1. Swollen and tender breasts
Soreness or tingling in breasts is one of pregnancy's most common symptoms. Early in pregnancy breasts will fill out and change shape as they prepare to produce milk. Breasts may become very tender and sensitive for a few months as a result. But, Teresa Pitman, doula and lactation expert, notes: "that not all women experience these changes, especially if they have been on birth control pills."
2. Darkening areolas
For many women, hormones can cause the areolas, the circles around nipples, to widen and darken during pregnancy. This occurs as the body prepares itself for breastfeeding.
3. Spotting
About five to 10 days after conception, some women notice light spotting when the embryo implants in the uterus. So if you've had a light period this month, you might still be carrying a little bundle of joy.
4. Urinary frequency or constipation
When you're pregnant, your uterus presses directly on the bladder leading to more frequent urination. The added pressure and intestinal changes may also cause constipation. Of course, the more a baby grows, the more the uterus presses against the bladder and other organs.
5. Fatigue
Many women feel very tired early in pregnancy (it takes lots of energy to create a baby!). In fact, fatigue is often one of the first signs of pregnancy. If you are pregnant, chances are you'll start to feel less tired around week 12, when the placenta is fully formed.
6. Nausea
Nausea is one of the most common side effects of pregnancy. It's caused by an increase in hormone levels (about 80 percent of women experience "morning sickness" during the first 3 months of pregnancy). For many, this nausea is not necessarily confined just to the morning - some feel it all day long. Click here for all the facts on morning sickness.
7. Smell Sensitivity
No, the smells on the bus are not in your head: Many women have a heightened sense of smell during pregnancy. This symptom is one of the most common early signs that you could be pregnant. "Some researchers have speculated that it might be to protect women from eating ' spoiled' or tainted foods, thus protecting the baby from any harmful toxins," says Pitman.
8. Elevated basal temperature. If you've been tracking your basal temperature, a positive sign of pregnancy is an increase of about one degree that lasts for more than two weeks after the "dip" in temperature that indicates ovulation.
9. Missing period
The most obvious indicator of pregnancy is a missed period, but a missed period doesn't always mean a baby is on the way. Stress, diet or an irregular schedule can also be the culprits, so it's best to get tested before making the big announcement.
10. Unusual hunger or cravings
Pregnant bodies are working hard to grow that baby, and need about 300 extra calories a day. Some women find themselves craving food they would never normally dream of eating, while others simply feel hungry all day long.
11. Headaches
The frequency of migraine headaches can increase with pregnancy. Many women who get hormonal migraine headaches find they get more of them during especially early in pregnancy, explains Pitman. However, some people have the opposite experience and actually get a little reprieve from migraines while expecting.
12. Mood swings
Many women experience emotional mood swings throughout pregnancy. It's natural to go through a variety of emotions as hormones are adjusting and the body is changing.
13. Feeling faint or dizzy
Shifting hormones, combined with the heart beating faster to pump more blood through the body can cause blood pressure to gradually decrease early in pregnancy. As a result many women experience periods of dizziness or feeling lightheaded.
14. Metallic taste in your mouth
Some women complain of an odd "metallic" taste in their mouths during pregnancy. While there is no scientific explanation for this symptom, for some it can last throughout their entire pregnancy.
15. Vivid dreams
Dreams during pregnancy often intensify. So if your dreamin' has become more dramatic this could be a symptom you're expecting. (Thank your surging hormones for this one!)
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