What Are the Early Pregnancy Symptoms?
If your period is a few days late and you are worried that you are experiencing signs of early pregnancy, a few common symptoms to look for include fatigue, nausea, increased urination, spotting, and others.
The most common is a missed period. However, you should never rely on symptoms because premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and early pregnancy signs can be very similar!
We recommend you take a pregnancy test after your missed period. The best time frame is to wait a week for the most accurate results.
Early Symptoms and Local Resources
A Missed Period
According to the Mayo Clinic, a missed period is one of the earliest signs of early pregnancy. However, hormonal changes, increased exercise, rapid weight gain or loss, and certain medications can change your monthly cycle.
Fatigue
Fatigue is likely due to the rise of progesterone, a brain-calming hormone affecting how you sleep.
Increased Urination
Going to the bathroom more often than usual could be a sign of pregnancy because your body has increased levels of hormones. This rise in hormone production produces more blood, which results in your kidneys working extra hard, and the extra fluids end up in your bladder.
Nausea
The most commonly known pregnancy symptom is nausea. It’s referred to as “morning sickness,” but it can occur at any time of day. Nausea does not always result in vomiting. It usually starts before nine weeks of pregnancy but improves by the third month.
Other Symptoms
Other symptoms, such as spotting or mood swings, vary from woman to woman and are slightly less consistent for predicting pregnancy.
Schedule a Pregnancy Test and Ultrasound
At Zoe, a Women’s Center, we offer no-cost pregnancy services such as medical-grade pregnancy testing and non-diagnostic obstetric ultrasounds.
We can help you calculate when to take a pregnancy test, read the results, and (remove the words that were before this) explore your pregnancy options.
Ultrasounds help to confirm a pregnancy’s age, viability, and location. Ensuring the location of the pregnancy is vital. A pregnancy forming outside the uterus is called “ectopic” and can be extremely dangerous to your health.
Up to 26% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, so it’s essential to confirm whether or not the pregnancy is still viable (growing with a detectable heartbeat).
If this is an unexpected pregnancy, we also offer educational resources in a compassionate, pressure-free environment for you to consider and discuss your next steps. Contact us today!