How to Tell When You’re Expecting

When you’re eager to start a family, it can be an excruciating task waiting to see if you’re pregnant after you’ve taken the steps to make it happen. Of course, the only way to know for sure is to take an at-home pregnancy test or have your OB do a blood test, but in the meantime, you can look for these early signs of pregnancy:

10 Early Signs of Pregnancy

1. Tender breasts – Sore breasts, darkening of the areolas, and more pronounced veins on your chest can be a sign that you are pregnant. Wearing a comfortable bra can help during this time.
2. Fatigue – During the first trimester, extra amounts of progesterone can cause you to feel tired. You may just realize how much you miss taking naps or may find yourself napping in unusual places.
3. Mood swings – Just like your monthly cycle, pregnancy causes hormonal changes that can make you emotional. The mood swings tend to go away after 14-16 weeks.
4. Headaches and backaches – Hormonal changes can also cause headaches, while loosening ligaments can cause your back to ache.
5. Shortness of breath – If you are feeling more winded than usual after a taking a short walk or walking up the stairs, it could be due to pregnancy. Babies need oxygen, and the one growing in your uterus will need to get it from you until it is born.
6. Nausea – You’ve probably heard this one before. Morning sickness usually hits around the 6th week of pregnancy. It typically goes away during the 2nd trimester.
7. Frequent urination – As your uterus enlarges to make room for a growing baby, it puts pressure on your bladder, causing you to urinate more.
8. Spotting and cramping (implantation bleeding) – Once the fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterus, it can cause cramping and light bleeding. If you notice a little bit of blood before you are supposed to start your period, it could be due to implantation bleeding.
9. Cravings or food aversions – One common first sign of pregnancy is a heightened sense of smell and taste. If you’re pregnant, you might find that foods you once loved taste disgusting, or that lavender perfume you once preferred is going in the trash.
10. Late period – This is probably the most obvious hint that you might be pregnant. If your period is normally regular but is late this month, an official pregnancy test is in order.

If you think you might be pregnant and want an official blood test done, stop by your local FastMed Urgent Care. We don’t require appointments, and our on-site labs make it easy for you to get in and get your results quickly and easily.

About FastMed

FastMed is a leading provider of high-quality, convenient, affordable, and compassionate healthcare in 34 counties across North Carolina. FastMed serves both urban and rural communities across the state with a wide range of care options, including preventive, telemedicine, occupational health, and primary and urgent care. FastMed is one of the few urgent care providers in the nation that has earned The Joint Commission’s coveted Gold Seal of Approval® for quality, safety, and infection control in ambulatory healthcare. For more information, visit www.fastmed.com.