When your period is overdue, or you’re noticing potential pregnancy symptoms after recent sexual activity, confirming with a pregnancy test followed by an ultrasound is a proactive way to follow up.
Recognizing the typical initial indicators of pregnancy can be helpful, so keep reading to learn some of the most common signs of early pregnancy.
We also offer free Pregnancy Confirmation services at our clinic so you can get the answers you need.
Mood Swings
If you feel like you are on a rollercoaster of emotions, this may be due to the fluctuating hormones, which can drive behaviors like feeling extremely happy and then sad within a short time.
Missed Period
Unless your period is highly irregular, this is one of the most obvious signs of early pregnancy.
Try waiting a day or two after the day of your missed period before you take a pregnancy test. Pregnancy tests are designed with reactive strips that detect the presence of hCG, a pregnancy hormone, in your urine, and waiting an extra day or two gives your body a chance to produce detectable levels.
Exhaustion
As your body facilitates fetal development, this work can leave you feeling extremely fatigued and depleted.
Frequent Urination
Elevated hormone levels during early pregnancy lead to increased blood volume circulating throughout the body. This extra blood flow puts additional demand on the kidneys to filter the blood and, as a result, produce more urine.
As the uterus grows, it may also put more pressure on the bladder, resulting in more trips to the bathroom.
Nausea
Although called “morning sickness,” nausea can strike at any time of day. Women experience it differently – some have it mild, while others face severe symptoms that disrupt daily life.
Light Spotting
When the embryo is implanted in the uterine lining, this can produce light spotting or discharge during early pregnancy. Implantation bleeding occurs around 10-14 days after conception.
Hormonal acne
Hormonal shifts during pregnancy can stimulate increased oil production in the skin. This change can lead to clogged pores, which may develop or exacerbate pre-existing acne in some women.
Next Steps
Confirming pregnancy is quickly done through pregnancy tests, which you can purchase at any local pharmacy. But you can get free testing at Ridgeway Women’s Clinic as a part of our Pregnancy Confirmation service, as well as an ultrasound if you get a positive result.
We also offer compassionate, nonjudgmental Options Consultations, during which we provide information about your pregnancy options so you can make an informed decision.
Contact us today to schedule a free and confidential appointment in the Freeport and Rockford area (Loves Park).
