How to Tell If You're Pregnant

Most women just assume that a missed period is thePregnancy can wreak havoc with your digestive
first real indicator that they might be pregnant. Whilesystem, causing problems like constipation, heartburn,
this is generally true, it is not always the case. Missedand gas. Pregnancy and flatulence are commonly
periods can be the result of all sorts of factors. Youidentified together, because women are particularly
might be stressed, have a poor diet, be working tooshocked by sudden expulsions of gas, when they
hard, or have some other health condition that impactstypically have much less. Higher production of the
your reproductive system. In addition, it can take up tohormone progesterone slows down the digestive
a month after conception before you notice a missedsystem, causing constipation and much more gas than
period. However, there are a few other ways that youis normal. Because the early stages of pregnancy and
might notice that you are pregnant quite a bit sooner.flatulence frequently coincide, it can be a pretty good
If you are pregnant, cramps are one very typical wayindicator that something unusual is going on.
of your body telling you that something has changed.If you suddenly find yourself exhausted all the time,
These cramps will probably feel a lot like menstrualpregnancy could be the reason. Fatigue can be a
cramps, but they will be taking place at the wrong timeresult of sudden increases in hormone production
of month, and may be ongoing. Pregnant cramps mayassociated with pregnancy. It can also come about
continue for quite some time during the pregnancy butbecause morning sickness and pregnant cramps are
could change in their severity.causing you to eat less, depriving you of much-needed
Another key indicator of pregnancy is morningenergy.
sickness. You may find yourself getting up feeling veryWhen pregnant, cramps can manifest themselves
nauseous, and have a bout of vomiting immediately. Ifduring morning sickness as a sharp stomach pain, in
you are pregnant, cramps might accompany theaddition to those that seem to be similar to menstrual
morning sickness. The worst of it usually goes awaycramps. You may also have problems with heartburn,
after the first few months. You can sometimes lessensince the increase of progesterone, and pressure on
the severity by eating smaller meals and avoiding spicythe stomach by the expanding uterus can cause food
food.and gastric acid to move up the esophagus.
You may also find yourself experiencing severe moodIf you think you might be pregnant, cramps are one of
swings. You might feel more depressed than normal,the earliest and most certain ways to tell you if you're
and generally very emotional. Some women comparepregnant. Usually, you will show more than one
the emotional state of early pregnancy with the moodsymptom, so you may find yourself experiencing
swings they feel during pre-menstrual syndrome, justmorning sickness and fatigue as well. If so, it's now
more severe.time for a pregnancy test!