13+ Signs You Are Pregnant
By Lauren Mccluskey
2 years ago
1. A positive pregnancy test
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The surest sign that you are probably pregnant is if you have a positive pregnancy test. However, make sure you don't test too soon because this might just give you a negative result, whereas if you wait until the first day of your missed period, or 21 days after you had unprotected sex, this can give a more accurate result.2. A missed period
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If you are later than usual or have completely missed a period, there is a possibility that you could be pregnant. This can happen if you have had unprotected sex or your contraception has failed. But it is important to note that menstrual irregularities can happen for a number of reasons.3. Tender breasts
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A very common and early telltale sign that you might be pregnant is that you might have tender breasts. They might be a little sore or tingly and many women report that their bras or tops no longer fit them because they seem to have grown a little. This is due to the surge in estrogen and progesterone, as well as prolactin.4. Nausea
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Nausea in early pregnancy is really common and has been reported to be worse if you're carrying twins or triplets. You may or may not actually be sick when you are experiencing this symptom, which is often referred to as morning sickness. In some cases, morning sickness can be really severe and you might need medical attention. Severe morning sickness is called Hyperemesis Gravidarum.5. Peeing more often
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Another pregnancy symptom you might notice early on is that you are peeing way more often than usual. Frequent urination is really common in every stage of pregnancy, particularly later on when the extra weight presses on your bladder. But early on, it is thought that the surge of hormones has you running to the bathroom often.6. Tiredness
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You might be tired too... And we mean really tired. In fact, many women report that in early pregnancy, the tiredness and exhaustion they felt were like nothing they'd ever experienced before. And to try and cope with this, the only answer really is to just rest as much as you can.7. Food aversions
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Studies have found that food aversions in pregnancy are really common. In fact, 6 out of 10 women have been reported to completely change their preferences for food during pregnancy. Even if you really enjoyed something before, you can hate it with a passion whilst you're pregnant and it can even make your nausea worse.8. Strange cravings
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As well as food aversions, you might also get cravings. These cravings can be completely normal, like a craving for cheese sandwiches. But quite commonly, you might crave crunching raw potatoes that are covered in soil, munching on chalk, or even chowing down on a bowl of your favorite breakfast cereal, topped with jalapenos!9. You're hotter
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There is limited evidence to suggest that your body temperature rises during pregnancy, but many women report that they do actually feel much hotter than usual. This potential rise in a woman's core temperature could be due to a number of reasons, including increased blood flow, but this is currently speculative.10. A change in cervical mucus
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Cervical mucus is a fluid that comes from the cervix and is usually clear or white with a very faint scent, but you might notice it changing its color and texture during your usual cycle. However, if you are pregnant, there is a possibility that you might notice an increase in this fluid and it could appear more watery than usual.11. Spotting
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In very early pregnancy, many women experience very light bleeding that tends to have a pinkish tinge. This is called spotting and is usually nothing to worry about because it's a sign that the embryo has implanted into the uterus. It usually happens around the time your period is due and tends to be harmless, but if you're worried, see your midwife for peace of mind.12. Cramps
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Cramps in your lower abdomen are really common throughout pregnancy and can be a sign that you're pregnant. They're usually mild and tend to go away when you change position but if they are more severe, or you are worried, see a health professional because very occasionally they can be a sign of something more serious.13. Bloating
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Bloating can also signal early pregnancy and it can be accompanied by more burping and passing wind than usual. This is just a sign that your hormones are doing their job, especially progesterone, which relaxes the muscles in your womb so it can prepare itself for expansion.14. Linea nigra
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As your pregnancy progresses, you might notice that a dark line appears down the center of your belly. This line tends to run from your pubic area right up to your naval (and maybe beyond!) and it is due to your body's increase in hormones. It's not there forever though and fades shortly after giving birth.15. Mood swings
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If you're pregnant, there's so much going on in your body. You've got a surge in hormones, you might be feeling exhausted and nauseous, and that's probably not even scratching the surface! So it's no wonder you're probably feeling a little teary at the beginning of your pregnancy. But don't worry, this usually wears off, though for some women, they feel like this on and off throughout their pregnancy.16. Headaches
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Unfortunately, headaches are common when you're pregnant but these usually improve as your pregnancy progresses. Pregnancy headaches are commonly on one side of your head, like a migraine-type headache, and are said to be due to the expansion of your blood vessels.17. Burping
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Burping and passing wind are really common in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy and can be some of the telltale signs to look out for. You see, your hormones play havoc with your digestive system, causing you to be extra gassy (unfortunately for everyone else!)18. Vivid dreams
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Vivid dreams during pregnancy are (you guessed it!) due to your hormones, and get progressively more vivid, and sometimes even more strange, as your pregnancy progresses and your hormones increase. And according to BabyCentre.com, some of the most common dreams revolve around sex, talking animals, and huge buildings...19. Brain fog
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Don't let anyone tell you that baby or pregnancy brain is not a thing! Because it definitely IS! Many women report that they experience so much brain fog when they're pregnant and they really have trouble focusing or concentrating on anything at all.20. Drooling
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You might also experience an increase in your saliva so much that you find yourself drooling a lot. This symptom can be quite unfortunate and it is usually associated with pregnancy nausea and sickness. But the good news is that it typically goes away pretty quickly after giving birth.21. Itchy belly
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An itchy belly is also a common pregnancy symptom that can happen at any point during your pregnancy. It can be a sign at the start and is said to occur due to the increased hormones in your blood. But then as your bump grows, the skin on your belly obviously stretches and this can cause itching too!22. Bleeding gums
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Hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause your gums to bleed. This is because these changes make your gums more sensitive to the plaque on your teeth. This is called pregnancy gingivitis and usually goes back to normal after you've given birth to your baby.23. Acne
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Hormones play a role in how your skin reacts too, and many women experience acne when they're pregnant. This can happen even if you've not experienced acne before and usually goes away after your pregnancy. The hormones increase the amount of oil or sebum, the skin produces and this is the likely culprit of any breakouts.24. Congestion
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A surprising symptom that can signal a potential pregnancy is increased nasal congestion. The increased blood flow can cause the nasal veins to enlarge and therefore make you feel congested. This is called pregnancy rhinitis which refers to the inflammation of the mucus membranes in your nose.25. Back pain
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With a growing bump, it's no wonder that many women experience back pain during their pregnancy, particularly in the later stages. But did you know that back pain can also be a symptom in early pregnancy too? This is because the ligaments of your body are softening to prepare for your labor, but this can put pressure on your lower back causing aches and pains.26. Trouble sleeping
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Many pregnant women have trouble sleeping because of hormonal changes, pregnancy symptoms, vivid dreams, and an ever-growing baby bump! And in early pregnancy, you might be so exhausted that all you want to do is sleep, but you can't! However, try to avoid caffeine, use some relaxation techniques, and daytime naps can help!27. Heartburn
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Hormones have a lot to answer for during pregnancy and we're not done yet! In fact, hormonal changes are also responsible for heartburn, or acid reflux, and this can be pretty uncomfortable. It can worsen as your baby grows and presses against your stomach so make sure you try some recommended remedies to relief your discomfort.28. Restless legs
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You might also experience restless legs or Restless Leg Syndrome, and this can be really uncomfortable and stop you from resting or even sleeping. Estrogen levels have been blamed for this symptom, but some research also believes that it could be caused by a lack of folic acid or iron in your system.29. Luscious locks
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You might be thinking that lots of these early pregnancy symptoms are quite negative but there's good news! You might notice your hair becoming wonderfully voluminous, silkier, and even shinier than before and this is because your natural hair loss slows down significantly. We'll definitely take this symptom!30. PMS symptoms
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You might have noticed that lots of the early pregnancy signs and symptoms are very similar to your symptoms in the day leading up to your period. However, if you miss your period, it might be worth taking a pregnancy test because this is the most reliable way to find out whether you're pregnant or not!31. Implantation cramps
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Cramps don't just come when you're shedding your uterus lining every month, or when you're ready to give birth. You might experience implantation cramps when you're pregnant, which is when the fertilized egg then has to move itself into the wall of the uterus - which can cause cramps, around 6 to 12 days after conception.32. A more powerful sense of smell!
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Seriously, it'll be a super power! It's not actually clear why a pregnant woman's sense of smell can suddenly become so heightened, but it might be down to the hormones. It might also be connected to nausea, which is why certain smells can suddenly seem stronger and make you feel sick!33. You might feel dizzy
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The body is great in making sure that your baby has enough oxygen and blood supply when you're going through pregnancy, but unfortunately that can sometimes mean that your blood pressure is lowered, resulting in you feeling a little light-headed and dizzy.34. A runny nose that just won't quit
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While a blocked up nose can be a thing, so can a non-stop runny one! We don't know which is worse. Of course, it might be a coincidence and you might actually have a cold or allergies during your pregnancy, but it is believed that the nasal mucus membranes swelling during pregnancy could cause a runny nose, too.35. A lot more discharge
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Vaginal discharge is always normal, you don't have to be pregnant to get it, but the amount of it can actually increase a surprising amount during pregnancy. While it's never anything to worry about, you should keep an eye on the color of it, as green/yellow combined with itchiness could be a sign of infection - so you'll want to let your doctor know!36. You might even get nosebleeds
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You might think that latest tickle on your nose is your runny nose again, but it might actually be a nosebleed this time! With nasal passages becoming more dry during pregnancy, and blood vessels being more vulnerable to breakages, it can increase the chance of a nosebleed.37. Constipation, unfortunately
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Just when you had enough to deal with with needing to pee 50 times a day and carrying extra weight, it's also likely you could get constipated when you're pregnant. Because your hormone levels rise and digestion slows, this can result in it being pretty hard (scuse the pun) to shift anything on the toilet.38. ... Which could lead to hemorrhoids!
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And, unfortunately, we know what comes next. If you're struggling with constipation and you've been straining a little too hard, you might also find you have hemorrhoids developing. These swelling scan also be caused by the extra pressure a baby is putting on you down there!39. Hair growth in strange places
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You don't have to be pregnant to know how annoying that pesky chin hair is that keeps coming back, but you might need something more than tweezers at this rate, because pregnancy can also cause extra hair growth in places you don't usually have it! You can thank your hormones for that.40. You'll be a Sweaty Betty
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Just to make you that little bit more uncomfortable, you're probably going to sweat loads, too. Because of increase in hormones and blood flow, as well as a faster metabolism, this can result in your body producing more sweat because you feel too hot with everything going on. Your body's just looking out for you, really!41. More visible veins
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When you're pregnant, it's not uncommon to have your veins stand out a lot more than they usually do, and this isn't just on your belly, either. You might notice veins around your body are darker than usual and you can more easily see them through the skin!42. You might have pee accidents when you laugh
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If you're pregnant, your bladder control is going to be weaker, and on top of needing to go to the toilet a lot, you might also notice small accidents when you laugh, or even cough or sneeze. Anything sudden that might jerk your body could result in a little pee coming out!43. Your nipples might look different
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You might also notice that your nipples have changed a little in appearance - namely, bigger and darker. It's not known for certain why this can happen during pregnancy, but it's likely due to the preparation of breastfeeding and making it so your baby can more easily spot where it needs to be!44. Changes in your vision
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If you're pregnant, you may also experience changes in your vision. Unfortunately, it isn't that you'll have super sharp eyesight all of a sudden - it's actually that your vision might appear more blurry. This can happen because of fluid changes in the cornea, expected to go away after the baby is born.45. Leaking breasts!
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Leaking breasts can actually happen in the early days of pregnancy, a long time before the baby is born. This is just your body getting ready to produce food for your baby, and and the first food is called colostrum, otherwise known as baby's 'first milk'. It's completely normal!46. You might suffer with carpal tunnel (who'd have thought it?)
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One thing you might not have expected to be a pregnancy sign or symptom is carpal tunnel syndrome. This is when you have a trapped nerve in the wrist that can result in a tingling, numbness and pain in your hand and fingers. This can happen because of the swelling during pregnancy putting pressure on the nerve.47. You'll become Bigfoot
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You might have already heard that people's feet swell when they're pregnant, and it's true! So you'll want to keep an eye on how your feet are doing, too. The interesting (slightly annoying) fact about this one, though, is that the swelling can actually be permanent even after the baby is born - so you might have permanently bigger feet!48. Stretch marks starting to show
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When and if you'll get many stretch marks is never guaranteed, and can depend a lot on genetics. But stretch marks are a sure sign you're pregnant when your body is preparing to grow for the baby. The marks are just evidence that your skin is expanding for that rapid growth!49. Your skin might look a bit different
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As well as the potential acne battle, you may also go through a stage of melasma on your skin, which is areas of dark spots that can appear during pregnancy. This is because of the higher level of melanin that comes from pregnancy hormones. It's important to shield your skin from the sun during this time to try to prevent melasma that's too obvious!50. You'll put on weight, of course!
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One sure-fire symptom of being pregnant is that you've put on weight in a short space of time. Of course, you might need to double check what your eating and lifestyle habits have been recently before you jump to buy that pregnancy test! But it's one of the early symptoms you'll likely have.What To Read Next
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