Do your spidey-senses tell you that something is going on in your uterus? Below is a list of early pregnancy signs, common in the first month. If you think you’re pregnant, contact your doctor or midwife!
Tender breasts
Your breasts may be tender as early as ten days after conception. You’re making extra hormones during pregnancy that the glands in your breasts start to grow. They’ll retain more fluids and feel heavy.
Darkening areolas
Pregnancy hormones also affect the activity of melanocytes or cells in the nipples responsible for their colour.
Frequently needing to pee
Hormonal changes increase the rate of blood flow through your kidneys. This can cause your bladder to fill more quickly so you may need to pee more often.
Spotting/cramping
When the fertilised egg implants into the lining of the uterus, you may have light vaginal spotting or even cramps.
Constipation
Blame progesterone, it’s slowing down your digestive track.
Spotting
Implantation can cause spotting. It’s when the fertilised egg attaches to the uterine wall.
Nausea
Nausea is related to the hormone HCG. It’s the same one that makes a pregnancy test positive or negative. The higher the HCG level (as with twins), the sicker you may feel.
Fatigue
Your body is working 24/7 to renovate your uterus for a baby – of course, you’re tired.
Cravings or increased hunger
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 usually dream of eating, while others only feel hungry all day long.
Heartburn
The production of progesterone, the hormone that relaxes muscles in preparation for labour and birth, during pregnancy can cause heartburn, indigestion and acid reflux in pregnant women.
Smell sensitivity / altered taste
Progesterone causes a lot of things to slow down; that includes your digestive process. It makes your body think that there are too many things going on with your digestive system and gets lazy. Ergo, you’re not as much a fan of fried bologna sandwiches as you used to be.
Constipation / diarrhea
Same as above; your body either gets lazy because of the progesterone, or it tries to purge because “it’s so busy!” and you have to poop in the middle of dinner with your in-laws. STAT.
Mood swings
Your hormones are e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e. You’re bound to have a melt-down because Subway put one too many olives.
Feeling dizzy / fainting
Time to thank progesterone again. It can make your body “run hot”, blood vessels dilate and lower your blood pressure. Hence, the fainting. Your uterus is using a lot of your blood supply at this point, also, which doesn’t help the fact progesterone is lowering your blood pressure.
Headaches
Progesterone and blood supply. Dehydration. ‘Nuff said.
Vivid Dreams
The increase in hormones can affect dreams too! So if you’ve been having vivid reality-like dreams, it is a sign of pregnancy.
Missed period
Well, duh!
Backache
Both a sign of PMS and early pregnancy, backaches can be caused by the growing uterus. Your body just isn’t used to things moving so fast.
Fullness / bloating
Same as above, this can be caused by your growing uterus and the entire package of Oreos you just ate
Yup those are all great signs you may be pregnant.