP. A blood test that your doctor does can tell you you're pregnant more quickly than a urine pregnancy test strip you can do at home.
- The sooner a pregnancy is confirmed, the sooner you can learn about options. Your doctor or midwife can discuss pregnancy options with you.
- If you plan to continue the pregnancy, your doctor or midwife can help with prenatal care.
