Early Pregnancy Symptoms: Signs Bodies Send Mothers-to-Be

While there is no way for certain to know that you are pregnant without a pregnancy test and doctor's confirmation, the effects this tiny little life has on the female body leave some symptoms that can tell you that you might be expecting.

Extreme Exhaustion

Never in my life have I been as tired as the first few weeks of my pregnancy. I am not usually the type to nap in the middle of the day, but I found myself craving sleep desperately during the middle of day and early in the evening. After eating dinner and doing the dishes, I was pretty much ready for bed. Eight o'clock in the evening started to feel very, very late at night. From what I have heard, this is typical and to be expected. If you think of how much of this little person is actually formed in the first few weeks, then you will not be surprised that you are tired. It takes a lot of works to create a beating heart!

If you are having that, "I just can't keep my eyes open for one more minute" feeling, you might be pregnant.

Crankiness

Now, what is slightly complicated is that you may begin to develop some of these symptoms just before you would normally get your period, and some of these symptoms are rather similar to PMS.

Yes, ladies, let's admit it, we are more irritable than usual when it is about time to get our periods. However, the irritability factor in the first weeks of pregnancy was at an all time high. (The worst is yet to come though... wait until the LAST few weeks if you want to know how irritable you can get!) In the first few weeks that I was pregnant, it seemed that everything that everyone said just was the most annoying thing I had ever heard in my life. That may have had something to do with wanting to go to sleep early too, but we'll treat them as separate symptoms for all intents and purposes here.

If you feel that you want to just scream at everything that everyone says, you might be pregnant!

Feeling Under the Weather

I'm sure what you are expecting is that you will begin to just throw up every morning and then you will know that you are pregnant, but it doesn't always work that way. Sometimes the morning sickness doesn't start for a couple of weeks after you find out, and often it is not just in the morning. What I am talking about is not a constant nausea though, although that will come. In the first few weeks of pregnancy, the extreme exhaustion combines with an overall feeling that you are just not your usual self and feel like you might be getting sick. It was a slight nausea here and there, a slight headache now and then, and a tired achy body, a lot like getting the flu.

The important thing to remember, if you think you might be pregnant, is that ibuprofen is not considered safe for pregnant women, so you will want to stick to Tylenol to relieve these symptoms, just in case.

If you feel like you could be getting the flu, but the flu never comes (and neither does your period!), then you might be pregnant.

Excessive Urinating

This symptom is generally associated with the end of pregnancy, and for good reason too. During the last few weeks of pregnancy, I pretty much ALWAYS felt like I had to pee. However, the changes during the first few weeks did create more frequent peeing than usual. I was used to being the type of person who could go several hours at a time without needing to use the toilet, but I found myself visiting the restroom sometimes more than once within an hour. I started to wonder if I had a bladder infection. A peanut-sized person within you is not pressing on your bladder, but the hormones created by this new life within you do cause you to empty your bladder more often than usual.

If you find yourself making more trips to the bathroom than usual, then you might be pregnant.

Remember, you could just be PMSing

While all of the above were true signs that something was brewing before I found out I was pregnant, I have to admit that there have been several times since having my first child that I have felt these symptoms just before my period. Don't jump to conclusions, as you could be tired because of stress, or achy because you actually ARE getting the flu, but watch what you do, take some vitamins, and wait it out. If you are missing your period for more than a few days, be sure to take a pregnancy test.