“Am I Pregnant?” Things To Look Out For When Beginning To Wonder

“Am I pregnant? I’ve missed my period.”

“Could I be pregnant? I’m all sore and tender.”

“I think I’m pregnant. I feel sick in the mornings.”

These are the classic signs of pregnancy, the ones we all know from films and TV. However, not everybody who’s pregnant feels nauseous or sore, and not every missed period is a sign of pregnancy. Scroll down to explore the many signs and symptoms.

Reach Out To Our Team→

Am I Pregnant? Early Signs and Symptoms

Early pregnancy looks different for everyone, but people commonly experience a mix of these symptoms in the first few weeks:

  • Missed period
  • Breast tenderness
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea/feeling sick
  • Cramping
  • Bloating
  • Moodiness and mood swings
  • Urinating more often
  • Acne
  • Higher body temperature
  • Food aversions
  • Spotting

Sources:
https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/trying-for-a-baby/signs-and-symptoms-of-pregnancy/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/symptoms-of-pregnancy/art-20043853
https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/early-symptoms-timeline#bloating

Is this PMS or Pregnancy?

This is where it gets a little confusing. Moodiness, acne, cramping … It sounds a little like a period is on the way.

Pregnancy can sometimes be mistaken for PMS (premenstrual syndrome), as they share some of the same symptoms. Pregnancy can also produce light spotting, which can be mistaken for menstrual blood.

Luckily, there are some handy differences between PMS and pregnancy symptoms. For example, fatigue is more extreme in pregnancy, as your body is doing some impressive work and battling plenty of hormones.

Another example is breast tenderness. Pregnancy and PMS both bring on soreness and sensitivity, but when you’re pregnant you might find the areolas get darker and wider, and/or you develop some blue veins near the surface.

The best way to tell between PMS and pregnancy is by what comes next. PMS will usually be followed by your normal period, while pregnancy might cause implantation bleeding, which is what happens when the fertilised egg attaches to your uterus wall.

Implantation bleeding is very light, with spots of pale pink and brown. It only lasts a day or two, and is never enough to fill a sanitary pad.

Still not sure?

Speak to One of Our Experienced Listeners→

Sources:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323122#mutual-symptoms
https://uk.clearblue.com/how-to-get-pregnant/pms-vs-pregnancy-symptoms
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/expert-answers/implantation-bleeding/faq-20058257

Missed period, not pregnant ?

“Am I pregnant? I’ve missed my period.”

A missed period is the classic sign of pregnancy, but it’s not proof. You might miss a period because of:

  • Stress
  • Sudden weight loss
  • Being overweight
  • The start of menopause
  • Doing too much exercise
  • Breastfeeding
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome

You could also just be irregular, like up to 25% of women!

Our listeners are there to help you navigate a missed period. We can help you to chart your menstrual cycle, so that you feel confident when it comes to understanding your body.

Sources:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/missed-or-late-periods/
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/menstruation/conditioninfo/irregularities

How Early Can You Get Pregnancy Symptoms?

Everyone’s different.

You might be one of the rare people who get pregnancy symptoms less than a week after they’ve conceived. Alternatively, you might not ask “am I pregnant?” for 4–5 weeks after sex.

Most people sit somewhere in the middle, noticing about three weeks after conception. Interestingly, this counts as week five of pregnancy in doctor-speak – tap the link to find out more.

The best way to find out early if you could be pregnant is to take a test, which has the most accurate results at least 21 days after sex. We offer free pregnancy tests on request.

Talk With Our Listeners About Pregnancy Tests →

Sources:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322696#takeaway
https://www.ssmhealth.com/blogs/ssm-health-matters/april-2022/12-early-signs-of-pregnancy

Reach Out to Our Listeners

Our gentle, non-judgmental service is open from 9am to 6pm, a safe space for you to process your thoughts. It’s also a place you can ask for a free pregnancy test, posted discreetly to your address.

If you’ve asked, “Am I pregnant?” and the answer was yes, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

You can also check out our Surprise Pregnancy page. There, we explore finance, school, and relationships – concerns people often have when they’re pregnant by accident.  

Find out more about what we do by visiting our website, or by following us on Facebook or Instagram.