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The First Signs Of Pregnancy: Am I Pregnant?

April 10th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

It’s important for a woman to know the first signs of pregnancy, especially if you are trying to become pregnant. As soon as you become pregnant, it is important to begin a pregnancy nutrition and fitness program, see your doctor, begin taking prenatal vitamins, etc. Here are some of the first signs of pregnancy that you may experience:

Missed Menstrual Cycle

The most obvious first sign of pregnancy for most women is a missed period. If you have a regular cycle and know your schedule this may be the first pregnancy symptom that you notice. However if you have an irregular cycle, a missed period may be difficult to detect. Although a missed period is a sign of pregnancy it can also be caused by stress, changes in diet, sudden changes in weight and similar factors.

Physical Exhaustion

Another first sign of pregnancy is unusual tiredness. Despite getting your normal amount of sleep, you are more tired than usual. Although this is a first sign of pregnancy it may also indicate that you have an infection, have the flu, are under a lot of stress, or are physically overexerted.

Tender Breasts

This first sign of pregnancy can be difficult to detect since it is often associated with your normal menstrual cycle. If you experience tender breasts and your menstrual cycle is more than 2 weeks late, you’re probably pregnant. A home pregnancy test should be taken for verification.

Darkened Areolas

An obvious first sign of pregnancy is a darkening of your areolas (the colored skin surrounding your nipples). This pregnancy symptom occurs very early in pregnancy and may last the entire nine months. Since this symptom is not normally associated with your normal menstrual cycle, it is one of the first signs of pregnancy that most women notice.

Morning Sickness

This is another early sign of pregnancy that is easily recognized. This pregnancy symptom is not normally associated with your normal menstrual cycle, so it is easier to identify that some of the other first signs of pregnancy. Morning sickness and vomiting can also be a sign of illness, food poisoning and similar factors. If your morning sickness persists for more than one day, it is likely a sign that you are pregnant.

Heightened Sense of Smell and Taste

This is a first sign of pregnancy that many women experience very early in their pregnancy. For some women their senses are much more sensitive and easily noticeable, while others can barely notice the difference. There are few other factors that cause your senses to become more sensitive. If you experience this first sign of pregnancy, you’re probably pregnant. This is especially true if you experience this symptom with one or more other early pregnancy symptoms.

The above first signs of pregnancy can be difficult to detect since there can be other factors causing them. Many of the signs are similar to normal premenstrual symptoms which make detection more challenging. If you think you may be pregnant, you should take a home pregnancy test to know for sure. Regardless of the result, you should repeat the test within 7-10 days to confirm the results.

I’m Pregnant: What do I do?

Once you know you’re pregnant, you should call your doctor immediately. You need to begin planning your prenatal care, start taking special prenatal vitamins and begin a pregnancy nutrition and fitness program. The first few months of your pregnancy are the most critical since this is when your baby’s major organs and brain are developing. The first trimester is also when most miscarriages occur, so your nutrition and fitness are critical during this period for you and your baby.
To Your Health,

MyPregnancyStages.com