Are You Expecting a Baby? Signs to Watch For

There are several indications a woman has when she thinks she might be pregnant. There are several signs you should keep an eye out for even before you take a pregnancy test. Here are some signs that may indicate you are expecting a baby:

You Missed Your Menstrual Cycle

One of the first key signs of pregnancy is missing a menstrual cycle. Not all missed cycles mean you are having a baby. There are some other reasons why you may miss a cycle. If you are more than a week or so late with your cycle, consider getting a pregnancy test.

You Are Extremely Tired

Sudden bouts of extreme sleepiness can often indicate a pregnancy. The first several weeks of pregnancy can cause fatigue to a point that you feel you are unable to function at your normal pace. As your progesterone levels begin to rapidly increase as the baby develops, you will feel more fatigued than normal. As your progesterone levels begin to even out during pregnancy, your fatigue will begin to subside until the second onset of fatigue towards the end.

You Feel Nauseous

The surge of hormones in your body can also cause nausea. You may or may not have spells of vomiting along with nausea. Not all pregnancies are accompanied by nausea, while others have debilitating nausea that requires medical intervention.

You Urinate Frequently

Another symptom of pregnancy is the frequent need to urinate. This is common towards the beginning of pregnancy. This is due to the extra blood your body has as the baby develops. The kidneys will process the extra fluid from the blood through the kidneys, causing you to urinate more often.

You Will Have Pain in Your Breasts

Some women often feel pain in their breasts when they get pregnant. This is normal and is due to the increase of hormones as the baby develops. The pain will lessen as the pregnancy moves forward.

You Experience Spotting

Spotting is common in pregnancy and is not a cause for concern. Spotting is due to implantation bleeding, though it may seem scary at first. Small spots of blood are typically due to the embryo planting itself into place. You may also notice some spotting later in the pregnancy as you get closer to delivery. Anything more than a bit of blood can be a concern and should be addressed by your doctor.

All of these signs combined may mean you are pregnant. If you think you might be pregnant, consider making an appointment with your OBGYN. The doctor will check your hormone levels to determine if you are pregnant or not.