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Your Pregnancy Symptoms

Have you missed a period or is it later than normal?
It's quite possible that if your period is normally regular and all of a sudden is late that you may well be pregnant. Although other factors such as medication, some illnesses and even stress can alter your menstrual cycle, it is more often due to pregnancy. If you miss one or more periods in a row then pregnancy is highly likely and you should see your doctor for a urine or blood test to confirm a diagnosis.

Do you have the feeling that your period will arrive at any moment?
Often women in the early stages of pregnancy feel mild cramping very similar to their normal menstrual pains. This can cause worry and confusion as it can be hard to tell whether or not pregnancy is occuring. However, this feeling usually wears off after the first semester.

Has your sense of smell become extremely sensitive?
Your sense of smell can become extremely sensitive in the early stages of pregnancy and you may find certain smalls make you feel extremely ill. These can include everyday odours such as cooking smells, coffee, and car exhaust fumes. It can be helpful to carry around a small bottle of essential oil, such as lavender which you can put on a tissue and smell if you can't bear the smells around you!

Have you a metallic or strange taste in your mouth?
Many pregnant women find that they suddenly cannot tolerate foods and drinks that they otherwise enjoy. Common examples are tea, coffee and wine. If you are also suffering from an enhanced sense of smell this combined with the strange taste can bring on sudden waves of nausea.

Are your nipples darkening?
Very early on in pregnancy the areola, ie the brown area around the nipple, darkens in colour as the breasts prepare for breastfeeding. You may also notice small bumps developing. These are Montgomery's Tubercles and help to lubricate the breasts during breastfeeding as well as keeping them free from germs.

Have you got sore, tingling or tender breasts?
Many women find their breasts become extremely tender and sometimes bloated in the early stages of pregnancy. This can be one of the very first signs of pregnancy and you may be surprized to find you need to get a new bra fairly soon.

Are you experiencing nausea?
Some women experience "morning sickness" very early on in pregnancy. This symptom of pregnancy can be misleading as for some women it lasts all day long and for others they don't experience it at all. It can last with varying degrees of intensity although often wears off by about 14-16 week of pregnancy. Pregnancy nausea can be made worse by low sugar levels so try to eat a healthy balanced diet and keep snacks close at hand. Some women find certain smells and tastes can make it worse.

Are you permanently exhausted and falling asleep at every opportunity?
Pregnancy hormones can cause extreme tiredness and many women find they dose off frequently during the day. The tiredness can be overwhelming and it's important to try to get as much rest as you can, even in these very early stages of pregnancy.

Are you experiencing any mild spotting, bleeding or have you had an unusually light period?
For many women, pregnancy is the last thing they think of if they experience some spotting or mild bleeding. Many think they've just had a particularly light period although it can be more like a brownish or pinkish discharge than an actual proper period. Any bleeding or spotting during pregnancy should always be mentioned to your doctor. However, in the early weeks just before an expected period is due, this light bleeding or spotting can be implantation bleeding, signifying the implantation of the fertilized egg into the womb.

Are you needing to pee frequently?
A common symptom of early pregnancy can be the frequent need to pee! This is caused by pressure on the bladder by the rapidly growing womb as well as pregnancy hormones. often women begin to suspect they may have a urinary track infection because they are peeing so often and often only passing very small amounts each time.

Are you finding yourself craving foods/ products you wouldn't normally be drawn to?
Lots of pregnant women, although not all, crave foods they perhaps wouldn't normally eat. In some cases pregnant women also crave product not normally eaten such as chalk and coal. It's important to try to stick to a healthy balanced diet and if you are craving unusual products speak to your gp as you may be suffering from some vitamin or mineral deficiencies.

Are you finding your clothes feel tighter than normal?
From 10 weeks onwards you may find your clothes are beginning to feel uncomfortable. For women with irregular periods this can be one of the first indications of pregnancy!

You're probably not pregnant but if you're still worried, seek medical advice.

It's possible you're pregnant so you should probably seek medical advice.

It's very likely that you're pregnant so make a medical appointment to get it confirmed.

It's extremely likely that you are pregnant. Make an appointment to see your gp as soon as possible to get it confirmed.