You've got a growing feeling that something’s up? Missed periods, nausea, frequent trips to the bathroom? Before you get excited, go through the below checklist of early pregnancy symptoms and check whether you’re experiencing a number of them. If you are, it might be a good idea to consult your doctor or take a pregnancy test to confirm.

Fatigue:

Unexplainable extreme exhaustion and a complete lack of energy is one of the most common signs of pregnancy. If you suspect that you’re pregnant, avoid countering fatigue by drinking caffeine, and focus on getting lots of rest and relaxation until you’re sure of the reason behind your exhaustion.

Food Aversions & Smell Sensitivity:

Most women develop food aversions and smell sensitivity when pregnant, suddenly finding certain foods or smells they used to like nauseating. This is usually caused by rising hormone levels, and is one of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy.

Nausea & Vomiting:

Nausea, or “morning sickness”, is another typical giveaway of early pregnancy. During the first 12 weeks, the majority of women experience nausea and vomiting at various times during the day. Morning sickness tends to surface around the 6th week of pregnancy.

Breast Swelling & Tenderness:

Tender, swollen, tingly and even painful-to-the-touch breasts are another early pregnancy sign that many women experience. This can begin as early as 1-2 weeks after conception and becomes more pronounced as the pregnancy progresses.

Frequent Urination:

As your uterus grows in early pregnancy it begins to push against the bladder, causing a frequent urge to visit the bathroom. This sign might appear by the second or third week of pregnancy.

Shortness of Breath:

Your body will need more oxygen to accommodate your growing fetus, and the further your pregnancy progresses, the more you will notice shortness of breath. If you experience shortness of breath along with pain, or if you feel that it gets worse when you are lying down, consult your doctor to make sure that there isn’t a more serious underlying reason.

Spotting:

Spotting, or “implantation bleeding”, occurs when the embryo implants itself within the uterus, and tends to be one of the earliest pregnancy symptoms. Sometimes accompanied by cramps, spotting may occur 6-12 days after conception.

Darkening Areolas:

In addition to tender breasts, you’re likely to develop darker and larger areolas in the weeks after conception as a result of the production of pregnancy hormones. You might also notice a change in your skin color as well.

Bloating:

Though it might be difficult to differentiate between a pre-period bloat and a pregnancy bloat, if your menstruation is late and you’re experiencing other early pregnancy symptoms, it might be safe to consider this yet another sign of early pregnancy.

Missed Period:

The most obvious symptom of pregnancy is a missed period, particularly if your menstruation is usually regular. Some women might even experience a considerably lighter period than usual while they’re pregnant, so don’t rule out pregnancy if you do get your period, albeit a notably lighter one.