“Am I pregnant?” Whether you want it or not, watch out for the 8 common signs of early pregnancy so you can make an informed decision on what to do next.

“Am I pregnant?” This is probably one of the most frequently asked questions on our website.
And the answer can trigger completely opposite reactions: either joy and excitement, or fear and a feeling of utter dread.
In either case, it’s important to recognize the early signs of a possible pregnancy. This way you can evaluate your options and make an informed decision on what to do next.
8 Common Signs of Early Pregnancy
Below are some common signs of early pregnancy:
1. Delay or Missing Period
This is perhaps one of the most significant signs of pregnancy. However, diet, stress, medication, and other lifestyle factors can also interrupt a woman’s hormone balance and cause delay or missing periods.
So it’s important to track your menstrual cycles, and to get to know your body well. This way you can spot any usual changes with ease and confidence.
2. Swollen/Tender Breasts
This is another obvious sign of early pregnancy. However, some women experience premenstrual breast tenderness. So how do you know whether it’s premenstrual or early pregnancy?
It’s all in the timing. If you still have swollen/tender breasts when you’re supposed to have your period, this may be a sign of early pregnancy
3. Darkening of the Skin around the Nipples
Pregnancy hormones (progesterone and hcG) can darken the skin around the nipples. This is another sign to help you tell if your breast tenderness is premenstrual or due to early pregnancy.
4. Nausea or Morning Sickness
Many women experience nausea or morning sickness in the first trimester (3 months) of their pregnancy. The implantation and growing fetus can push up the diaphragm and cause these uncomfortable feelings.
5. Food Cravings or Aversions
Some pregnant women crave sour foods, which can help reduce the feelings of stagnation as a result of implantation. So notice if you have any usual cravings or aversions when it comes to foods. They may provide some clues.
6. Fatigue
This is obvious, right? If you’re pregnant, a lot of energy is going toward nourishing and nurturing the implanted egg to help it grow into a fetus. This can certainly make you feel more tired and sleepy than usual.
7. Spotting or Cramping
Implantation can cause cramping and spotting. Sometimes this is mistaken as a regular period. Pay close attention to this because there is a subtle difference.
The implantation spotting is usually lighter and shorter than a regular period.
8. Other Signs
Pregnancy changes your body in so many ways, from moods and energy levels, to digestion and bowl movement. Other common signs of pregnancy may include:
- Headache
- Backache
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Frequent urination
- Mood swings
By going through the list, if you get a feeling that you may be pregnant, it’s perhaps time to take a pregnancy test to make sure. The pregnancy test can detect pregnancy hormone as early as 3 days before your expected period and is generally pretty accurate.
If you’ve been trying to conceive, best of luck to you. I wish you all the joy of receiving the precious gift of a new life. Here are some tips to enhance fertility for you.
If you’re not ready to be a parent, perhaps it’s time to start learning how to avoid pregnancy and evaluate some options.
Great site, helpful information re knowing if you are expecting!
I have done loads of research on periods and ovulation trying to understand all I can but I have never totally understood what I was reading until I found this website thank you!!!
What does it mean when u have clear egg white 7 dayso after your period
Hi Linda, clear egg white discharge is a cardinal sign of ovulation. When you have clear egg white discharge 7 days after your period,it means that you ovulated at around that time. If your period lasted for 3 days, you ovulated on day 10. If your period lasted for 5 days, you ovulated on day 12. Hope this helps. 🙂
Am only 18 years old and I got told I can’t come back on my periods until I get my bloods done and it also feels likes I might be pregnant cause it feels wierd to me and my boyfriend that u can feel something moving around like its active or something x