Pregnancy Symptoms Before Missed Period
You may have heard most of the information given in this article about pregnancy symptoms before missed period. Whether you have menstrual bleeding or not, examining these symptoms together will help you master the subject.
You’re fatigued, nauseous, and plagued by strange dreams. Maybe you’re experiencing strange cravings or food aversions. Your period might be late, spotty, or seem completely absent. So you must be pregnant. Right? Not necessarily. Here’s a guide to some of the most common pregnancy symptoms-and what else they could mean.
Late Period
A late or otherwise abnormal period is often the first and sometimes, the only-pregnancy symptom women notice. But a missing period can signal many things besides pregnancy, like stress, abnormal hormone levels, too much exercise, or unusual weight loss or gain. Occasionally, a few of the following symptoms may appear without menstrual interruption. Therefore, it is important to know about pregnancy symptoms before missed period.
Nausea
Mild to severe nausea and vomiting are hallmarks of the first trimester of pregnancy. However, stress, food poisoning, or illness can also cause stomach upset.
Fatigue
A developing baby and placenta re-routes much of your body’s energy to your uterus-so a feeling of tiredness, especially in the first trimester, is common. But fatigue can also signal illness, anemia, thyroid trouble, a nutritional deficiency, or depression. Some women also experience fatigue in the days right before their period starts.
Sore Breasts
Early pregnancy is often marked by swollen, tender, or tingling breasts. But hormonal shifts due to PMS or a change in birth control pill, breast tissue injury (possibly caused by strenuous activity without a supportive bra), breast cysts, or breast disease can also cause unusual breast changes.
Food Cravings or Aversions
Many women find themselves hankering for a certain treat-while avoiding other foods like the plague-during pregnancy. Impending menstruation, poor diet, stress, or depression can also cause yearnings for unusual foods and aversion to others.
Frequent Urination
Hormone levels in the early weeks of pregnancy can make you feel “the call of nature” far more often than usual. So can diabetes, consumption of diuretics, like caffeine or alcohol, or a urinary tract infection.
Bloating and Gas
Intestinal gas and bloating, caused by hormonal fluctuations, can be a sign of pregnancy. Or it may simply be caused by excessive salt intake, imminent menstruation, or consumption of gas-causing foods.
Vaginal Discharge
Increased hormone levels can also lead to increased vaginal discharge. But excessive or unusual discharge could be caused by a vaginal infection. Also, discharge often changes at different times in your cycle. As long as it’s not accompanied by itching, burning, or a strong smell, it’s probably normal.
What Means These “Pregnancy Symptoms Before Missed Period”?
All the above symptoms could mean you are pregnant, or they could mean a host of other things. “There are many symptoms that can seem like pregnancy-nausea, cramps, headaches, etc-but mother’s intuition, coupled with a positive pregnancy test, is the best way to tell for sure,” says Geradine Simkins, CNM.
“Pregnancy Symptoms Before Missed Period” May Also Be a Symptom of a Health Problem
If you aren’t pregnant but pregnancy-like symptoms persist, be sure to consult with your healthcare provider to rule out a potential health problem. After the tests, you should discuss this possibility with your doctor.
