Am I pregnant?

There are certain signals that your body might give you that you are pregnant.

If you have been actively trying for a baby, you may look for signs that you are pregnant but being unsure can drive you mad – are you experiencing real signifiers or are you just imagining sore boobs and sickness?
The first sign that you could be pregnant is usually a missed period. However, there are other reasons why you could miss a period, such as stress, or being under or overweight. If you’re trying to conceive, or are particularly in tune with your cycle, you might notice changes caused by hormonal surges even before missing a period.

Pregnancy signs at a glance

Here are some of the other physical symptoms you might have if you’re pregnant:

• Spotting and cramps, similar to period pains though probably milder. Even before you miss a period you may have implantation bleeding - about seven days after fertilisation, the egg implants itself and as a result you might get some dark spotting.
• You may feel soreness or tingling in your breasts. Your breasts might also feel heavy and the areolas, the skin around the nipples, could look darker.
• Feeling nauseous or vomiting. A heightened sensitivity to smells and travel could seem to trigger your morning sickness, too.
• Mood swings and heightened emotions are very common.
• A metallic taste in your mouth.
• A need to pee more frequently because of pregnancy hormones.
• Feeling tired for no obvious reason.
• Feeling dizzy or faint.
• An aversion to some foods (alcohol or coffee are pretty common ones).
• An interest in certain foods, or a craving.

How many of these you experience varies from person to person and if you don’t have any of these symptoms it doesn't necessarily mean you aren’t pregnant. If you are in any doubt, do a home test and make an appointment to see your GP for a urine test there. Also, until you knwo definitely one way or the other, presume you are pregnant and avoid medications, alcohol and drugs that are harmful in pregnancy.

Mum's story

"My husband had such a shock!"

“I couldn’t wait until my period was due (two whole days away), so I did a test and it was positive! I did it in the loos at work and then had to pretend for the rest of the day that nothing unusual had happened. When I got home my husband was chatting about going to a friend’s wedding in America. I said, ‘I might be six months pregnant by then.’ He was gobsmacked!”

Julie , 28, seven months pregnant