Early Pregnancy Signs

You're in the infamous “two week wait” – ovulation has come and gone, and your period isn't due for a few days. But you keep feeling, well, strange. What are some early pregnancy signs to look for?

That endless 2 week wait is just there to keep you guessing… but a set of signs and symptoms to look for can help you decide if what you're feeling might actually mean you're pregnant.

Fatigue: Overwhelming fatigue is one of the first signs of pregnancy for many women. Can't get out of bed in the morning? Taking catnaps on the couch all of a sudden? Pregnancy could be to blame.
Nausea: Many women don't feel morning sickness until they're a few weeks into pregnancy (and some lucky women don't ever get it). But it is possible to start feeling queasy right away (I did). This is considered a hallmark sign of pregnancy, though some women do experience nausea around their periods.
Tender Breasts: Many women notice breast tenderness before they start their period. You may think nothing of soreness if this is usual for you. But if you're noticing it with a few other signs of pregnancy, or if this is the first time you've experienced it, it is a very good indication a baby is on the way!
Darkening of your Nipples: The pink or brown area around your nipples is called the areola. This area usually begins to darken during pregnancy. Pink turns to light brown and light brown gets very dark.
Needing to Pee: Going to the bathroom constantly? This is another one of the hallmark signs of pregnancy. If you're running to the bathroom much more than you usually do, you may want to reach for a pregnancy test.
Backache or Headaches: Some women experience these early in pregnancy. If you don't have backaches or headaches and begin noticing them with other pregnancy signs it could indicate you're pregnant!
Cravings: Pickles and Ice Cream anyone? Many women have food cravings near their period or when they're stressed. Strong cravings are one of the signs of pregnancy, so pay attention to them!
Light spotting: Implantation spotting can occur when your tiny embryo embeds into the lining of your uterus. Some women notice this symptom of pregnancy – others do not.
A Missed Period: Though you can miss a period for many reasons (or have a late period) pregnancy is a big cause of a missed period! If your period is over a week late run out and buy a test girl! It's time to find out for sure if you're pregnant or not!

If you are experiencing several of these signs of pregnancy taking a pregnancy test is a good choice! Even if you have no symptoms or have only noticed a missed period you may feel strongly that you're pregnant. Pay attention to this! Some women just know – so if you're constantly asking yourself “am I pregnant?” you may want to keep pregnancy tests on hand.

Pregnancy tests are reliable and pretty inexpensive to purchase. If you're trying to conceive you can keep some around the house. Or you can make a quick visit to the midwife or doctor's office for a test. Follow your own intuition! The best way to know if you are pregnant or not is to go get that test.

(NOTE: Want the Top Easy Steps to Boosting Your Fertility? Use these 5 simple, evidence-based steps to get pregnant and carry your healthy baby to term. Get them here.)