How to know if you're pregnant: symptoms and first signs

You may be trying to have a baby, or you may be wondering whether you have fallen pregnant. And knowing for certain is important. How can you tell whether you are pregnant? Which symptoms tell me that I am pregnant? Well, we are going to answer all your questions in the following post that our midwives have prepared especially for you.

Pregnancy symptoms

Pregnancy is a crucial stage in a woman's life, and it begins with the implantation of the fertilised egg in the uterus. Identifying the symptoms of pregnancy is essential for proper care right from the start. Generally, the first symptoms of pregnancy appear around three weeks after the egg is fertilised. Recognising these early pregnancy symptoms can help women seek timely medical attention and take the necessary steps towards a healthy pregnancy.

It may be the case that, in some women, these first symptoms of pregnancy begin on the sixth day after conception. It is even documented that it may be possible for a woman to have pregnancy symptoms from the very first days.

As we mentioned earlier, if you are trying for a baby, the main questions you ask us are how can you tell whether you are pregnant? which symptoms tell me that I am pregnant? or why am I not getting pregnant?

How do I know that I am pregnant?

The diagnosis of pregnancy can be evidenced by signs and symptoms of pregnancy that expectant mothers experience at the beginning of it, with symptoms being a probability of being pregnant, while objective signs declare a certainty that there is a pregnancy, and we are going to explain it to you.

A presumption of pregnancy can be established when a woman describes subjective symptoms, as these may be related to situations other than pregnancy. They are subjective data and can be associated with other conditions.

On the contrary, the presence of signs increases the probability of the diagnosis of pregnancy, as they can be perceived objectively by the midwife. For example, the heartbeat of your baby and the visualisation of the foetus are signs of certainty of pregnancy, completely objective, because they cannot be related to any other condition.

How to know if I am pregnant without taking a test

You do not need a positive pregnancy test to know that you are pregnant. Before separating the symptoms and the signs that indicate that you are pregnant, here is a brief list of the ones you may feel in the first days of pregnancy and that will make you think that you may be pregnant. Bear in mind that it can present differently from one woman to another, especially in the first days. Even in the same woman, the symptoms vary from one pregnancy to another. In addition, these signs and symptoms of pregnancy can vary in intensity, duration and frequency.

• Amenorrhoea (absence of periods)
  • It is the main symptom of pregnancy
• Nausea and vomiting
  • They can even make you feel disgust at certain foods, or make you notice that your sense of smell is sharper than usual.
• Tingling, enlargement and/or pain in the breasts (mastalgia)
  • It is often confused with a premenstrual symptom
• Frequent and urgent urination
  • This is something physiological, caused by an increase in blood volume to respond to the baby's needs. In addition, your kidneys will filter more urine than usual.
• Fatigue, tiredness or sleepiness
  • During pregnancy, progesterone rises. This is a hormone characteristic of this stage which, at the high levels that are normal in pregnancy, causes tiredness and sleepiness. It will be completely normal to feel sleepy and lacking in energy all the time.

• Mood swings
  • With no apparent justified cause, which will be caused by the huge release of hormones that is going to take place in your body.
• Vaginal bleeding
  • On some occasions, and it is usually due to the implantation of the embryo in the endometrium (the lining that covers the inside of the uterus)
• Dizziness and fainting
  • You may suspect that you are pregnant because of a drop in blood pressure caused by hormonal effects.
• Constipation:
  • Also due to hormonal changes.

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Signs that indicate that you are pregnant

The signs that indicate that you are pregnant are data obtained from the examinations carried out by the health professional, in other words, they are objective data. They are more specific than symptoms, but a certain diagnosis of pregnancy cannot be established through them.

Amenorrhoea (absence of periods)

The absence of menstruation (amenorrhoea) for 10 or more days after the probable date of its appearance, in a healthy woman of reproductive age with regular and spontaneous cycles, is a symptom of pregnancy. Sometimes this missed period is not clear, due to the mistaken interpretation of the small physiological blood losses of implantation, which will lead to confusion.

Changes in the breasts

By the end of the first trimester your areola will increase its pigmentation, the areolar sebaceous glands become more active and the nipples more prominent and sensitive. An enlarged and secondarily pigmented areola appears around 20 weeks of pregnancy and 22 weeks. A superficial venous network often appears.

Skin manifestations

Common pregnancy symptoms include increased skin pigmentation and abdominal stretch marks, although not everyone experiences them. Other changes include increased pigmentation of the linea alba (the midline of the abdomen) or face (chloasma). The linea alba and chloasma usually disappear after birth; on the other hand, stretch marks on the breasts and nipples usually persist after birth.

Rise in basal body temperature

The persistent rise in temperature is a presumptive sign that requires daily recording of the basal body temperature (a rise of 0.4 of a tenth from the 2nd half of the sexual cycle, which is maintained during the first 2 weeks of amenorrhoea).

Changes in the cervix

Around weeks 6-8 of pregnancy the cervix softens, and a bluish, cyanotic colour appears in the cervix and upper part of the vagina, due to hyperaemia (Chadwick's sign).

What is Chadwick's sign?

"Chadwick's sign" is a medical term that refers to a physical sign observed in pregnant women as a possible indicator of pregnancy. It consists of a bluish or purple tone that appears in the vaginal and cervical mucosa due to the increased blood flow in that area during pregnancy. This change in colour is due to vascular congestion caused by the increased blood pressure in the pelvic area. The sign is named after James Read Chadwick, an American doctor who first described it in 1886. However, it is important to bear in mind that this sign is not definitive for confirming a pregnancy and its presence and appearance can vary.

Abdominal growth

Around week 12 the uterus begins to be felt through the abdominal wall, above the pubic symphysis. Abdominal growth is usually less evident in the nulliparous woman (greater tone of the abdominal walls) than in the multiparous woman.

Increase in the size, shape and consistency of the uterus

The uterine signs found by combined vaginal examination are of great diagnostic value. The implantation of the egg on the lateral walls of the uterine body gives the uterus an asymmetry on vaginal examination (Piscacek's sign)

Symptoms that may make you suspect that you are pregnant

The symptoms that may make you suspect that you are pregnant are data reported by the expectant mother that help to support the diagnosis of your pregnancy.

• Urinary

At the beginning of pregnancy, a woman needs to urinate many times during the day or at night. These changes in urinary frequency are due to the increased size of the uterus, which puts pressure on the bladder. They usually disappear as your uterus rises above the promontory (the upper opening of your pelvis); reappearing again at the end of pregnancy due to the compression of the baby's presenting part on the bladder.

• Digestive

The most frequent digestive symptoms that you may have during your pregnancy are morning nausea and vomiting, although they can sometimes persist throughout the day. Their cause is currently unknown; but various studies reveal a relationship with high levels of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin, also called the pregnancy hormone). They usually begin two weeks after conception, disappearing spontaneously at 12-14 weeks of pregnancy.

Sialorrhoea (excess salivation) is less frequent and usually appears around 6-12 weeks of gestation.

You may also have changes in appetite and taste, as well as anorexia, a capricious appetite ("cravings") and the ingestion of rare or unusual foods, or non-edible substances.

Constipation, indigestion, heartburn, abdominal bloating and flatulence (wind) are symptoms that occur irregularly due to the action of progesterone.

• Breast-related

Due to the action of oestrogens and progesterone and the increased blood supply to the breast, pregnant women report hypersensitivity in the breasts and nipples and breast engorgement. This breast sensitivity can begin a few days after conception.

• Perception of your baby's movements inside your bump

You may begin to perceive foetal movements in your abdomen at around 16 to 20 weeks of pregnancy. These movements, known as 'kicks' or 'flutters', are a sign that the baby is developing and starting to move inside the uterus. At first, the movements may feel like a gentle flutter or bubbling, and as the baby grows stronger, the movements will become more pronounced and frequent. Feeling these first movements is an exciting and moving moment for many expectant mothers, as it is a tangible connection with their growing baby.

• Other symptoms

Other characteristic symptoms are fatigue and tiring easily, changes in the sense of smell, sleep disturbances, irritability, personality changes, sadness, melancholy or euphoria, dizziness and fainting. From the 4th week onwards there is an increase in the secretions of the cervix and vaginal transudation, which translate into an increase in discharge. In addition, abdominal bloating is an early sign that appears in some expectant mothers due to intestinal distension and not to uterine growth.

Pregnancy test during breastfeeding: is it possible?

Yes, it is possible to take a pregnancy test during breastfeeding. Breastfeeding does not affect the accuracy of most of the pregnancy tests available on the market. These tests detect the presence of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the urine or in the blood, which is produced during pregnancy.

However, it is important to bear in mind that breastfeeding can affect menstrual cycles and ovulation, which could mean that a woman does not have a regular period. This can make it difficult to determine the right time to take the pregnancy test, as it is based on the expected date of your period.

In addition, in some cases, breastfeeding can delay the return of the menstrual cycle after birth, which means that it is possible that a woman is not ovulating or menstruating regularly, even if she is not pregnant. In such situations, it may be helpful to consult a doctor to determine the best time to take a pregnancy test and to obtain guidance on contraception during breastfeeding.

Conclusion: how can you tell whether you are pregnant?

So, how can you tell whether you are pregnant? As we said at the beginning, every case is unique, and so is every pregnancy; you should always adapt these symptoms to your personal circumstances. And if in doubt, go to your midwife, who will be delighted to advise you on your pregnancy. And if the answer to the question "Am I pregnant?" is YES, congratulations! A new stage now begins, a very exciting and intense one that will change your life completely. Remember that we are here for whatever you need.

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