For many women, the tell tale symptom of pregnancy is a missed period. While this is a popular, and often good indication of pregnancy, all pregnancies are different and just because a period is present doesn't mean you aren't pregnant and just because one is missed doesn't mean you are expecting a baby. Because every woman is different, even the most regular cycle can hit bumps in the road, particularly due to stress. For these reasons it's important for a woman to be aware of other pregnancy signs to help to determine if she may be expecting a bundle of joy in nine months.

It's important to get the earliest prenatal care possible, so being able to recognize early pregnancy signs is important. If a period is one week overdue, it's time to take a pregnancy test. It's important to know though, that it's not hard to miss a period, or for a period to come late due to stress, both mentally and physically. Oftentimes the earliest signs of pregnancy closely resemble pre-menstrual symptoms, such as bloating, backache, headaches, and mood swings. These first signs of pregnancy are often attributed to the drastic rise in hormones throughout the body.

Another common symptom with pregnancy is an increased sensitivity to smells and nausea. These two symptoms often go hand in hand; oftentimes an odor a woman may have liked before will now make her nauseous. This can also work conversely; smells she may have previously avoided may be more pleasing.

Some other signs sometimes present in early pregnancy are increased size or darkening of the areolas, and enlargement of the breasts. Oftentimes breasts can also feel tender or swollen throughout pregnancy as they prepare for nursing. An increase in a woman's basal body temperature, or BBT, is another symptom of pregnancy.

While it is normal for the BBT to rise at different times during a woman's cycle, if it stays up for more than 18 days, there is a good chance conception has occurred. It's also important to understand that every woman and every pregnancy is different; some women may experience virtually none of the signs, while others may have all of them!

Regardless if the signs are present or not, it's always important for a woman of childbearing age to know the different signs and symptoms associated with pregnancy. If a test is taken and has a positive result, it's essential that an appointment is made with the doctor for the sake of both mom and baby.