The only way to know for sure if you’re pregnant is with a positive pregnancy test followed by a confirmation ultrasound scan. However, several common early symptoms of pregnancy can serve as indicators:
- Absence of menstrual period
- Sore or sensitive breasts
- Nausea or vomiting (commonly referred to as morning sickness)
- Fatigue or excessive tiredness
Even with these symptoms, it doesn’t guarantee you’re pregnant.
Early Pregnancy Symptoms
If you’re experiencing these symptoms and suspect you might be pregnant, it’s important that you don’t jump to conclusions.
First, identify which of the following symptoms you may be experiencing. Next, take a pregnancy test. These can be a urine-based test or a blood test.
We recommend following up on a positive pregnancy test with an ultrasound to confirm a viable intrauterine pregnancy. This information will help you decide your next steps.
A Missed Period
This could be a pregnancy indicator if your menstrual cycle is regular but is one or two weeks late. If your cycle isn’t regular, this is harder to determine, so you’ll want to see what other symptoms you’re experiencing.
Sore or Tender Breasts
This typically diminishes as your body adapts to the changes of pregnancy. Hormonal fluctuations in early pregnancy often lead to soreness or tenderness in the breasts.
Nausea/Morning Sickness
Did you know morning sickness can occur at any time of the day? You may feel nauseous with or without vomiting. While the cause of morning sickness isn’t totally clear, experts believe pregnancy hormones play a role.
Fatigue/Exhaustion
Extreme fatigue also makes the list of top pregnancy symptoms. No one knows exactly what causes this symptom in the first trimester of pregnancy, though it is likely to be an increase in the levels of the hormone progesterone.
When Should I Take a Pregnancy Test?
The timing for taking a pregnancy test is important. It’s best to exercise patience and wait for at least one week after your missed period before proceeding.
If you take the test before there are enough detectable levels of hCG, you may get a false positive.
Schedule a Pregnancy Test & Ultrasound
We offer no-cost, lab-quality pregnancy tests and confirmation ultrasounds.
We also offer educational resources on your pregnancy options to empower you to make an informed choice.
Schedule your appointment today!