Pregnancy is the both the most testing and rewarding time in a woman’s life. From the day you conceive your body starts undergoing significant physical and psychological changes, which you may not notice early on. So, if you are wondering whether you are pregnant or not, here are 15 earliest signs that indicate you are pregnant and it is time to get yourself tested. 

Tender or Swollen Breasts

If you are feeling unusual tingling or soreness in your breasts, this could be a potential sign of pregnancy. The reason it happens is that when you have conceived, the first change your body undergoes is preparing the breasts for milk production. This is why breasts start changing shape, become a lot more sensitive, and appear larger and tender. However, if you have taking birth control pills, you may not notice these changes early on.

Darkened Areolas

Hormonal changes that a woman’s body undergoes soon after conception can cause the circular area around the nipples called areolas to darken and widen. This happens because the breasts have to prepare for breastfeeding, which is why the nipple will become visibly larger apart from the breasts appearing swollen and becoming more sensitive.

Light Spotting

It takes around 5 to 10 days for the embryo to get implanted in the uterus after conception occurs. This event may cause light spotting in some women. Many women believe that they have had their period, but this spotting would be much lighter than regular periods. So, if you notice light periods before your due date it is a sign that you might be carrying a bundle of joy.

Frequent Urination or Constipation

During pregnancy, the uterus gets pressed directly onto the bladder as it expands continually to make room for the growing embryo. This puts excessive pressure on your bladder leading to increasing the frequency of urination. Moreover, this expansion of uterus also causes changes in your intestines that can cause frequent constipation. As the baby grows, the uterus will press against other organs and you will notice more changes in urinating patterns.

Feeling Fatigued

If you are feeling excessively fatigued for no apparent reason, this could be a sign of pregnancy. In fact, fatigue is among the most common early signs of pregnancy. Creating a baby is not an easy task and it drains a lot of energy from your body, which causes fatigue. However, you will start feeling less fatigued and more energetic by the end of the first trimester as the process of placenta formation would be complete.

Queasiness

Queasiness or nausea is also one of the most common signs of pregnancy and it is part of a condition called morning sickness. Around 80% of pregnant females experience morning sickness but its intensity may vary. It is possible to experience morning sickness from the first month of pregnancy or much later in your first trimester. Interestingly, despite its name, morning sickness may not be limited to mornings only and you can feel nausea throughout the day.

Sensitivity to Smells

Many pregnant women experience a distinct kind of sensitivity to smells. They may experience nausea and even rounds of vomiting due to some smells such as that of meat, deo-spray, or gasoline. Any smell that your senses previously didn’t react to as intensely as they do now is because of the heightened sense of smell you might be experiencing due to pregnancy. Experts claim that this happens naturally to protect females from consuming tainted or spoiled food and protect the baby from toxins.

Raised Basal Temperature

If you have a habit of monitoring your basal temperature, which a lot of women do to track ovulation and pregnancy, and you notice at least one degree increase in the basal temperature that lasts for over two weeks, this is a positive sign of pregnancy. This increment will happen after a dip in the basal temperature, which is a sign of ovulation.

Missed Period

It goes without saying that a missed period is a positive sign of pregnancy. However, it doesn’t necessarily indicate pregnancy because a missed period may also be caused by stress or dietary changes. Some females often have irregular cycles and never get period on the same date. So, before starting to make baby gear shopping list, get a pee-test done to confirm pregnancy after a missed period.

Hunger Pangs and Food Cravings

Since your pregnant body will be working very hard to provide a favorable and nurturing environment for the baby to grow, you will need at least 300 additional calories daily to remain energetic. You may feel frequent food cravings and might even crave for foods that otherwise you would never eat. Such as, health conscious ladies would crave for pizzas and burgers, or would want to eat at odd times during the day or even at night.

Hormonal Migraine Headaches

Many women experience hormonal migraine headaches during pregnancy. However, if you normally experience such headaches, their frequency may increase while you are pregnant. This can occur particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy. On the other hand, some women may experience the opposite as they might experience migraine headaches normally but not when pregnant.

Moodiness

This condition is commonly referred to as mood swings. A majority of pregnant females complain of getting too emotional for no reason at all and experience sudden changes in their mood. One minute they are happy and the next they may feel depressed. During pregnancy women often get too emotional and can easily cry or get stressed, especially during the first three months. That’s all because of the hormonal changes their bodies go through due to being pregnant.

Lightheadedness

It is a common observation that early on in the pregnancy hormonal changes are at their peak as the body has to adjust to the new environment and the humongous task of nurturing a baby. This shift in hormones causes many unusual behavioral and physical changes, including lethargy, dizziness, and fainting. During pregnancy the heart beats faster to pump blood more vigorously through the body, and this can lower blood pressure due to which women feel lightheaded and dizzy.

Metal-like Taste in Mouth

It is also a common early sign of pregnancy. In the first trimester women often complain of having metallic taste in the mouth. Experts haven’t been able to identify the root cause behind this symptom, but it is a harmless occurrence. You may experience metallic taste throughout your pregnancy too but there is nothing to worry about.

Dramatic and Intense Dreams

It is quite possible to have vivid and intense dreams during pregnancy. This generally happens earlier in the pregnancy. So, if you are having dramatic dreams all of a sudden, it could be an indication of pregnancy. It happens because certain hormones are at their peak during pregnancy and this surge can be reflected in your dreams.