Signs that might prove that you are pregnant

Conception brings with it not only the joy of motherhood, but also certain bodily changes that occur due to the hormones released soon after conception. You can know that you are pregnant even before you test it at home with a pregnancy urine test.

Look out for these signs of pregnancy:

Your breasts become sore, swell and become heavier than usual:

Your breast tissues are highly sensitive to hormones; they show these signs when the egg is fertilized and progesterone and HCG flood the body and increase the volume of blood.  The effect is prolonged unlike it being a pre-menstrual sign.

You may have some spotting or light bleeding:

Every 1 out of 4 women have some spotting during implantation with periods that are shorter and different; it is sometimes mistaken for a period.

You may get cramps:

This sign is often confused with periods; however it is necessary to understand that cramps could also be triggered when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall and stretches the uterus stretches a bit to prepare for the massive expansion during the later months of pregnancy.

Your nipples of your breast may darken:

The nipples may darken and look different because pregnancy hormones affect the activity of melanocytes, or cells in the nipples; even dark complexioned women notice it around the 10th week of pregnancy. 

 
Fatigue and exhaustion throughout the day:

Your wanting to have a nap at work or abstain from exercise or being tired throughout the day is sure an early sign of pregnancy; your baby starts using your calories and depletes your energy reserve quickly.

You may experience headaches:

This is caused by the increased blood flow during the first few weeks of pregnancy; headaches usually go off   when your body gets adjusted to the elevated level of hormones.

You may experience bloating of the stomach:

This feeling usually occurs when the level of progesterone goes up; it slows down the digestive track and makes the tummy seem puffier than usual. Usually this bloating subsides when the menstrual period arrives; its absence indicates that the rosy period of pregnancy has arrived. 

 
You may experience nausea:

Though more than 85 out of 100 pregnant women suffer from full-blown morning sickness; some also suffer from motion sickness during early pregnancy. They may complain about nausea while travelling by car or during flights.

You are constipated:

The level of progesterone going up also causes constipation; because the digestive track slows down the food is also not easily passed through it.   Constipation increases as the pregnancy advances.

You would experience mood swings:
Besides fatigue, headaches, bloating, constipation and pain in the breasts, the rising levels of HCG hormones also causes moodiness.

Your basal body temperature is higher and is constant for 2 weeks:

Your basal body temperature or oral temperature first thing in the morning is about a degree or so higher and does not decrease for more than 2 weeks if you are pregnant. It usually remains so only between the time the egg is released and you get your period. It would be best to invest on a special digital basal thermometer that is more precise than a normal thermometer that measures fever.  

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