For some women, it’s wishful thinking. For others, it’s a sneaky suspicion.
Still others seem to have an intuition that they are pregnant from the moment of conception.
But how do you really know when you are pregnant?
Is it possible that you won’t know for sure until very late in the pregnancy?
Besides the obvious missed period and at-home tests followed by a doctors visit, determining whether or not you are pregnant within the first few weeks can sometimes be tricky.
Signs You Might Be Pregnant
If you think you might be pregnant, some symptoms you should pay attention to are:
Exhaustion. If you find that you are extremely tired (moreso than usual), you might be pregnant. Falling asleep when you’re sitting up talking to people, or when you’re at work is a sure sign that you might be pregnant.
I didn’t know that the exhaustion would be so constant. I always assumed pregnant women were tired just from carrying around extra weight, but I haven’t really gained much weight yet, so that’s not really the cause. It’s more the hormones and the lack of sleep and the constant daydreaming interspersed with intense stress that I’m not getting enough things done. The exhaustion is much deeper than just from physical exertion. Source
Flu symptoms. Before you take any flu medications, you should stop and consider the chances that you might be pregnant — especially if it’s not flu season! You may experience bodily aches and pains, nausea, and headaches when you are pregnant.
Frequent urination. Do you find yourself running to the bathroom, only to urinate a tiny amount and then in 5 minutes have to go again? This is a symptom of pregnancy. If you find your urination pattern has changed, and you are not having bladder issues, then you may be pregnant.
Breast changes. Unusual and overwhelming breast pain, or a darkening in aureole color, is a sure sign of pregnancy. When I was pregnant, my husband accidentally hit my breast and the pain was so severe that I fell to the floor.
Change in appetite. Have you lost your appetite? Or, are you eating a lot more than usual? Have you suddenly began eating salty foods, or strange combinations? If you have had any of these appetite changes, then you might be pregnant.
How Did I NOT Know I Was Pregnant?
In some cases, the mother continues to menstruate.
Sometimes, a woman never even had a regular period to begin with, so she may not realize that she is pregnant.
An online video by Discovery Health highlights the amazing stories of women who did not know they were pregnant.
Read this: How Could a Woman Not Recognize She’s Pregnant? to learn the health dangers which could arise — to mother and child — in the event that a woman fails to recognize that she is pregnant.
Don’t think that this only happens to the young and the ignorant. A comment to the above article is from an MD who was pregnant and had no idea. She continued to have a normal period, and even ran a marathon a few weeks before her baby was born!
Must read: Reasons You Missed Your Period But Aren’t Pregnant
I have been a certified tightwad since I became pregnant with my first child and decided to find a way to stay home with him. I enjoy sharing my experiences in my journey back to financial health and planning for a future — which will include sending 2 kids to college and early retirement.
