Early signs of pregnancy: Could you be expecting, or is it something else?

If you’re trying to conceive, you might wonder what symptoms to look for to indicate that you’re pregnant. This can be tricky to determine, as no two women will ever experience their pregnancies in the same way. In fact, no two pregnancies will ever be exactly alike, even in the same woman. Here are a few signs that could indicate that you are noticing the symptoms of an early pregnancy.

Missed period

This is what most people consider the benchmark for assuming one is pregnant, but use caution. There are many reasons why you may miss your period, of which being pregnant is only one. Stress, hormonal imbalance, medications, and age can all contribute to an irregular cycle, as can actually being pregnant. The only way to know for sure is to take a pregnancy test, preferably at your doctor’s office.

Cravings

When it comes to food, seafood is the most questionable for pregnant women.You may ask, can pregnant women eat shrimp? Yes, pregnant women can eat shrimp as long as you do not overdo it. You may think that strange food cravings is an automatic telltale sign that you are pregnant, and sometimes they are. But not always. Cravings in general can be your body’s way of telling you that you have an imbalance in some mineral or vitamin. A craving can be your body telling your brain to eat foods that are rich in whatever you are lacking.

Nausea

If you are suddenly feeling nauseous every day, you may be pregnant – but you may not be. Typically, pregnancy-related nausea will start around the 6-week mark, so if you are feeling nauseous and that math doesn’t add up, something else may be to blame, such as a stomach bug, a reaction to medication, food allergy, etc.

Lethargy

Many women report being very, very tired and lethargic during their first trimester. This is due to hormonal fluctuations and the fact that your body is working so hard to create life. Extreme fatigue is a common early symptom of pregnancy, but it’s also a sign of other things such as low iron, stress, inadequate sleep, a side effect of medications, etc.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and are trying to conceive, you may be eager to attribute these symptoms to being pregnant. Why wouldn’t you want to believe that to be true? And in many cases, it will be true! However, before you start filling out your baby registry, it’s always advised that you go to your doctor for confirmation. Even if you are in the very early stages of pregnancy, a blood test from your doctor can help you diagnose and date your pregnancy if you are pregnant. If you’re not pregnant, your doctor can examine you to determine what is causing your symptoms and devise a treatment plan for you to help you get back on track to health. In fact, if you aren’t pregnant but are experiencing any of these symptoms, you may have a condition that is making it more difficult to conceive. Once the underlying condition is addressed, you may have more success in fulfilling your dream of becoming a parent!