One of the biggest indicators of pregnancy is a missed period but if you think you might be pregnant, you don’t have to wait till you miss a period to find out. In fact, with my first pregnancy, I found out I was pregnant before I missed my period. These 12 distinctive pregnancy symptoms before the missed period will help you detect early pregnancy.
Your breasts feel different
When you get pregnant, there is an increase in hormones which can lead to fluid retention. These changes will cause the breasts to feel heavy and sore. There might even be slight changes in the colour of areolas. Heavy breasts is also a PMS symptom but it is usually not accompanied by pain or soreness.
Nausea
This is one of the most common symptoms of pregnancy. For many pregnant women, nausea is very common in the early days of pregnancy. You might also notice an aversion to aromatic food or just food in general. If you experience nausea or vomiting for more than a day or two while being in the pink of health, there might be chances that it’s a sign of pregnancy.
Frequent urge to urinate
Changes in the hormones mean changes in your bathroom schedule. A spike in the hormones during pregnancy will have you urinating a lot more than usual. If you aren’t drinking more water than usual and have eliminated the chances of UTI, there are high chances that this is a sign of pregnancy.
Fatigue
During the initial days of pregnancy, your body works really hard to create a hospitable environment for the growing foetus. There is an increase in the levels of progesterone during this time which can lead to fatigue. Your body will also witness changes in blood pressure and blood sugar levels which also leads to tiredness.
Digestive problems
Progesterone is responsible for the smooth functioning and relaxation of muscles including the muscles in your digestive system. There is a spike in your progesterone levels when you get pregnant and this can lead to constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, and other digestive problems.
Mood swings
A change in your hormone levels will also affect your emotions. You might experience mood swings during this time. Many people ignore these mood swings as they are similar to what one would experience during PMS. But this coupled with other symptoms can be a clear indication of pregnancy. So it’s important to pay attention to your body.
Weird taste in the mouth
Did you know that even your taste buds can get affected during pregnancy? If you notice a weird taste (almost metallic) in your mouth, it might be a sign that you’re pregnant. This usually persists for the first trimester of pregnancy.
Light bleeding or spotting
When the fertilised egg attaches itself to the uterus wall, there might be slight bleeding known as ‘implantation bleeding’ or ‘spotting’. The bleeding usually happens a week before you are about to start your period and is very light. It might just be drops or you might notice it when you wipe your privates after using the restroom.
These are some of the symptoms that are highly indicative of a pregnancy. I experienced 3 of these pregnancy symptoms before my missed period during my first pregnancy. Since most of these symptoms are similar to PMS, it’s very important you pay close attention to your body. If you miss your period after experiencing any of these symptoms and are wondering “Should I take a pregnancy test?” – you probably should.
