Are You Pregnant? First Signs of Pregnancy

Changes to the Body
While you may not experience the swollen belly and small kicks inside your abdomen until well into your second trimester, there are some first signs of pregnancy that are more subtle. Many women will first notice early pregnancy symptoms like changes to their breasts, even before the first day of a missed period. The breasts may begin to feel swollen or tender, much like they do prior to a period only with much more intensity. The tenderness is caused by hormone fluctuations that happen during those first few weeks after conception. Once your body adjusts to the hormone changes, those first signs of pregnancy will diminish.

Other women may find that they have to urinate more often than necessary, even getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. While you don't have an oversized stomach pressing on your bladder just yet, the hormones are increasing fluid levels in your body and the bladder has to work overtime to eliminate them. Unfortunately, this trouble won't alleviate much during pregnancy, but you can look forward to less frequent bathroom breaks after the baby is born.

Fatigue and nausea can also be some of the first signs of pregnancy, although not all women will experience the effects of morning sickness. Fatigue is a very common first sign of pregnancy as your body adjusts to the hormone fluctuations and the new life growing inside. Most women find that they are less tired during the second trimester, but the fatigue will be back in the later months as a good night's sleep becomes elusive and the body has to work overtime to support the baby.

For those that are actively trying to become pregnant and are using a basal body temperature chart to do so, they may find that the body's basal temperature will remain high after conception has taken place. If this temperature stays elevated for 18 days or longer, there is a good chance that pregnancy has occurred.

These first signs of pregnancy may not be able to diagnose conception on their own, but they can indicate that a pregnancy test should be done – especially if the menstrual cycle does not occur on schedule. If you experience any of these early pregnancy symptoms and you have a late period, make an appointment with your doctor for a pregnancy test.