“Am I pregnant?”, you ask yourself? Here you can find out what other signs of pregnancy there are besides nausea, dizziness and missing your period.
“Am I pregnant?” This question usually comes up more than just once in a woman’s life and can be unsettling – especially if the desire to have children has not yet played a role in her life. The absence of a period or other physical abnormalities, such as pain in the breasts or abdomen, can quickly cause panic as typical pregnancy symptoms. And – conversely, if the desire to have children is very present – for a lot of anticipation.
Am I pregnant? The most important information at a glance
- The first signs of pregnancy can appear even before you miss your period.
- The first natural signs of pregnancy include Morning sickness, tense breasts, dizziness, darkening of the nipples, sensitivity to odors and a pulling sensation in the abdomen.
- A strong indicator of pregnancy is the absence of your period; however, please note that there may be other reasons for this.
- Only a visit to the gynecologist can provide a reliable answer to the question of pregnancy
When is a pregnancy test reliable?
Have you noticed signs of pregnancy? Then only a pregnancy test will give you certainty in this situation (at least 95 percent of the time). Or, if you want to be absolutely sure, a direct examination by your gynecologist. Please note that the home pregnancy test is only really reliable from the first day on which your period would normally start.
A normal test makes no sense before this, as the pregnancy hormone HCG is not yet detectable in the urine. An early pregnancy test provides the first results from the 10th day after fertilization at the earliest. The gynecologist will use a blood test or an ultrasound scan to determine whether you are expecting a baby.
When do the first signs of pregnancy appear?
Signs of pregnancy vary from woman to woman. Some don’t notice any changes at all. Others notice very early on that something is changing in their abdomen and body. This is possible from around the time when the body starts producing the pregnancy-preserving hormone HCG. This is the case around six to eight days after fertilization, as soon as the fertilized egg has implanted in the uterine lining. The first symptoms may now appear.
15 possible signs of pregnancy
Do you think you might be pregnant? The following signs could indicate this:
1. morning sickness
You’ve barely got out of bed and you’re already throwing up? Morning sickness is a typical sign of pregnancy – especially if it recurs several times during the week. The hormone HCG, which is produced by the placenta, is partly responsible for this discomfort. Some women are very sensitive to it, others less so. If the pregnancy is confirmed, the excitement associated with the news can make the nausea even worse.
If you experience severe vomiting, you should see a doctor. What can help you now? Perhaps a chamomile tea, which you can put in a thermos flask on your bedside table in the evening. Drink a few sips of it before you get up. And for reassurance: The nausea won’t harm your baby and usually subsides after the 12th week.
2. fatigue and dizziness
Do you feel weak, tired and dizzy? This is not uncommon in the first few weeks of pregnancy. The reason: your blood pressure drops slightly in the first few months. In addition, the uterus is supplied with more blood. Alternating showers, a balanced diet and walks in the fresh air can improve your condition. If you feel dizzy and tired, the doctor will also think of anemia. However, your gynecologist will automatically clarify this during the check-up.
3. exciting breasts
The hormonal changes that occur immediately after fertilization cause the glands in the breast to grow. This makes them larger and firmer, which is often associated with pain and tension. They also react much more sensitively to touch than before, and sensitive nipples are typical. With all these changes typical of pregnancy, your body is already preparing for the weeks after the birth, especially for breastfeeding your baby.
4. increased sensation of warmth
An early indication that you could be expecting a child is your body temperature. If you feel a particularly pleasant warmth in your feet, hands, forearms or even in your abdomen, this could be related to the fact that you are pregnant. This is because blood circulation is significantly boosted very early on in pregnancy.
5. spotting
Spotting, which often occurs with pain in the abdomen, can be a sign of pregnancy – if it is implantation bleeding. However, they can also have many other causes. It is therefore important that you consult your doctor and have this clarified.
6. overdue rule
Of course, the absence of a period, known as amenorrhea, can also occur for various reasons and does not necessarily mean that you are pregnant. A cycle disorder can be caused by stress, illnesses or problems in the abdomen, psychological problems, extreme sporting activities, weight changes, hormonal imbalances or medication, for example. However, the fact that your period is overdue can also be a strong indication that you are actually pregnant. Especially if you had unprotected sex at the time of ovulation, the probability is very high.
Whatever the reason is, the important thing is: If your period doesn’t start and you can’t rule out the possibility of pregnancy, get medical advice. Don’t let too much time pass. The sooner you know what’s behind it, the better. Perhaps a pregnancy test will give you some initial certainty. But even if you can definitely rule out the possibility of having a baby, you shouldn’t take the issue lightly. After all, missing your period could be a sign that you need to take better care of your health.
7. dark nipples
Does the skin around your nipples look different than usual – somehow darker? This may be a sign of pregnancy. Under the influence of the pregnancy hormones and the increased blood flow, the nipples become darker in color. The small protrusions on the areola, the so-called Montgomery glands, will certainly stand out more and have a more brownish color than usual. Important to know: With all the changes to your breasts, your body is already preparing for breastfeeding your baby after birth in the early weeks of pregnancy.
8. sensitivity to odors
Many pregnant women are very sensitive to smells. All senses are now heightened. Scientists suspect that this is a clever device of nature: perishable foods such as meat or fish, but also things that should be avoided during pregnancy (alcohol, large quantities of coffee, cigarettes), “stink” to expectant mothers – the unpleasant smell is intended to prevent them from eating something unhealthy. This protects mother and child until birth.
9. pulling in the abdomen
The body adjusts to the pregnancy. The constant pulling in the abdomen is a clear indication of this. The uterus grows, blood flow increases and new blood vessels develop. Expectant mothers can feel this remodeling process quite clearly. Many say: Something is happening in my belly. For most women, the baby feeling in the abdomen is clearly different from other abdominal complaints.
10. fungal infection in the vaginal area
The hormonal changes in the body during pregnancy mean that the genital area is better supplied with blood and the pH value of the vagina rises above an acidic 4.5. This impairs the protective function of the vaginal flora and increases the risk of a fungal infection. Around a third of pregnant women are therefore diagnosed with vaginal fungus.
However, there is no need to worry: in a normal pregnancy, the infection is not transmitted to the unborn baby. However, as the risk of transmitting the infection to the child is increased at birth, doctors recommend starting treatment at least 10 days before the due date. However, as it is still relatively easy to catch a fungus, such an infection is not a meaningful sign.
11. ravenous appetite
Can’t get enough of chocolate at the moment? And do you feel like eating something all the time? The restructuring process that starts with pregnancy takes its toll and the body needs more energy. This is why many expectant mothers have more appetite and hunger, especially in the early stages of pregnancy. However, many women are also attacked by cravings before their period begins. Or when they are under a lot of stress. This type of hunger attack is therefore not necessarily a clear sign that you are expecting a child.
12. increased urge to urinate
Do you feel like you have to go to the toilet every 10 minutes? The urge to urinate increases with the duration of pregnancy and your growing belly. But even in the first few weeks of pregnancy, many women have to go to the toilet more often than usual. This is due to the increased oestrogen levels. This hormone loosens the tissue and makes the muscles more pliable – including in the urethra, which can then withstand the bladder pressure for less time.
13. pulling in the groin area
At the beginning of pregnancy, more oestrogen is produced, which loosens the ligaments so that they can follow the growing belly. This can be felt in the groin area as a pulling or stinging sensation. However, the discomfort may not only be a sign of pregnancy, but may also indicate a pulled muscle.
14. mood swings
Hormones can do a lot of things, especially emotional chaos at its finest. So, if you’re often in a hot-tempered mood one minute and then sad to death the next, this could be a sign.
15. diarrhea
Unlike nausea, diarrhea during pregnancy is not caused by hormones. If the bowels are acting up, this is often due to a change in diet. Doctors recommend that pregnant women eat a particularly healthy diet in the first few weeks of pregnancy: Herbal tea instead of coffee, wholemeal bread instead of toast and lots of fruit and vegetables.
Your body first has to get used to this. If you don’t yet know whether you are pregnant and have diarrhea, it is more likely that you have an upset stomach or a gastrointestinal infection.
Conclusion: Pregnancy manifests itself through various symptoms
Signs of pregnancy vary from woman to woman. Some have several at the same time, others have few or none at all. Some women are very sensitive to their bodies and notice that they are pregnant as soon as the egg implants in the uterus after fertilization.
Others only realize that they are pregnant after several weeks, perhaps because they have been misled by intermenstrual bleeding or harmless spotting at the usual time of their period. Depending on how strong your desire to have children is at the moment, you will naturally react particularly sensitively to changes. A pregnancy test at your gynecologist will give you absolute certainty.