Spotting Symptoms of Pregnancy

Whether you're trying to get pregnant or are concerned that you might have an unwanted pregnancy, you may wish to be on the lookout to spot the early symptoms of pregnancy. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Types

The most common symptoms of pregnancy are fatigue, nausea, food cravings and aversions, increased frequency of urination, breast soreness, hypersensitivity to smells and a missed menstrual period.

Time Frame

Some women may have breast soreness or tiredness symptoms appear before the missed menstrual period, but most other symptoms do not begin until the fifth or sixth week of gestation (1 to 2 weeks after the missed menstrual period).

Identification

The only sign of pregnancy that is definite is a positive pregnancy test; all other symptoms (including a missed menstrual period) can have other explanations, so if you believe there is a chance you may be pregnant, take a home pregnancy test.

Misconceptions

Despite the availability of so-called early responding pregnancy test, the most accurate way to determine that you are or are not pregnant is to wait to see if your menstrual period appears, then take a pregnancy test if it does not. Although positive results on early tests are reliable, false negatives are common, and a negative result taken before your period is due does not mean that you are not pregnant.

Theories/Speculation

Try not to over-analyze possible early symptoms of pregnancy. It will not make a difference in whether or not you are pregnant if you find out a few days earlier--the best course is to simply relax and wait until enough time has passed that you can take a pregnancy test and receive an accurate result.

Considerations

If your pregnancy test is negative and your period is late, check with your doctor to find out what might be going on and to investigate any nausea or other symptoms you may be having. If you are indeed pregnant, make an appointment with a doctor to begin your prenatal care.