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Signs & Symptoms

Could I Be Pregnant?

The Common Signs of Pregnancy

How to know if you're pregnant - signs and symptoms of pregnancyWomen may have all of the common symptoms of pregnancy, none of them or any combination of them. Non-pregnant women may have the symptoms. Different pregnancies in the same woman may cause different symptoms. It can be very confusing and stressful; in fact, stress over whether or not one is pregnant can cause symptoms of pregnancy! So how do you sort it all out?

Something's Missing
The most common sign of pregnancy is missing a period (called "amenorrhea"), especially if the woman has been having regular menses prior to missing her period. This occurs because hormones elaborated by the corpus luteum* maintain the uterine lining for implantation of the embryo. While there are many causes of amenorrhea, in women of child-bearing age pregnancy is one of the most common. It is also possible to be pregnant while continuing to menstruate, although this is very rare.

Fatigue occurs so frequently it can't be ignored as an early symptom.

Feeling "Green"
Nausea in pregnancy is commonly known as "morning sickness," despite the fact that it can occur at any time of the day. Most commonly it lasts for a few hours, then recedes. It usually begins at about 4 to 8 weeks gestation (calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period). It is caused by a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, the same hormone measured in pregnancy tests), which usually peaks at about 12 to 14 weeks gestation. Levels of hCG decrease rapidly after their peak, and the nausea generally disappears at the beginning of the second trimester. Rarely, the nausea can continue throughout the pregnancy.

Are You or Aren't You?-Common Signs of PregnancyOther Changes
Breast swelling and tenderness is a result of rapid swelling of the blood vessels called vascular engorgement. There may also be a feeling of tingling and heaviness in the breasts. This usually starts at 4 to 8 weeks gestation and is generally more prevalent in first pregnancies. The swelling usually persists throughout the pregnancy, but the tenderness ordinarily improves after several weeks.


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anonymous says
December 23, 2009

my husband and i have been trying to have a baby for about 4 years now and there have been a couple disappointments. but now i have missed my period for November and it still has not came down and its December 22. I have never missed 2 months before. the last one was around October 17 I have picked up an appetite and a bit of discharge (more than usual). Cant sleep on my stomach comfortably. I haven't had any vomiting or nausea but he has and quite often. could i be expecting???

Holly says
December 17, 2009

i have been having the same symptoms also..cramps. lower back pains, and i eat like crazy, it's like i cant get full but i do. and when i get done eating about 30 minutes later i am hungry again. i knew that i was pregnant with my first child cause i stayed sick all the time. but if i am this time it is totally different. i am constantly going to pee. like ever 5 mins or so. my stomach feels wierd. i stay tired just about all the time..i get short of breathe when i do too much. my last period was the first or second week of november and had sex not too long after that and then had sex again the other day. i have been wanting it more now than i ever did before. i am on depression medicine so i thought that may be the reason for me eating so much and gaining weight but the meds wont make me miss a period. I have always heard that ur child knows when u are preggo and if i am i believe it cause she has been talking about wanting a sister and plus she wants more to do with me than she does with her daddy, so if anyone has any advice let me know please!

anonymous says
October 19, 2009

me and my boyfriend have been dating for 4 longs years..we been having unprotected sex since we been dating...but lately i have been feeling different..i been getting cramps on small back pains and i been eatting like never before..i have gained 10 pounds in the last few weeks...could i be expecing?

anonymous says
October 16, 2009

Sorry hun u are pregnant

Anonymous says
July 28, 2009

My boyfriend and I of almost a week have been together for almost a week now =/. I am a very strong christian and my whole family and church would shun me to find out that I was pregnant. I plan on marrying this guy and we plan on going out big. Meaning we're gonna make it work. We both love each other dearly and will do whatever it takes and I just feel guilty even though i KNOw i shouldn't. It's kinda too late and we're kinda starting planning our wedding but idk what to do. We have known each other for 2 plus years but nothing serious at all... just up until this past friday night. Now its Tuesday Morning at 5:30 and Im only in my first year at college. HELP!

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