Could I be pregnant? Is that feeling a bit more tender? Am I craving a pickle? Before you even take a pregnancy test, there are common early pregnancy symptoms that may give you a clue that you have a bub on board.

Is it wishful thinking or do I feel a little different from what I felt yesterday? For some women, early pregnancy symptoms start popping up at conception and many mums have a strong gut feeling that they are pregnant even before the double pink line appears.

However, all women experience different early pregnancy symptoms so what is a clear ‘I’m pregnant’ alarm bell for one mum is a misleading sign for another.

Let’s take a look at the more common early pregnancy symptoms and signs:

My period is late

Your period may be delayed for a number of reasons (including stress and hormonal fluctuations) but the most common early pregnancy symptom is a missed period. If you generally have a regular menstrual cycle, a missed or late period could very well be one of the most obvious early pregnancy symptoms.

Sensitive nipples and tender, swollen breasts

The hormonal changes that come with pregnancy start with conception so one of the first early pregnancy symptoms that women commonly report is sensitive breasts and nipples. As your body adjusts to all the influx of hormones, this discomfort usually gets better but some mums continue to have sensitive breasts throughout their pregnancy.

Tiredness

Fatigue is another of the more common early pregnancy symptoms. Increased levels of the hormone progesterone in early pregnancy cause some women to feel sleepy, even during the day.

Nausea

Many pregnant women experience morning sickness (nausea with or without vomiting) while others don’t feel sick at all. Morning sickness is definitely not an indication of the health of your pregnancy but for some women, it is an early sign that you’re carrying a bub.

Increased urge to urinate

When you are pregnant, the amount of blood in your body increases. This in turn causes your kidneys to process extra fluid which then makes you want to urinate more often than usual.

Food cravings or aversions

It’s not unusual for pregnant women to become more sensitive to certain smells and tastes. Craving pickles and ice-cream or salt-and-vinegar chips? Just blame it on the baby hormones!

Other not-as-common early pregnancy symptoms include:

Bloating

All those hormones coursing through a pregnant body, causes women to feel bloated and uncomfortable.

Light Spotting

Some women experience implantation bleeding and for these women, this light spotting is one of their early pregnancy symptoms. This occurs when the fertilised egg attaches to the lining of the uterus, at around 10 to 14 days after conception.

Mood Swings

Yet again, you can blame your swing of emotions on your pregnancy hormones. That cocktail of progesterone and estrogen may make some pregnant women feel moody and weepy.

Constipation

All those hormones can cause the digestive system of pregnant women to slow down, which can then lead to constipation.

But Am I REALLY Pregnant?

While these early pregnancy symptoms may indeed be signs that you’re carrying a baby, it certainly is not a guarantee. The best way to confirm your pregnancy is with a home pregnancy test or make an appointment with your health practitioner.

Yay! I Am Pregnant…Now What?

Once your pregnancy is confirmed, you can start getting organised. We have some fantastic tips to help you prepare to welcome a newborn into your life. Take a read of these:

• Newborn Baby Essentials Checklist
• 5 Things You’ve Probably Wondered About Having a Newborn Baby
• Baby Boy Names to Consider for Your Little Guy
• Baby Girl Names You Need on Your List
• DIY Nappy Cake Gift for Baby Showers
• Baby Costs in the First Year: Are You Financially Prepared?
• Newborn Baby Sleep, What To Expect and What is Normal?
• A Guide To Baby Poo

What were your early pregnancy symptoms? Tell us in the comments below.

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