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Signs you may be pregnant

Signs

There are plenty of signs that you're pregnant, most of them pretty obvious, which is why we're always suspicious of those stories of women being unaware of their pregnancy until they go into labour 3,000 feet over the English Channel.

So, if you want to avoid the publicity, we suggest you look out for the following signs:

No period

Within two weeks of fertilisation, you may miss your period. Although pregnancy is the most common cause of your periods stopping (the technical term is amenorrhoea), it's not the only one, so you shouldn't take this as a definite sign you're pregnant. Jet lag, illness, surgery, shock, bereavement or stress can have a similar effect. Some women continue having periods right up to the sixth month of pregnancy and still go on to have healthy babies, so look out for the other signs too.

Frequent trips to the loo

You may find the times you need to urinate suddenly multiply. This is because progesterone levels are rising and the blood supply to your pelvic area is increasing. This can happen as early as one week after conception.

Tiredness

Wondering why you suddenly can't walk up the stairs without wanting to collapse on the bed? This could be pregnancy. The high levels of progesterone not only send your bladder into a tailspin, but also have a sedative effect.

Nausea

Otherwise known as morning sickness, this can strike at any time, usually around the two-month mark.

Bigger breasts

Your breasts may become painful and sensitive at first but don't worry, this usually won't last beyond the first month. They then just become firm and rounded.

Odd tastes and cravings

Saliva often reflects the chemical content of your blood and, with hormone levels rising, the taste in your mouth can change. It's often described as metallic, and foods that you normally love may become intolerable. Coffee, cigarettes and alcohol may start to taste unpleasant - perhaps this is Mother Nature stepping in to tell us what is and isn't good for us.

Intuition

The last way that many women know they're pregnant is by that little thing called intuition. If you keep bursting into tears at the slightest thing, and just know that your last night together was 'the one', then it just might be so.

Always confirm you are pregnant by taking a pregnancy test. We recommend First Response Pregnancy Testing kits.