Most women have that feeling when something about their bodies isn't quite right, but many seem to be oblivious to the signs of pregnancy. Usually, it's a friend, family member or a husband who notices that there's been a change about the woman, but no one can put their finger on what. Staying in tune with your body and knowing the signs of pregnancy are important, as a baby brings about some huge decisions and responsibility.



Knowing the symptoms of the early stages of pregnancy are imperative to making sure you can take action regarding your gravid state and your baby's good health. The first thing you should do when you believe you may be pregnant is visit your health practitioner to confirm your pregnancy, but trying to pin down whether you're just not feeling well or whether you're going to be a mother can be a challenge.

While the signs of pregnancy are usually easily discernable to women who've already had children, even experienced mothers can experience difficulty answering the question "Am I?"

The easiest and most common sign you're pregnant is a late period or one that's been skipped completely. A home pregnancy test can confirm what you suspect, but you still need to make an appointment with your doctor, as home tests can and do produce false results. Other conditions, such as anaemia or anorexia, can also cause women to skip periods, so it is important to make sure about what's going on with your body.

There are other symptoms of the early stages of pregnancy. Morning sickness is another common sign women have to denote they're expectant mothers. There's nothing pleasant about feeling queasy or throwing up, but if you've been ill and you can pattern when the nausea strikes you, you're probably due for a doctor's visit. Be careful, dismissing morning sickness as the flu when nausea doesn't occur in the morning. Some women feel more nauseous at night, or in the middle of the day, or when they haven't got a full stomach.

More symptoms accompany a gravid state, but do seem to strike less often than a missed period or morning sickness. Breast tenderness can, however, be a big part of pregnancy. Your skin may be sensitive and you might not enjoy your partner touching you in his usual manner.

Headaches are another common symptom of pregnancy, caused by changes in hormones in your body. Neither of these symptoms can be specifically narrowed down to a particular sign of pregnancy, however, as both problems are also related to a wide variety of issues. Paired with a missed period and nausea, though, headaches or breast tenderness are usually a dead giveaway.

Sometimes doubt can be the best early indicator that you may be pregnant. When you hear that little voice inside, piping up and suddenly filling you with worry, it's usually because you haven't been listening to what your body has been trying to tell you. Whether you think, know or have doubts about your pregnancy, that voice inside yourself is telling you something's wrong with your health and you should call your health practitioner for a check-up regardless.