Am I Pregnant?
Are you wondering if you are pregnant? Missed a period? Here are some signs of pregnancy.
Have you woken up recently and asked yourself, "Am I pregnant?" Maybe you feel a bit crampy and your breasts are tender. Your period is a few days late. You wonder if these are early signs of pregnancy or if maybe your cycle is off and you are ovulating.
While some women know that they are pregnant the morning after conception, it seems that most of us need weeks or possibly months to read the signs of pregnancy. What are some signs to watch for if you are asking yourself "Am I pregnant?"
Possible Signs of Pregnancy:
- Breast tenderness
- Full or bloated feeling/Light crampy sensation
- Missed period
- Lighter period than normal
- Urinary Frequency
Why Women Miss Signs of Pregnancy
One of the reasons that many women miss these early signs of pregnancy is that some of the signs such as bloating and cramping can mask as "pre-menstrual" sensations. Spotting can also occur around 3 weeks of pregnancy when the placenta implants into the lining of the uterus. If you were spotting around this time, you might think that your period was later and a bit lighter than normal. As it turns out, it is often quite common to miss the early signs of pregnancy.
See the Pregnancy Week by Week series for the first trimester if you are looking for more information about what is happening and what your symptoms might mean.
How did you know you were pregnant? Share your story!
If you have some of the signs of pregnancy above, it's best to confirm your suspicions with a home pregnancy test or a blood test at your provider's office. See Confirming Your Pregnancy as well as more information about hCG.
Keep in mind that there is a possibility of a false negative in home pregnancy tests if you are early in your pregnancy and your production of hCG hormones is still low. A blood test is a more accurate way to find out if you truly are pregnant.
After your positive blood test or home pregnancy test, be sure you are starting your prenatal vitamins and a healthy, nutritious diet right away. For more information, see the complete set of nutrition articles located at All About Pregnancy Nutrition.
Click here for more information about prenatal testing.
