So, you think you might be pregnant, but you’re not entirely sure. Whether you’re just feeling “off” or you have already missed an expected period, there are both physical and emotional signs that can indicate pregnancy early on. The most common indicators of pregnancy as listed by the American Pregnancy Association (APA) include:
- Fatigue
- Bloating
- Nausea or food aversions
- Breast tenderness
- Increased urination
- Lower back ache and/or pain
- Moodiness or feeling as if on an “emotional roller coaster”
- Mild cramping and/or spotting
Medical professionals state that, generally, symptoms begin around 4 weeks after conception has taken place, though for some women they may appear sooner or later, with degree of intensity differing for every individual woman. For 29% of women surveyed by the APA, the first sign of pregnancy was a missed period.
Remember, These Symptoms Are Not Always A Sign Of Pregnancy
If you are experiencing the above symptoms and are worried about pregnancy, take a deep, cleansing breath. These symptoms, including a missed period, are not exclusive to pregnancy and could be due to another underlying cause.
For example, if you have missed a period or two look back and ask yourself if you have been under a lot of stress recently. Stress and anxiety can alter your cycle and cause you to miss a period (amenorrhea) or experience only light bleeding that can be mistaken for implantation bleeding. Pinpointing the cause of your symptoms can help you take the action needed to keep yourself physically and mentally healthy. One way to verify pregnancy is by taking a pregnancy test.
Get Free, Accurate, Medically-Approved Pregnancy Tests At Birthright
While Birthright St. Charles is not a medical facility, we do have a CLIA waiver which allows us to provide medically approved pregnancy tests entirely free of charge in a comfortable, home-like setting. Though it is recommended to wait until a week or so after you’ve missed your period to take a pregnancy test, our tests require only 7-10 days from the date of your suspected conception for the most accurate results. It is important to remember when taking a home pregnancy test that tests results can be inaccurate if taken too early in your cycle.
If you are experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms and think that they may be related to pregnancy but are unsure, you can call or text us at (636) 724-1200 to make an appointment today for free pregnancy testing! We also always welcome walk-ins.
If you know you are pregnant and aren’t sure how to feel or what options you have, we have professionally trained counselors on staff who can sit down with you in a judgement-free environment to help discuss your next step. Whatever your feelings are surrounding the possibility of pregnancy, we are here for you!
