7 signs you are pregnant

Wondering if you might be
pregnant? Early signs of pregnancy vary, but there
are a few that most women experience — usually
before the pregnancy test is positive. We rounded up
the eight most common signs to help you answer the
question.
1. Sore br**sts
Are the girls feeling swollen and sore? Are they
getting more attention than usual? Better bust out
the pee stick — you may be pregnant.
Sore br**sts are often one of the first signs of
pregnancy. Hormonal changes cause an increase in
blood flow as the chest tissue changes and prepares
for breastfeeding. As early as four to six weeks into
your pregnancy, your br**sts may begin to feel tingly
and tender. Make sure you get a comfy and
supportive bra because over the next few months —
those bad boys may just grow a size or two. You will
most likely feel less tender after the first trimester
passes, as your body adjusts to the wave of
hormones.
2. Morning sickness
Anyone who has experienced "morning sickness"
knows that it is not restricted to the morning at all,
but can strike at any time of the day (or night). It is
not uncommon to suddenly be nauseated by certain
smells or tastes, especially when you are newly
pregnant. Morning sickness is not a given, and a
lucky few never experience nausea at all while
pregnant.
Caused by the dramatic increase in hormones during
the first trimester of pregnancy, some women stop
feeling nauseous around 12 weeks. Others, however,
continue to feel nauseated throughout their entire
pregnancy. If this happens to you, consult with your
physician about medications to help control the
nausea so that you don't become dehydrated or lose
too much weight.
3. Fatigue
Have you been incredibly tired lately — so tired you
feel it in your bones? Fatigue is a common first sign
of pregnancy. Many women describe early-pregnancy
fatigue as the most extremely tired feeling they have
ever experienced. It isn't known for certain what
causes the extreme fatigue, but it could be related to
increased progesterone levels.
"Exhaustion is typically worst during the first
trimester of pregnancy."
Exhaustion is typically worst during the first
trimester of pregnancy. You may feel revived and
more energetic during your second trimester, but
find your fatigue returning as you near the end of
your third trimester. You will want to nap as much as
possible now because after the baby arrives, you may
never nap again. Or at least not for the next 18 years.
4. Hunger
Strangely enough, nausea and hunger often go hand-
in-hand during pregnancy. During the time when you
aren't feeling nauseous over the smell of certain
foods, you are probably eating your weight in some
food item that you've become obsessed with over the
last few weeks — like barbecue potato chips, mint-
chip ice cream or the traditional pickles.
While it is OK to give in to some of your pregnancy
cravings, make sure that you don't go overboard and
decide to live on pita chips and grapes for the next
nine months just because they are the only thing
that doesn't make your stomach flip. Try to follow a
balanced diet and stay away from any foods that are
unsafe for pregnant women.
5. Frequent urination
Have you been spending more time in the restroom
than in any other room of your house? When you are
newly pregnant, you may find yourself visiting a
restroom more often. Get used to it — as your uterus
expands and pushes on your bladder, fluids in your
body increase and cause the kidneys to work
overtime. As your baby grows, expect some tiny
limbs to put a bit of pressure on your bladder too,
which doesn't help.
6. Moodiness
Moody much? Did you just threaten to divorce your
husband because he wanted to watch Deadliest
Catch while you wanted to watch The Bachelorette?
Don't worry. Moodiness is completely normal during
pregnancy thanks to the dramatic hormonal shifts
your body is undergoing. Each woman experiences
these hormonal changes differently. You may feel
extreme mood shifts in either direction, or be more
anxious or depressed.
7. Missed period
A missed menstrual cycle is usually a good indication
that you might be pregnant, but it can also be
deceiving. Some women do not menstruate regularly,
or may not keep accurate track of when they last
menstruated. If your periods are irregular or vary
between spotting and heavy flow, you may
experience other early signs of pregnancy well before
you realize you have missed a period.
Some women experience a bit of spotting during
implantation, which occurs very close to the time
that your regular menstrual period would have
occurred. If you think you might be pregnant, make
sure to take a pregnancy test just to be safe before
engaging in any activities that would be dangerous
for your baby.
8. Pregnancy test
Your tender br**sts and nausea may already have
you convinced that you are pregnant, but make sure
to visit your obstetrician or midwife for a pregnancy
test. Home pregnancy tests — despite what they
claim — are not always accurately able to confirm
pregnancy before you have missed your period. If you
take an early home test and it comes back negative,
try again a week later. It is always important to get
your pregnancy confirmed by a medical professional
and begin monitoring that brand new bundle of joy.
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