7 Signs Of Pregnancy

From the very earliest days of pregnancy, your body is starting to change.

Many of these changes are linked to an increase in the hCG hormone, a pregnancy-specific hormone that plays a big role in looking after your growing baby.

If you’ve missed a period and are experiencing any of the symptoms below, it might be time to take a home pregnancy test. If the test comes up positive, congratulations! It’s time to visit your doctor.

• Morning sickness – you may start to feel nauseous, or even start vomiting, very early in your pregnancy. Despite its name, morning sickness can occur at any time of the day.
• Tender, swollen breasts – your breasts may become sensitive, and your nipples may change, too.
• Food cravings or aversions – hormones can play games with your sense of smell, causing you to suddenly find some foods unappetising. Or, you may crave a particular food.
• Fatigue – you may find yourself wanting to curl up and take a nap during the day. This is likely to be from the big surge in progesterone, which slows your metabolism.
• Frequent urination – you may need to visit the bathroom more often than usual.
• Light bleeding or cramps – sometimes, you may experience light bleeding when the fertilised egg attaches to the lining of your uterus.
• Mood swings – are you crying one minute, laughing the next? You can blame the hormones.

Some women experience all of the early signs of pregnancy, in full force. Others can breeze through the first trimester, with a missed period the only sign that there may be a bun in the oven.

Whether you are experiencing any of the symptoms above or not, if you suspect that you may be pregnant then it’s a good idea to get it checked out.

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